Hi cathomes;
If the drill you are useing is for drilling tile it will not go through metal (without considerable force that is).
What you need are some self tapping metal screws to mount the cabinet with in that particular place you are drilling. They will easily go into the metal studs.
You can get some at any hardware store.
Best, THS
the drill bit i was using is multi purpose, but i did double check by using another drill piece for metal once through the tile. I am slightly confused at what to do next, my diy jargon isnt great. I now have an 8mm hole through the tile and plasterboard that is 20mm deep and hasnt hit the metal studs, i am not sure what it wont go through and am not willing to force it. So i am not sure what to do about the existing hole or how to fix the cabinet considering there is only 20mm limit to the depth of the wall.
Does this make sense?
Well yes, and no.
It makes sense that a steel stud should be able to be drilled into. What doesnt make sense is that you are unable to.
The only logical solution to this is that you have one of two things stopping you from drilling the hole.
A) you have drilled in a place where there is a hardened metal plate that is used to protect homeowners, DIYers, and the occasional mis directed nail gun from coming into contact with electrical wires.
B) there is a steel post there that is part of the structural seismic system, or superstructure of the building (steel beam instead of a wood post).
You can determine which you have by useing a strong magnet and passing it over the area. If you only feel resistance in a small area then it is a protective plate. If you have continious resistance up and down the legnth of the wall it is a steel support member.
The steel support member you can drill into. The protective plate ......Well you can drill it but it may turn into a shocking experience.
I would imagine that i have come into contact with a hardened metal plate. If this is the case how can i rectify the hole in the wall through the tiling to get it back to what it was? or just not noticeable. As i am imagining that the area i am trying to mount the cupboard is a no go area now, and will have to relocate the position of the cupboard.
and how can i find the protective plate in other areas of the wall before drilling!?
Well I wish I could tell you a secret trick that I know for patching drilled tiles. I am sorry but that is one thing that there just isnt a fix for that is not obvious. The best you can do is try and match the color with some food coloring and a little FixAll. Depending on how close you can match the color ansd a little sanding the hole can blend in well enough that the untrained eye will not notice it.
Locating the plates is not a task I would envy you. It would be difficult to near impossible to do this with steel studs.
Best suggestion is to tap the wall where you intrend to drill back and forth about 1/3 meter and try to avoid the places that sound solid.
Jack of all trades Master of a few.
#1 Home Improvement Expert. Over 30 years experience in construction, and home repairs