[Closed] Tile drilling

I've successfully used masonry bits, with electrical or masking tape on the tile - go gently and all should be well.

I have an sds drill

I wouldn't be using an sds on tiles anyway. Might be a bit vicious. You're better off with a normal masonry bit in a drill. I [i]think[/i] you might want to have the hammer setting off too. As fadda says, go gently.

EDIT: always worth looking on youtube. This guy has it nicely.

Masonry bit is all you will need. Don't what ever you do use a wood drill bit, that would be stupid and noisy (don't ask how I know this).

You can get specific tile bits. I've got one, comes with a broadly ineffectual gizmo that goes over it, supposed to fill it with water so that it keeps the drill point lubricated. That's the key anyway, keep everything wet and take your time. Which is a good rule for life really.

Thanks for the reassurance .masonry it is.
I had planned to use the sds with the hammer off btw,(it's way more powerful than its predecessor).
That saves a trip to screw fix .:-)
Oh and the vid is better than the chirpy Aussie fella I saw.ta.

I had planned to use the sds with the hammer off btw

Course you did. 😉

🙂

It'll be a doddle, honest.

I had one of them specific, leaf-shaped thingies that worked ok. When I couldn't find it I used a regular masonry bit which also worked ok. Both times included plastic insulation tape and being gentle.

Mark the tile on where to drill. Cover mark with layers of sellotape so you can still see it. Drill slowly using a masonary drill bit no hammer action, increase speed once you've broken the surface. Once the drill bit has got through the glaze, you'll know when your through as it will be easier to drill, then apply hammer action.

I had to drill some holes in some Porcelain tiles in my bathroom, a normal masonry bit wouldn't even touch them.

Had to get a proper Porcelain drill bit and even then ended up going through 3 of them to get the holes done.

As above a bit of masking tape over where you are drilling to stop the bit from skidding.

Used a pointy tile bit on my bathroom tile to put a new cabinet up. Marked the wall, stuck masking tape over the top and couldn't believe how easy it was to do. That was just with a cheapo Black and Decker drill - no hammer.

screwfix.. pack of three drill bits about tuppennce you ll wonder ehy you didnt do it before.. i got a cracking set of diamond hole saws for tiles too for a bout a tenner again do what it says on the tin.

If they're ceramic then careful use of a masonry drill should be OK, depending on diameter you might want to start small then work up. If they're porcelain then a proper bit will be worth it's weight in gold. I got a marcrist bit from screwfix for my bathroom, took two minutes to do what a standard Bosch tile bit had taken about 40 before... They're about 30 quid but worth every penny!

I use a masonry bit - no hammer action of course, but just hand turn the chuck a few times with some pressure/weight on the drill just to break the tip though the hard glazed surface so your hole drills nice and true with no wandering. Been a method that has worked well for me on various tiles.

As above, but maybe use an offcut of wet sponge to cool the tip? Thick porcelain will probably take an age with a cheapo bit.

We have vintage original 1930s tiles in our kitchen and bathroom, a masonry bit didn't touch them. However, it was a doddle with a glass and tile bit. Horses for courses and all that...

Having just done this recently I would strongly recommend diamond tipped core drills. I only paid a few quid a local Plumbing shop ( LPS ) they are more expensive at the big sheds and screwfix but still worth it.

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Buy a cobalt drill bit. normal drills are not hard enough, cobalts are amazing at getting through any tile and don't lose the edge.
Drilled loads of tiles hole with them way better than masonry.

no flashy drill bits needed if its just standard bathroom tiles. A standard (cheepo) masonry bit will suffice, no need for a nuclear solution. If you've want 1000 holes out of one bit, then buy a flashy one, if you just want a few holes every 10 years to put up the odd soap dish, then standard masonry bits will be fine. I've never come across a bathroom tile I couldn't drill a nice neat hole in with a standard masonry bit. Once you're past the glazed surface it goes through like a hot knife through butter.

Wobbli......

I've never come across a bathroom tile I couldn't drill a nice neat hole in with a standard masonry bit.

I have lots.... I have lots of masonry drill bits I dont like buying stuff I don't need, some tiles need a better drill bits, you cant tell until you start, you have just not come across one yet.

Thanks for the advice all.
I've done what any sensible person should,watched the tour & gone for a pint to mull it over ;-).
I'll see how my masonry drill gets on and report back.no pressure .:-)

You'll probably need a little bit of pressure or it'll take hours.

bosch blue non-hammer masonry bits. multi construction i think they're called. better.

Centre punch, hammer, cordless drill and a bog standard bit.

Once you're past the glaze it's easy.

"Centre punch, hammer" ^^^ you're a lot braver than me 🙂

Jesus.....centre punch.....are you sure?

Arrow head style ceramic tile drill bit.

Masonry skips all over and useless in my experience. I tried the tape trick, also useless. Went out and got the proper tool and was perfect. Go slow and steady.

And definitely do not hammer drill!!

deadkenny - Member
Arrow head style ceramic tile drill bit

Ceramic drill bits are not a patch on cobalt drills, there not expensive and they don't wear like the diamond tip bits.
Don't knock till u've tried.

Not tried them on tiles, but used cobalt bits to drill out a snapped stainless steel bolt. Pretty good for that. The ceramic tile bits are fine for ceramic tiles I found.

As a tiler and bathroom fitter I have to drill a lot of holes in tiles.

For ceramics, I use the arrow head ones to drill through the tile until it just brakes through the back of the tile, then switch to a masonry to drill the hole in the wall. Before you drill, put the drill bit on the mark, apply pressure and turn the chuck by hand a couple of revolutions, this will mark the tile and stop the bit from slipping, no ned for tape. This method works for a masonry drill bit too but they are still prone to wandering a little. Oh and never use hammer for obvious reasons.

For Porcelain, I have used the small diamond coated bits in the past, keep them wet and at slow revs, it'll take a long time but you'll get there. I have invested in Rubi dry drill bits that attach to my grinder, they make very light work of porcelain and are a dry system so everything isn't wet through, theyre designed to run at 1400rpm. If you've got a lot of holes to drill in Porcs, you can get these from a GOOD tile merchant with an adapter for a std or sds drill but will be £25-30 for a 6 or 8mm.

Which ever method you use, don't drill the tile joints, this can crack tiles and do push the wall plug right through the tile and into the wall behind, otherwise tightening the screw could crack the tile as the plug expands.

Hope this helps.

Has the OP done it? How did it go...I've been on tenterhooks all weekend. 🙂

Job was postponed . Thanks for the concern. 😀
My Missus can't decide where /or how high she wants the cupboards, towel rail etc........ If I put them where i think they should go , it will be wrong. She has form for this type of behaviour. hohum.

Bought some diamond tipped core drills as pictured above. £4 on ebay for 2.

One hole in porcelain tile consumed both and one arrowhead bit. Took ages and ages.

Hoping you have ceramic.....