How to hang a shelf on a brick wall with a cordless drill

Short answer: mark the holes with a spirit level, drill into the brick with a masonry bit the same size as your wall plugs, tap the plugs in, then screw the brackets on. Use a drill with an impact (hammer) setting. A plain drill isn't made for brick.

What you need

• A cordless drill with an impact (hammer) setting, or a rotary hammer drill for concrete
• A masonry bit the same size as your wall plugs (the plug packet tells you which size)
• Wall plugs and screws that can carry your shelf and what goes on it (check the packet)
• A spirit level, a pencil and a tape measure
• A strip of masking tape
• Safety glasses and a dust mask

Step by step

1. Check for pipes and wires. Electrical cables usually run straight up or down from plug points and light switches, so don't drill in line above or below them. If you're not sure, a cable and pipe detector is cheap at any hardware store.
2. Mark the holes. Hold the bracket against the wall, put the spirit level on it, and mark each hole with a pencil.
3. Mark the depth. Wrap masking tape around the bit at the length of the plug plus a few millimetres. Stop drilling when the tape reaches the wall.
4. Drill. Switch the drill to the impact (hammer) setting. Start slowly until the bit bites, then hold the drill straight and let it do the work. Don't lean on it hard. Pull the bit out now and then to clear the dust. If the brick is soft or crumbly, switch the hammer off and drill slowly so the hole doesn't break open.
5. Clean and plug. Blow or vacuum the dust out of the hole. Tap the plug in with a hammer until it's flush with the wall.
6. Fix the bracket. Screw the bracket on. Use the slow speed and a low clutch setting so you don't strip the screw. Check it's level before the last turn.
7. Fit the shelf. Put the shelf on the brackets and screw it down from underneath if the brackets have holes for that.

Which tool for your walls

A few holes in brick: the Al&Afa impact drill set, R499. It drills holes and drives screws, into walls too, with two batteries in the case.

"Good enough and strong to drill holes in the wall, to hang my pictures,etc."
Ronelle, 5-star Takealot review, word for word

One buyer had a bit slip in the chuck while drilling into a wall, so tighten the chuck firmly and check it as you go.

Concrete, or lots of holes: the cordless rotary hammer drill, R1,199. It's the tool for brick and concrete, takes SDS-plus bits, and runs on batteries.

"I love my driller, like the fact that is cordless, which makes work simple for me. I don't have to worry about loadshedding."
Zama, 4-star Takealot review, word for word

Screws, furniture and the wooden shelf itself: the 26-piece drill set, R480. Light and easy, but not made for brick. New to drills? Read what to look for in your first cordless drill.

Every Al&Afa tool comes with two batteries. Free delivery in South Africa from R750 (3 to 5 working days), 30 days to change your mind, a 6-month warranty on faults, and a real person on WhatsApp: 081 593 4239.