drilling through tiles

MFCGMFC · Post by **MFCGMFC** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:57 pm

hey all

just had my granda's bathroom supplied and fitted by B&Q all nice and shiny but now i wanna drill holes in the tiles!! lol

its to put up the blind and the mirror, so what i'm looking for is a drill bit to go through the tile safely?

is there special types of drill bit? or just use a masonry bit?

TIA

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:28 pm

You can use a masonry drill, but not on hammer. That depends on the tile though. So you can try masonary drill on normal action and if it won't drill into it, then get yourself a tile drill.

You can get them in Screwfix, they do cheapo ones that will do you. No need for the £25 a time ones just for a few holes.

Make sure you push the plug right in and past the tile. With cheaper tiles if you push plug only to be flush with surface of tile, when you do the screw up they crack! Also just do the screw up as tight as is needed, overtightening can crack a tile too.

Hope that helps.

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:24 pm

I find you need to tap a masonary nail onto the area to drill to nick the surface otherwise the drill bit will slip.

A sharp screw is just as good, you just want to nick the glazed bit.

Those bosch hybrid bits are better, seem to have a sharpe angle on the head

Best to keep the drill on slow speed and crunch away. For a hard tile I just used a smaller masonary drill bit and work my way up in size

chris_h · Post by **chris_h** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:40 am

I stick a piece of masking tape on the tile to stop the drill from slipping, and start with a small drill just to break the surface

Simon Site Manager · Post by **Simon Site Manager** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:04 pm

Hi,
You can get proper drill bits for tiles, looks like a spade bit. Use the proper tool for the job, it would be a shame to break a lovely new tile!

S

andy68 · Post by **andy68** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:51 pm

I just did this for the first time this weekend - bought a 'piranha' tile and glass drill bit from Homebase and put masking tape over the tile - if you've marked the wall where you want to drill you'll be ab;e to see the mark through the tape, I marked it again to be on the safe side. Slow speed is key here, but the best advice I was given was 'measure twice, drill once!'

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:55 pm

I have never really had a problem drilling tiles with masonary bits.

Only ever tried ceramic though

Nij · Post by **Nij** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:32 am

I always use a masonry bit. Never on hammer and on a medium speed with hardly any pressure.
I have nit cracked on yet - BUT make sure that the wall behind is a wall and not a plasterboard one like the mistake I made last week and had a hell of a time sorting out :)

MFCGMFC · Post by **MFCGMFC** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:53 pm

i bought the 3 pack of drills from screwfix and it was great

bored through the tiles no problem

thanks all :)

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:05 pm

how much were they?

Might get some but never have that many holes to drill

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:37 pm

I managed to do a video on drilling ceramic tiles yesterday-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zzLQWPHpg

I'll upload the porcelain tile drilling video tonight

MFCGMFC · Post by **MFCGMFC** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:46 pm

they were £5.99 from screwfix, i cant find them on the site right now but as soon as i do i'll post up the link :)

they were made by Erbauer

EDIT: just as i wrote that i found it! lol

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/53634/Dri ... -x-83-3Pcs