Drilling into tiles

[David66316]

Hi, how do you lot find the best way of drilling into tiles? Do ya just use normal masonry bits or not? That's what I've been using and it seems to take a while on some and very quick on others,
Thanks

 

[tamz]

Depends on the tiles. A masonary bit will drill most ceramic tiles no problem.

 

[dontknowitall]

Tile bit (usually buy mine from Travis Perkins or a tile shop). Larger holes, start with a tile bit then I've a triangular shaped bit I bought from a tile shop.

Felt tip mark on the tile and rest tile on floor. Start very slowly and if it slips, start again and push point of bit into tile until there's a slight nick. Then slow drill to begin with. I've tried using masking tape but it adds another five minutes or so by the time I've gone to the van, found it and returned. And the bit still slips.

 

[SimonG]

Irwin or bosch multi purpose on ceramic, travertine, slate. Diamond water cooled on porcelain and marble.

 

[lambchop]

On cheaper tiles make sure you push the raw plug past the tile to stop it cracking, sorryif going off on a tangent and sucking eggs and all that

 

[ecowarm]

or contact ********* a member and sponsor on here

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

on normal tiles any masonry drill in a hammer drill will do on porcelain now thats a different ball game,the bosch blue bits will roughly do 2 holes before burning out,the water cooled crap is not much better,but there is a sponsor on here 365 drills but dont know if he does a 5.5mm bit

 

[David66316]

Cheers for the advice, and I learnt about the rawl plug the hard way but cheers

 

[tamz]

Cheers for the advice, and I learnt about the rawl plug the hard way but cheers

Did you get a slap on the ear and a kick up the .... :lol:

 

[Muse2k8]

The drill bits from 365 drills are great for tiles and a good price I recommend them. If they don't have a bit you want they will also make them to order. I think the rate is £1 per mm so it's not a bad price but you will have to ask them. Their service is great so don't be shy

 

[andyplumber]

For ceramic tiles i start small and then increase bit size as necessary. For the one porcalain job i did (my own house) i bought a porcelain bit. Started dry at a low speed to mark the tile, then made a "bath" from kitchen towel, then drilled at high speed. The reason for marking the tile was that with water on a black tile i couldn't see my mark so i worked by feel.

 

[Guest123]

The Bathroom fitters pack from 365 drills is brilliant and good value. A glass/tile drill set from Tool station, costs about a tenner and drills most things easily and quickly at low cost. Use both 365 drills and the Tool station set on a slow speed, on rotary NOT on hammer action with plenty of water and if you put a bit of masking tape on the tile first, drill through it and it won't crack. The masking tape also makes it easy to mark your holes with a pencil.

 

[JCplumb]

I find the bit can still slip with masking tape, prefer to make a little nick in the tile if poss with something sharp like a nail and a very light tap from the persuader.

 

[Guest123]

I find the bit can still slip with masking tape, prefer to make a little nick in the tile if poss with something sharp like a nail and a very light tap from the persuader.

The 365 kit includes a template that you place on the wall and drill through the appropriate size of hole on it, so there's no way it can slip. If you start any other type of drill very slowly at first on masking tape so that it forms a groove, and then increase the speed, then punching a hole with a nail isn't required.

 

[Puddle]

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The pack really is a quality,good value buy

 

[Muse2k8]

Or start at an angle before straightening up the drill

 

[MattWeth]

For an ordinary tile drill (not one of the tube type diamond drills - I must get one of those 365 sets), I use one of those carbide spade type tile drills to very lightly centre pop the tile first - stops it slipping.

 

[username taken]

iv always used tile bits from screw fix.you get 3 in a pack and i think they are 5mm,6mm and a 7mm..i think there brilliant too.they normally last me about 3 months but i do buy 3 packs at a time so a pack generally last's around a month and i do a fair bit with them..

 

[REDSAW]

i now use the new irwin bits for drilling tiles brick concrete and steel without using the hammer.
they have a self centering point for tile so no skidding or tape required.

 

[plumbing 4 6]

bosch multi construction will drill any type of tile start with 4 mm and keep dipping it in water they are the best value for money.