I recently moved into an apartment and I'm trying to mount my TV. I used a stud finder to identify the studs and drilled pilot holes. The holes in the rightmost stud went fine, but the leftmost stud felt way tougher. After I drilled the last hole, the drill bit got stuck and eventually broke. Now, when I tried marking with an awl, it's also stuck in that same stubborn stud. It's a few inches above where the bit broke off. What's making this stud so difficult, and how can I get the awl out? I've tried enlarging the hole and wiggling it, but nothing seems to work.
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be hitting a nail plate, which are there to protect wires and plumbing. When drilling gets difficult, that’s usually a sign to stop. As for the awl, try using a pair of vise grips to get a better grip and pull it out. But for future drilling, maybe find a different spot on that stud.
Make sure you twist it carefully to avoid breaking anything; I've been there before!
You could try using the claw end of a hammer. Just place a scrap piece of wood under it first so you don’t end up denting your drywall while you work it out.
I had a similar situation with a long drill bit stuck in a tree. I ended up using a big pipe wrench to grip the part sticking out and turning it counterclockwise until it came out. Might be worth a shot for your awl too!
Yeah, nail plates can be tricky! One time I drilled and hit metal in multiple places—not fun. Just keep an eye out for that!