Don't know if any of you recall previous posts - but now about 50%
through a major bathroom overhall - lots of issues along the way - but
so far - so good!

Room gutted. New tiled floor laid. And need to fit a new toilet.

Hi! Sounds like we've had frighteningly similar weekends and you've beaten
me to post exactly the same topic. :-) I spent a large part of Sunday
reading through Google archives and various tile drilling web sites so here
are some of my findings...

Floor tiles are much much harder than wall tiles and (unfortunately) normal
3 quid tile drills do NOT go through them like butter :-(. Floor tiles seem
to be rated for hardness, from PEI0 (or is it 1?) to PEI5 (5 being the
hardest). The ones I've just laid are PEI4 and I've got at least 6 holes to
drill through the buggers - 4 for the toilet and 2 for the basin pedestal.
Potentially I've got another SIXTEEN to drill for the bath - that's just not
going to happen so I'm in the process of coming up with a 'plan B' for that
one.

Anyway, I tried my 'old' 6mm tile drill on an off-cut - it dented the
surface but wouldn't get much further than 1-2mm through the tile - that was
WITH copious amounts of water. It was at that point I started searching
'round the net and found these:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...30926&ts=94327

I was prepared to spend £25 on a single 8mm drill bit BUT not another £40
for the arbor and £20 for the water cooling kit - especially since each bit
is only likely to last for around 15 holes (according to the Armeg web
site).

SO... went off to B&Q and bought a new normal 6mm tile drill and 2 x 10mm
tile drills. The 10mm bits were £9 each but I figured even if I have to buy
a few of them it's still cheaper than the Armeg route.

The trick is to keep the drill on a really low speed and use plenty of
water. Stop regularly to allow the bit to cool - you can also create a
little water reservoir around the hole with putty or the like (I used a
water spray). If the bit gets too hot it'll be knackered and you'll be £9
lighter. Even so I'm not expecting to get more than 3-4 holes out of one
bit. Took me a good 6-7 minutes to drill a single 10mm hole but it worked
on the test tile. The final w/c holes need to be drilled at an angle which
will add to the fun. Oh, and conveniently enough, our main gas pipe runs
directly under the floorboards where the toilet will be sitting so I've had
to buy special bolts that are exactly the right length (as opposed to the
w/c fixing kit type ones, which are hopeless for a tiled floor). Yet to try
it 'live' but will doubtless report back with findings...

....that's after my thumb heals from when I accidentally drove one of the
notches of the tile trowel under the nail. :-|

Andy