Drilling Tiles

[Feralbilly]

Hi All,
What is the best (safest) way to drill wall tiles in order to put screw plugs in?
Should I use minimal pressure or push hard?
Should I use the hammer drill or an ordinary one? (With a masonry bit).

I would hate to wind up with a cracked tile.

Billy

[Hadamona]

Using hammer function is a sure way to crack the tile. Just use medium pressure with medium speed and a nice sharp masonry bit.

[munruben]

Drilling through glazed ceramic tile. Use a carbide-tipped masonry bit; regular twist-drill bits can't cut through the fire-hardened glaze. You'll also need to keep the bit from slipping off the glossy surface. Put two strips of masking tape onto the tile in an X pattern. Then drill through the tape — you'll feel the bit grind as it goes through the glazing.

[Cliff Rogers]

You can buy a Glass & Tile drill bit.

I get my from Bunnies, about $12 to $20 depending on the size.

Don't use hammer.

[dennford]

use the drill bit that cliff recomends to at least get through the glazed surface using steady pressure, low speed, (I tend to reckon that if you cant control the speed then use a cordless drill with a flat battery) and no hammer, after getting through the tile you can revert to a masonry bit to continue into the wall (now using hammer).

Denn

[Cliff Rogers]

BTW, the Glass & Tile bit is very easy to sharpen on an ordinary grinder.

[dennford]

BTW, the Glass & Tile bit is very easy to sharpen on an ordinary grinder.

good to know Cliff

[Feralbilly]

Thanks Guys. Will call into Bunnies when next down in Cairns. Hardware shops here probably won't have heard of glass & tile bits.

Billy

[Cliff Rogers]

You could have a look at Tableland Hardware on Grove St. in Atherton, they are part of Cairns Hardware.

If you do end up at Bunnies in Cairns, the drill bits are in the Tool Shop on the right as you go in.