Drilling porcelain tiles

[RogerS]

Thought I'd seen a post somewhere but can't locate it.

Trying to drill a few holes in some porcelain tiles (Imola..if that helps). I'm using Armeg drills (which I thought were the bees knees) but these tiles are basically telling Armeg where to get off. New drill bit as well.

Any suggestions? Holes are 6mm - 8mm.

Thanks

Roger

 

[Jake]

Chuck the armeg in a drill press, and drill it in a plastic container full of water (washing up bowl sort of thing, I ended up with a under-bed storage container for some larger format tiles...). put the tile on some ply so you don't go through the bottom. A slow speed and lots of pressure, more than you can really get with a hand drill, is what these bits like best. The water bath keeps them cool, if they get hot for a moment it ruins the bit.

 

[RogerS]

Nice idea..my problem is that the tiles are already fixed to the wall I've got a water spray that keeps it wet..lots of pressure...well leaning into it is about the best I can do :cry

Although I do wonder about your comment re ruining the bit if no water....as in 1 second dry or maybe a few minutes before the bit is knackered and is there anyway to tell visually?

 

[jasonB]

Use one of the very small diamond cores, they go down to 4mm dia, you will get about four holes before they are blunt. I get mine via hong kong but some of the tile shops are starting to do them but at a much higher price. I bought a set of twelve that cost less than £20.00 inc postage.

http://www.richontools.com/catalog/c36_p2.html

Use a slow speed in the cordless and a small garden type sprayer or empty house hold cleaner bottle withspray trigger.

They do not have a pilot so the best way to locate them is to drill a suitable hole in a scrap of ply or MDF and locate this over the hole to start the cut.

They also go through ceramic tile in a few seconds and you will get a lot more cuts.

Jason

 

[RogerS]

Jason

Good link, thanks. I can only see 10mm as the smallest size. Is that right or have I missed the smaller size?

From what I can see diamond is the way to go. I have a larger diamond core drill and I used that to drill holes for the shower pipes etc while the tile was unmounted. Also used MDF as a guide and found that clamping it down gave a little well for the water as well ! Armeg I think are carbide and so pants.

Roger

 

[Jake]

I thought you meant the Armeg diamond ones, carbide won't do porcelain.

 

[RogerS]

They advertise them as Porcelain Tile Cutters...from their website go to Tile Cutting...Porcelain Tile Cutters.

 

[trevtheturner]

http://www.richontools.com/catalog/c36_p2.html

... there are 6mm core bits shown on page 3.

Cheers,

Trev.

 

[DaveL]

Roger,

The last time I drilled tiles, about 5 years ago, at my sons, he had some diamond drills that looked like spear points. They cut a small hole and then sort of reamed it out to the full size of the drill. Worked really well, trouble is I can't find them in any of the obvious places. :roll:
What size are you looking for? I can ask him tomorrow were they came from, he may even have some kicking about. :shock:

 

[RogerS]

Thanks all..and Trev, I didn't page down far enough.

 

[dedee]

Roger
I have ceramic tiles rather than porcelain - What's the difference? All I have ever used is a tile cutting drill from one of the sheds. It has a flat pointed arrow like point and it has never failed yet.

See half way down this page:-

http://www.diydata.com/tool/drillbits/drillbits.htm

Andy

 

[RogerS]

Andy

Chalk and cheese basically Porcelain tile is baked at higher temperatures in the kiln, more so than many types of ceramic tile; the higher the temperature, the harder the tile.

I've tried that type of drill..I heard the porcelain tile snigger.

Roger

 

[RogerS]

Jason...you are THE MAN :!: :!: :!:

Just tried one of those core drills. Phrases like 'hot knife through butter' spring to mind.

Yabba...yabba...doo!! Yee-harh !! Stupid grin time :lol: :lol:

I am SUCH a happy bunny. What a great forum !!!

Cheers guys

Roger

 

[jasonB]

Glad to help, if you don't mind me asking what make did you get and from where and how much :?:

Jason

 

[RogerS]

Jason - not at all. I needed them in a hurry and Googled and came up with ToolShop Direct who shipped for am delivery the next day.

http://www.toolshopdirect.co.uk


Product Name : 8mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD8
Price Per Item : £6.95
VAT : £1.04
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £2.08
Sub Cost : £13.90

Product Name : 6mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD6
Price Per Item : £5.85
VAT : £0.87
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £1.74
Sub Cost : £11.70

Product Name : 7mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD7
Price Per Item : £6.45
VAT : £0.96
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £1.92
Sub Cost : £12.90
Tool Shop Direct [[email protected]]

 

[RogerS]

Jason - not at all. I needed them in a hurry and Googled and came up with ToolShop Direct who shipped for am delivery the next day.

http://www.toolshopdirect.co.uk


Product Name : 8mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD8
Price Per Item : £6.95
VAT : £1.04
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £2.08
Sub Cost : £13.90

Product Name : 6mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD6
Price Per Item : £5.85
VAT : £0.87
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £1.74
Sub Cost : £11.70

Product Name : 7mm Mini Diamond Drill Bit
Product Code : MDCD7
Price Per Item : £6.45
VAT : £0.96
Quantity : 2
Sub VAT : £1.92
Sub Cost : £12.90
Tool Shop Direct [[email protected]]

 

[jasonB]

Thanks Roger, a bit pricier than the ones from Hong Kong but still worth the price, just wait 'till you try them in ceramics

Jason

 

[RogerS]

I think that they are exactly the same ones but I did needed them quickly. I'll get some from HK next time.