Drilling fibre cement board.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Is there a drill bit specific to drilling fibre cement boards ( Conwood, Shera, etc ) ??

A photo of one or the Thai name would be appreciated.

 

If not, what is the best approach ?

Have used masonry bits in the past and the results weren’t great .

 

Thanks,

Andy

[VocalNeal]

Just regular common or garden drills. Use some water as a lubricant. (added that before the TV H&S experts chip in). If overhead wear your Covid mask.????

Edited December 21, 2020 by VocalNeal

[Morakot]

Quote

used masonry bits in the past and the results weren’t great .

 

I can imagine that masonry bits don't work well.

 

I would try a bit for metal at low speed.

Edited December 21, 2020 by Morakot

[bankruatsteve]

I got these from Lazada a while back and they drill though anything (so far).

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/shipping-in-24-hourscod6pcs-set-45681012mm-multifunction-masonry-drill-bit-set-for-glasstilesteelmetalceramicmarbleplasticwood-i842554544-s1713706635.html?mp=1

[VocalNeal]

42 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Is there a drill bit specific to drilling fibre cement boards

 

How many holes? Ordinary bits OK but will wear quicker than with wood.

[vogie]

42 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Is there a drill bit specific to drilling fibre cement boards ( Conwood, Shera, etc ) ??

A photo of one or the Thai name would be appreciated.

 

If not, what is the best approach ?

Have used masonry bits in the past and the results weren’t great .

 

Thanks,

Andy

What are you doing with the boards Andy?

[GregTN]

I used regular semi cheap HSS bits for the Shera wood on my fence panels with no problems.  I did pre drill with a 4mm bit and finished off with a 8mm.

[Andrew Dwyer]

21 minutes ago, vogie said:

What are you doing with the boards Andy?

Pretty much the same as Greg in the above post .

[vogie]

1 minute ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Pretty much the same as Greg in the above post .

I just use the self drilling screws, never bother drilling with a drill, easy peasy, do you know the ones I mean? 

 

 

[sandyf]

12 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Pretty much the same as Greg in the above post .

Bosch do do what they call multi purpose bits, can be used on concrete, steel or wood. I found they were the best bet for Shera board.

[Andrew Dwyer]

8 minutes ago, vogie said:

I just use the self drilling screws, never bother drilling with a drill, easy peasy, do you know the ones I mean? 

 

 

Yes I think so, seen them in a bronze or silver colour a flat head and the pointy bit almost like a masonry bit ?

Used them to hold some polycarbonate sheets onto some steel round the back of the house .

 

So you can screw through the Shera straight into the steel ?

[sandyf]

16 minutes ago, vogie said:

I just use the self drilling screws, never bother drilling with a drill, easy peasy, do you know the ones I mean? 

 

 

Best things since sliced bread, when drilling steel i always use them for a pilot hole.

[vogie]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes I think so, seen them in a bronze or silver colour a flat head and the pointy bit almost like a masonry bit ?

Used them to hold some polycarbonate sheets onto some steel round the back of the house .

 

So you can screw through the Shera straight into the steel ?

Yes, I have fitted these boards all around my house.

[PatOngo]

You need a masonary bit.........doc sawan jot poon!

[sandyf]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes I think so, seen them in a bronze or silver colour a flat head and the pointy bit almost like a masonry bit ?

Used them to hold some polycarbonate sheets onto some steel round the back of the house .

 

So you can screw through the Shera straight into the steel ?

Yes you can but advisable to clamp. Depending on board thickness and screw size the board can be pushed back before the screw penetrates the steel.

[vogie]

2 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Yes you can but advisable to clamp. Depending on board thickness and screw size the board can be pushed back before the screw penetrates the steel.

Clamping is good but usually just push with my spare hand.

[Crossy]

Yeah, I've always used regular drill bits, masonry drills just don't do the job.

 

You need to be able to sharpen your own bits as they do wear quickly. It's a handy skill to have anyway and not that difficult.

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

4 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

You need a masonary bit.........doc sawan jot poon!

I put up some guttering a while ago and used a 3 mm HSS drill ( for a pilot ) into the fascia boards, the drills blunted pretty quickly so I tried a masonry bit and it destroyed it !!

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

Yeah, I've always used regular drill bits, masonry drills just don't do the job.

 

You need to be able to sharpen your own bits as they do wear quickly. It's a handy skill to have anyway and not that difficult.

 

Yup , had to sharpen a few times on my other project , 118 degrees ????

[Andrew Dwyer]

18 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Bosch do do what they call multi purpose bits, can be used on concrete, steel or wood. I found they were the best bet for Shera board.

Similar to what BankruatSteve posted earlier Sandy ?

[sandyf]

5 minutes ago, vogie said:

Clamping is good but usually just push with my spare hand.

Ok if you can get away with it, all depends on if the screw will churn up the first layer.

A cat cage I built a couple of years ago, more self drilling screws than hot breakfasts, made the roof a doddle.

[sandyf]

6 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Similar to what BankruatSteve posted earlier Sandy ?

Yes they look similar. I got mine from Global House, they come as individual sizes.

They are sharper than a masonry bit and harder than a normal steel bit. One of the problems with standard masonry is they have an insert at the tip which will often come away when they get hot.

[onebir]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

Ordinary bits OK but will wear quicker than with wood.

Tungsten steel bits might last a bit longer, and don't cost that much more. (But I see they give you 2x 6mm in that pack, so I guess they'are a bit brittle, especially the smaller diameters?)

Edited December 21, 2020 by onebir

[eyecatcher]

38 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes I think so, seen them in a bronze or silver colour a flat head and the pointy bit almost like a masonry bit ?

Used them to hold some polycarbonate sheets onto some steel round the back of the house .

 

So you can screw through the Shera straight into the steel ?

They sell silver coloured purpose made shera screws with a self drilling tip and a serrated edge under the screw head to countersink itself; no drill bits needed, certainly for the 8/10mm stuff as a battery drill provides the drive.

[bankruatsteve]

11 minutes ago, onebir said:

Tungsten steel bits might last a bit longer, and don't cost that much more. (But I see they give you 2x 6mm in that pack, so I guess they'are a bit brittle, especially the smaller diameters?)

So far, I have used on 3mm steel, concrete, wood, and cement board. Goes right through and no apparent dulling after many holes. When feasible, I prefer pop rivets to the screws. Just prefer the appearance. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Surprisingly a few different answers here.

HSS drills

Masonry drills

Multipurpose drills 

Self drilling screws 

 

The easiest and probably cheapest option seems to be the self drilling screws, I have a few left over so will give it a go when I buy the materials.

 

Wish I had known this when doing the guttering ☹️ 
 

Anyhoo, thanks for all the advice guys, it is always welcome.

[Andrew Dwyer]

5 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

So far, I have used on 3mm steel, concrete, wood, and cement board. Goes right through and no apparent dulling after many holes. When feasible, I prefer pop rivets to the screws. Just prefer the appearance. 

Thanks Steve, will probably order a set anyway,  can never have enough diy options  !