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Drilling holes straight for window blinds?
I'm thinking about installing inside-mount window blinds myself. If you've done this before, you'd know that a part of this involves in drilling a few holes near corners of a window. In fact, it's so close to the corner that a normal cordless drill (like these: http://www.amazon.com/b?node=561138) won't be able to drill holes parallel/perpendicular to the window frame.
So my question is, is that OK? I'm assuming it is, but I can't spot tutorials or videos that actually confirms this.
sppedy -- thanks for the tip on how to drill a straight hole, but in this case the challenge comes from the fact that the hole needs to be made very close to the corner of a window, making it impossible to position it straight (because the body of a drill has some thickness, and it hits the side of the window.)
Tedkell -- if I understand you correctly, you are saying you normally just screw the brackets without drilling holes first (thus thinner and longer screws help), but you think it's OK if the screws have slight angle.
West Side -- I'm not sure how I can position brackets 6" from the sides and still make it work. I mean, mounting brackets hold the blinds from both ends, and we all want window blinds to completely fill the window, so the brackets necessarily have to be very close to the window corners, right?
11 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
You should not be concerned.
With angled pilot holes, screws will not seat perfectly to the bracket, but will still hold.
The problem will be cosmetic only, and the blinds will cover the screws anyway.
- 1 decade ago
Unless your house made of brick... I never drilled holes to install inside-mount blinds. Normally there is enough space to use a normal drill. I put brackets to the side wall of the window and secure it with screws. sometimes you need to mount brackets to the top of the window. You can drive your screws with slight angle, so it is more comfortable to handle the drill. One trick is that sometimes you can't really use the screws supplied with the blinds package. Normally, those only go through your drywall but not into the wood. I pick my own screws, little thinner and longer then the ones in the package.
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Thinner screw will penetrate better without splitting the wood inside.
Longer screw needed to make sure you do penetrate the wood and not only the drywall. And this has been a problem with screws supplied in the packages.
It is OK to screw at slight angle, or any angle for that matter. The screw holds the bracket pressed against the structure. The reason you prefer slight angle (just enough for the drill) is that,1-so that your screw doesn't stick out inside the bracket interfering with blind itself, and 2- the screw doesn't miss the wood. Unless your blind is a 40 pound fixture, 4 screws will hold it well as long as they are driven into the wood approximately 1/2 inch. Also, using a longer driver in the drill could help when working corners.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Ya you can. Good luck getting it off though.. If you can't make a hole because the sides of the window are metal or made of some other object aside from wood, head over to the hardware store and get a different drill bit. I'd highly recommend not using Krazy glue for this one bud.
- speedyLv 51 decade ago
Some battery operated drills have a site level built in on them. That may help. There is a frame you can buy to put your drill in so you are assured to drill a straight hole. It is all most like a drill press. That may help. Another thing I have learned is to drill a small, real small pilot hole first. You have better control over the hole. That might help. Good luck.
- Andy LuciaLv 71 decade ago
Position your mountings 6" in from the sides. Use a corded Hammer Drill with a 5mm masonry bit (they have a lot more power)
I fit my own blinds that way
- Anonymous5 years ago
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