Drilling Tiles

[PositronicRay]

its hot said:

PositronicRay said:

Mark the spot hammer and nail, just tap it to chip the glaze then drill away.

what !!!!!!!

A tip given to me by a tiler, works perfectly.

[AlmostUseful]

Neil - YVM said:

Finally someone makes a sensible post.

This! Use a drill designed for the Job, rather than bodging!
Though if the tiles are porcelain another drill but will be required, such as

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-diamond-tile-dri...

What do you mean finally, that's what I suggested further up the page! Only o suggested cheap ones rather than bosch, they still did the job perfectly.

[boxst]

Thank you for your advice. With the special drill bit, do I still use masking tape?

[Neil - YVM]

boxst said:

Thank you for your advice. With the special drill bit, do I still use masking tape?

The Bosch bits don't need it, as they don't tend to wander, unlike old fashioned tile drill bits. But using masking will help if not 100% confident.

[R1 Indy]

Pray they are not granite tiles. As you will be there hours if they are!!

[Jasandjules]

boxst said:

Thank you for your advice. With the special drill bit, do I still use masking tape?

I still used the tape and also kept using water too. It was worth it to me to take the time to give the perfect finish.

[bearman68]

PositronicRay said:

A tip given to me by a tiler, works perfectly.

Normal ceramic tiles - this works great.

I normally use a specially sharpened flat bit, little dink to remove the glaze, and bore away with a masonry drill not on hammer in a cordless.
Never broken one yet............. (both have been fine)..

[DocJock]

Another vote for this tip.

Score the glaze with the nail and the bit will not wander.

[dazwalsh]

You only need a diamond tip bit for porcelain, a regular masonary bit will go through ceramic no problem as long as you turn off hammer mode and take it nice and slow. You have to be very careful if you are on the corner of a tile too.

[dirty_dog]

Just drilled 16 holes in porcelain! Got a kit from 365 drills which was great but I got bored doing it so kept swapping with Dad. Depends what tiles you have though, I've used cheap spade bits in ceramic easily.

[minivanman]

I just got one of those erbauer diamond jobbies for a couple of holes in porcelain, works a treat!

[Buzz84]

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Glass+Tile-Drill-Bi...

I have the above set for the various bits I've had to do recently while re-doing my bathroom, they work very well.

[Too Late]

drilling through tiles is st
I always go through about 2-3 tile drill bits before i make the hole.
God knows what i am doing wrong....
Sometimes they glow red they get so hot...

[Tanguero]

Too Late said:

drilling through tiles is st
I always go through about 2-3 tile drill bits before i make the hole.
God knows what i am doing wrong....
Sometimes they glow red they get so hot...

You are drilling far too fast. Slow the drill right down and use a few drops of water for lubrication.

[B17NNS]

For ceramics these work a treat...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-tile-glass-drill...

[AW10]

If it's a loose tile put it into a water bath (like a baking tray) and use a cordless drill with a sharp bit at a sensible speed and the bit will stay nice and cool. If the bit has become red hot you might as well throw it away - it's knackered.

[Ganglandboss]

Neil - YVM said:

Jasandjules said:

You can buy special drill bits for cutting ceramic tiles.

Like this

http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-expert-diamond-til...

I bought a little set and they work brilliantly.

Finally someone makes a sensible post.

This! Use a drill designed for the Job, rather than bodging!
Though if the tiles are porcelain another drill but will be required, such as

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-diamond-tile-dri...

Why is using a masonry drill and tape bodging? I have used this method hundreds of times and I have never broken a tile or been left with anything other than a neat hole.

[ShiningWit]

AlmostUseful said:

Neil - YVM said:

Finally someone makes a sensible post.

This! Use a drill designed for the Job, rather than bodging!
Though if the tiles are porcelain another drill but will be required, such as

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-diamond-tile-dri...

What do you mean finally, that's what I suggested further up the page! Only o suggested cheap ones rather than bosch, they still did the job perfectly.

No you didn't, you said use a spade bit which is used for drilling holes in wood.

[dazwalsh]

ShiningWit said:

No you didn't, you said use a spade bit which is used for drilling holes in wood.

They do spade shaped bits for tiles too. Think American shovel type shape.

[ShiningWit]

dazwalsh said:

ShiningWit said:

No you didn't, you said use a spade bit which is used for drilling holes in wood.

They do spade shaped bits for tiles too. Think American shovel type shape.

Yes, they are called glass and tile drills.