What is the best way to drill through brick? I’m getting ready to install security cameras and our front porch area is starting to give me a headache. Originally, I was going to put in a short run of 1/2 inch conduit from the soffit to the junction box/camera. However, my wife would prefer not to have exposed conduit. On the opposite of that exterior wall is my daughters bedroom so I can cut an access and drill up through the top plates. My concern is drilling through the exterior brick. Should I use my rotary hammer or will that shatter the brick? The hole will need to be 3/4 to 1 inch to get the connections in the wall (I don’t think the mounting box is big enough for the connectors). The hole will of course be sealed up with duct seal afterwards.

IF you have the option to go through the mortar then that will be much easier.
However, no way around it - going through the brick is hard.
Use a masonry bit and a hammer drill.
Start with smaller hole/bit and enlarge with larger bits once you are through.
Not gonna be fun or quick.

Going through the mortar is definitely an option. The mortar is 1/2 inch so the concern with the brick is still there. So no concerns with damaging the brick with a rotary hammer (or at least no more than any other drilling method)?

I used Lowes branded "Spyder" hole saws to cut larger holes in brickwork for my minisplit install.

They have only a few carbide cutting edges on them and just need rotation to cut effectively. The only thing is, the smaller diameter ones can't go deep enough as the mandrel is larger diameter than the saw and bottom out before full penetration.

I'd be leary of using a regular carbide tipped drill in brick above 1/2".

Ideally make the connections on the exterior especially if POE cameras. This would only require a small 1/4" hole. Maybe mount a Jbox that can house the connections and mount the camera on that.

I've used a hammer drill and masonry bit to go through brick many times. Never found it all that difficult, really.

One tip, especially if you need a 1" hole, go with a smaller diameter bit first, then step your way up a few times.

You'll want a hole saw, no impact. You should be able to pick up a small diamond core bit at the local home improvement store for $30 or so. A regular drill will run it.

Tapcon brand fasteners come with a concrete drillbit, if you have one already these run right thru mortar. Otherwise get thee to the big box and get a concrete drill bit….you don’t necessarily need a hammer drill for going thru mortar.

Don’t forget some silicone caulking to seal the hole from the weather after you’ve run the wire.

I used tapcons for putting up a flag holder and the bit went thru the brick w/o breaking it. Regular impact driver and the small 1/4” bit.

I’ve used a big beefy rental hammer drill and masonry bit and had no issues before. You definitely need one of them.

quote:

Originally posted by shiftyvtec:


Ideally make the connections on the exterior especially if POE cameras. This would only require a small 1/4" hole. Maybe mount a Jbox that can house the connections and mount the camera on that.

Yup, Cat5e goes nicely though a small 1/4" hole.

I got one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...le_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

makes the camera appear a bit larger, but my RJ-45 connection fits nicely in the box so all I have is a small 1/4 hole in the house, plus 3 mounting screws.

If course you will have to crimp the RJ-45 yourself onto the cat5e/cat6/etc cable on the exterior, but that's no big deal if you have the right tool.

quote:

Originally posted by Erick85:
My concern is drilling through the exterior brick. Should I use my rotary hammer or will that shatter the brick?

Rotary hammer or hammer drill? A hammer drill almost certainly will not shatter brick. A rotary hammer...? I think it won't, either, but I've never tried mine on brick.

What I have used my rotary hammer for was, in hammer-only mode, with a chisel bit, trimming excess mortar from around glass block. I had the same concern, but it had to be done. I was amazed at how controllable the process was.

My rotary hammer, a Bosch 11255VSR SDS-Plus Bulldog Xtreme, is variable speed. So I can be incredibly gentle with it.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
You'll want a hole saw, no impact. You should be able to pick up a small diamond core bit at the local home improvement store for $30 or so. A regular drill will run it.

^^^ This right here is the best solution.

Diamond bit and high speed... will drill through it like butter.
The two items which will slow it down is granite rock and steel rods.
(Have up to 6" diameter x 11" drill depth core bits and have drilled 24"+ brick, concrete, rock, granite, steel rods, steel mesh)

If the bit bottoms out before you're through, use a punch/chisel and hit it a couple times in the cutting grove. It will break off the core so you can then remove it, to allow for further drilling.

Once you use diamond bits, your carbide hammer bits will sit on the shelf in the shop.

Thanks everyone. Yes, my initial thought was to use my rotary hammer, thus the concern with brick. I’ve never used it on anything other than poured concrete. Hopefully, I can get away with just going through the mortar, I’m just worried the mounting box isn’t big enough for the connectors. The camera is here. The required box is this one.

I know I’m probably overthinking this. I think a smaller hole will work (or hope it does) and the box will hold everything. I’m just planning in case it doesn’t. I hate being in the middle of something and plan A doesn’t work and I haven’t come up with a plan B yet.

This may be an ignorant question, but why could you not attach the camera to the soffit? Is there not enough over hang to accommodate the camera, is the soffit that you can access not in the correct area?

quote:

Originally posted by sig226fan:
This may be an ignorant question, but why could you not attach the camera to the soffit? Is there not enough over hang to accommodate the camera, is the soffit that you can access not in the correct area?

Lower for facial ID purposes. Our soffits are 9 feet plus. I will have some cameras attached to the soffit around the house. This is the only real tricky spot. Not an ignorant question at all. Hell, maybe it’s a valid question and I’ve been spending too much time over at ipcamtalk and getting tunnel vision.

quote:

Originally posted by Erick85:
Thanks everyone. Yes, my initial thought was to use my rotary hammer, thus the concern with brick. I’ve never used it on anything other than poured concrete. Hopefully, I can get away with just going through the mortar, I’m just worried the mounting box isn’t big enough for the connectors. The camera is here. The required box is this one.

I know I’m probably overthinking this. I think a smaller hole will work (or hope it does) and the box will hold everything. I’m just planning in case it doesn’t. I hate being in the middle of something and plan A doesn’t work and I haven’t come up with a plan B yet.

that box will work fine. plenty of room for the RJ-45 plus the pigtail.

The box will work fine with the camera. Just remember you have to get the power plug thru the wall along with the ethernet cable.

quote:

Originally posted by unit338:
The box will work fine with the camera. Just remember you have to get the power plug thru the wall along with the ethernet cable.

It’s POE so just the Ethernet cable (thankfully…lol).

Great!!! I have had good luck with these cameras.

quote:

Originally posted by unit338:
The box will work fine with the camera. Just remember you have to get the power plug thru the wall along with the ethernet cable.

If it’s just Ethernet, easiest would be to drill hole just big enough for the cable and then terminate/crimp your RJ-45’s after it’s run.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
If it’s just Ethernet, easiest would be to drill hole just big enough for the cable and then terminate/crimp your RJ-45’s after it’s run.

Agree, no need for big hole saw just a hole big enough for the cable, then pin it after you pull the cable.

However agree, put it up on the Soffit first and see how the resolution is for face recognition, if it's not what you want, move it to the wall and drill away.