Drilling ceramic tile

[bctbct]

If you are drilling just regular ceramic tile take a nail set and lightly tap where you want the hole. It will create a dimple in the glazing on the tile. Use a tile/glass bit and low rpms to prevent overheating the bit. It will take about 30 seconds per hole.

The glazing is the hard surface. A masonary bit will also work but take a little longer.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I got 3 holes done. Took about 4 hours. I think i am getting the hang of it. I determined that the glass/tile bits are best. I think I can probably do the rest of the holes in about half an hour each. One of the big problems is that the bits wear very quickly. I tossed in a new bit for kicks and hte thing finished hte job in about a minute. Tomorrow I hope to finish up.

From doing some research, you can buy high end drill bits for tile. It's probably what professionals use. They cost $80 or so each. The drill VERY fast and will last long enough to do 5000 holes. You can not get them at Home Depot or Lowes.

Ok then. waste all the time you want, but i'm telling you Lowes carries diamond core bits.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...7702-728022&lpage=none

 

[jaqie]

What I did was somewhat similar, I basically scored through the glazing with a glass cutter the size of the hole before I started drilling, and in an X pattern with the center where the drillbit point sat.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: bctbct
If you are drilling just regular ceramic tile take a nail set and lightly tap where you want the hole. It will create a dimple in the glazing on the tile. Use a tile/glass bit and low rpms to prevent overheating the bit. It will take about 30 seconds per hole.

The glazing is the hard surface. A masonary bit will also work but take a little longer.

This.

If the bit isn't "biting" then you're not doing any work. If you're not removing material then you aren't really drilling a hole. High torque, low speed, with a quality bit and really put your arm into and it should be done in no time.

I find that corded drills do a LOT better job when you need the torque. These days you can pick up a really nice one for cheap.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I got 3 holes done. Took about 4 hours. I think i am getting the hang of it. I determined that the glass/tile bits are best. I think I can probably do the rest of the holes in about half an hour each. One of the big problems is that the bits wear very quickly. I tossed in a new bit for kicks and hte thing finished hte job in about a minute. Tomorrow I hope to finish up.

From doing some research, you can buy high end drill bits for tile. It's probably what professionals use. They cost $80 or so each. The drill VERY fast and will last long enough to do 5000 holes. You can not get them at Home Depot or Lowes.

Ok then. waste all the time you want, but i'm telling you Lowes carries diamond core bits.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...7702-728022&lpage=none

I found that on my second trip to Home Depot. Right next to all the other bits but still horribly displayed. If I saw it the first time I was there, I would have bought it. Anyways, I did buy it and it took less than a minute per hole. I don't see how anyone could drill a hole in tile quickly with any other bit. Glass/tile bits simply suck along with masonry drill bits which everyone seems to say to use from web sites to manuals. I don't get it. Tell the do it yourselfer to just pay the extra $7 for the diamond bit. The thing is, I do not see how professionals ould use any bit other than the diamond bit.

 

[alkemyst]

Pros wouldn't...the glass/tile bits you bought weren't for your application.