[Lardman]

Single skin, 3ft high,  topped with half blues on end . 2ft Posts - 3x3 The idea is to put a few lengths of lath from one post to another, very little weight or wind resistance.

Normally Id use something like these http://www.metpost.co.uk/mp_boltdown.html . But drilling the blues is killing my drill bits or shattering the bricks using the sds. I need to cut a few of the shatter bricks out so before I replace then does anyone have any ideas on a better way of either attaching the metposts or building something into the wall to hold the posts.

[8doubles]

Can you drill holes in the mortar joints of the wall ?

[Lardman]

Can you drill holes in the mortar joints of the wall ?

2 holes will line up but the other 2 wouldn't.    But it does 1/2 the problem.

[8doubles]

Put a steel dowel , 10mm studding bar or similar in the bottom of the post and just drill one larger hole down  and squirt in some silicone mastic . No need for metpost brackets if there is not much of a strain on the post.

[Lardman]

  Not sure I can bring myself to do that 

I'll try 2 in the mortar course and see how that holds. I was considering cutting a few of the blues out and replacing with a block paving brick, being solid concrete I assume (although I can't say I've tried) they will be less likely to shatter when drilled?

[8doubles]

Paviers are hard and brittle too but not as bad as blues, different size though.

Are you fixing the posts to the top of the wall not the side ? If so the dowel method will not work. I would have gone for halving the post over the wall and face fixing, might even cover the damaged bricks.

[Lardman]

Ever had one of those 5 minute jobs you wish you hadn't started ?

I can't face fix as the back would be beyond my boundary and the front forms an 18" path of steps that I really can't make any narrower. 

Hacked the shattered blues out this morning very carefully but its clear that none are properly bonded to the bricks below although they are to each other ! I don't know if I should just take the lot off and redo it, grid it out and repoint or replace it with some capping.

[8doubles]

If you do renew the soldier course you could build in some 25mm overflow pipe and drill the bottom of the posts with a bigger dowel to fit.

No such thing as a simple job ! 

[japagow]

I'm lining myself up for a gate post on a garage wall to provide a wind break. The path way is paved.

My readers digest DIY folder which has been with me since forever tells me that I will need a hammer drill and some clever screw bolts/anchor bolts to fix it.

My own drill bit won't have enough power so I'll be hiring when the time comes. The anchor bolts will keep the gate post up no need for holes or met posts.

This might help

I can change light bulbs now so gate posts and gates should be easy.

[RichardA]

can you go right through at a joint, use bolts or studded bars with big washers on back to fix timber to wall and drill into that.
R