Curtain rail fixing

And will probably need large screws which might not be suitable for the curtain track brackets. By far the best way is to put up a wooden batten with good hefty screws into suitable sized plugs. This will also give you the advantage of being able to fix the brackets where *you* want them rather than having to dodge around mortar lines or cavities in the blocks.

For that type of block I default to Fischer everytime - they have such a good range of plugs, and more to the point, they have extra long plugs with anti turn ribs which are most useful in very soft blockwork.

newshound expressed precisely :

I agree, a normal hammer drill and used very gently, so as to not make the hole diameter larger than necessary.

ya don't need a hammer drill. Any type of drill that takes any type of suitably sized bit can manage plaster & lightweight block no problem. Even a screwdriver could do it.

NT

Yes. Drills fine with a normal HSS twist drill, or even a carbon steel one. I would not recommend a screwdriver, though, because you want a fairly accurate hole so that the plug grips well.

Any drill bit would work. Twist, masonry, dowel, D, gimlet, flat bit, spoon bit, a random bit of metal with a point, anything.

I don't think anyone would contemplate recommending a screwdriver, but even that would work. You'd need to add filler due to the rough hole shape.

NT