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Rafal
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

Hi all

Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,
people snapping drill bits etc.
Is this just a question of not using diamond drill?
What are the best methods of drilling /small and large holes/ in porcelain
floor tiles and cutting them in shapes?

Regards

Rafal Zado


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BigWallop
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?


"Rafal" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,
people snapping drill bits etc.
Is this just a question of not using diamond drill?
What are the best methods of drilling /small and large holes/ in porcelain
floor tiles and cutting them in shapes?

Regards

Rafal Zado



A proper tile drilling bit is the best solution for drilling a pilot hole.
The pilot hole can then be used to pass a tile saw through to cut internal
shapes into the tiles.

As long as you don't try to rush tile jobs. And you always have a proper
tile saw, a proper tile drilling bit and good straight cutting gear, then
you're OK for most jobs.


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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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David Hearn
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?


"Rafal" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,
people snapping drill bits etc.
Is this just a question of not using diamond drill?
What are the best methods of drilling /small and large holes/ in porcelain
floor tiles and cutting them in shapes?


I've happily drilled 6mm holes in tiles using a standard masonry bit. I've
noticed that my 5mm bit (which is mostly unused) seems to work better, which
I believe to be because it has a sharper point (because its practicially
unused) which gets through the glaze. I also use masking tape over the
planned hole first which helps stop the drill from slipping at first. Once
the glaze has been pierced the bit doesn't slip as easily.

Not sure if porcelain drilling is different from ceramic though.

D


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Andy Dingley
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 07:58:53 -0000, "Rafal"
wrote:

Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,


If it comes in a box, you just pick another one out and try again -
you'll lose a few, but not many. If it's an expensive hand-decorated
one-off, then you might have more to worry about.

I treat them like drilling glass:

Use a drilling machine, not a hand-held drill. This is the most
important part.

Use a carbide "leaf" bit

Use a good backing support, such as an undrilled scrap of timber and
maybe even a layer of polyethylene foam (flooring underlay) on top.

Make a circular wall of glazier's putty and put in a little paraffin
as lubricant.

Drill gently, with little downforce.

--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods
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Rick Dipper
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

The way I drill is this.

Buy BRAND NEW HSS drill bits, one per hole.

Put some masking tape onto the tile. Slowly start to drill, you need good control of the drill to stop it slipping, the glaze is the hardest part. Once you are
into the glaze increase speed, but not a lot. If the drill bit becomes red
1) you are going way to fast
2) get a new drill bit.

It takes quite a while, its not like drilling wood or steel.

Rick

On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 07:58:53 -0000, "Rafal" wrote:
Hi all

Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,
people snapping drill bits etc.
Is this just a question of not using diamond drill?
What are the best methods of drilling /small and large holes/ in porcelain
floor tiles and cutting them in shapes?

Regards

Rafal Zado







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Rafal
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

Thank ypu very much for all suggestions.
What about cutting porcelain tiles?
Is regular tile cutter ok, or do I need circular saw?

Rafal


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Dave Plowman
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

In article ,
Rafal wrote:
Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain tiles,


Could I ask what a porcelain tile is and how it differs from a 'normal'
one?

--
*A backward poet writes inverse.*

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn
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BigWallop
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?


"Dave Plowman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Rafal wrote:
Just heard few horror stories about drilling and cutting porcelain

tiles,

Could I ask what a porcelain tile is and how it differs from a 'normal'
one?


Porcelain is very fine glazed fired clay which is the same colour all the
way through. A normal ceramic tile is a lump of shoddy clay with a coloured
slip and glazed front.


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The Natural Philosopher
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?

Rafal wrote:

Thank ypu very much for all suggestions.
What about cutting porcelain tiles?
Is regular tile cutter ok, or do I need circular saw?

Rafal



A small cheapo rotary diamond wet saw will pay for itself in wasted
tiles in a day IMHO.







  #10   Report Post  
NJF
 
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Default Drilling and cutting porcelain tiles?



The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Rafal wrote:

Thank ypu very much for all suggestions.
What about cutting porcelain tiles?
Is regular tile cutter ok, or do I need circular saw?

Rafal


A small cheapo rotary diamond wet saw will pay for itself in wasted
tiles in a day IMHO.


I have diamond saw's and ultrasonic diamond milling and drilling here,
wouldn't bother with anything else for ceramics/glass and other *exotic*
materials...

Niel.

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