Thread: Drilling holes in wall tiles, without cracking them.

I didn’t realise the slot was so small, a diamond blade in a grinder is of no help

Best would be the little diamond core bits (not the spade bit ones) and drill a hole through a small price of ply the same diameter as the core bit , align the ply over your hole and use it as a jig to hold the bit in place, you will be able to link your holes that way without the bit running off

Fitting accessories in bathrooms these days has become quite expensive with porcelain being so popular. The drill bits are much more expensive and it is labour intensive

Originally Posted by aldav

Finished size of the hole is 30mm by 15mm, don't think you'd get far with even a 100mm diamond blade on a grinder.

Ok, I thought it’s a bigger square. A professional tiler can definitely do that with a clean edge if the tile is not laid. But if it is already laid, then it’s very hard to cut a small clean rectangle out, if you want to drill holes on Hard tiles, diamond core bit is definitely he best choice.


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drill, then mini Dremel to grind it to semi-straight? As everyone says though, it'll be a pain if you need to get it mega-neat-finished

This was the problem. Had to change the flexi hose but the tile was so close the nut would not turn.

IMG_0337[15399].jpg
Bought a 6mm diamond core bit and hacked away around the nut to give some clearance so it could be undone and replaced.
IMG_0338[15398].jpg
The job is ugly as a mad womans breakfast but at least the tile did not crack. The back of the dunny was quite close to the tap so had to drill at an angle. Also you would not really spot the hack job unless you were lying on the floor with your head behind the loo.
Diamond core bit was a good tip thanks.

That is a right pita of a job.
Just out of curiosity the style and painted tap and location suggests to me that it is connected to a gal pipe, if it is, I wouldn't want to be the person having to do a repair/replace when it eventually succumbs to the dreaded brown fungus renowned for eating into steel.

FWIW, we drill 100+ holes in tiles a week, putting up grab rails. We use these Kango bits..... about a third of the price of spade tile bits, and no need to change drill bits to go through the brick behind. A lot quieter than using a masonary bit on hammer too.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kango-6-...l-bit_p6350568

Originally Posted by Spelunx

FWIW, we drill 100+ holes in tiles a week, putting up grab rails. We use these Kango bits..... about a third of the price of spade tile bits, and no need to change drill bits to go through the brick behind. A lot quieter than using a masonary bit on hammer too.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kango-6-...l-bit_p6350568

are those bits the Kanga equivalent of Bosch's Multiconstruction bits? https://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/he...593258-ocs-ac/

Originally Posted by Spelunx

FWIW, we drill 100+ holes in tiles a week, putting up grab rails. We use these Kango bits..... about a third of the price of spade tile bits, and no need to change drill bits to go through the brick behind. A lot quieter than using a masonary bit on hammer too.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kango-6-...l-bit_p6350568

How do they go on porcelain?

Standard masonry drill, will do. Just use tape so it doesn’t slip


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Originally Posted by Beardy

How do they go on porcelain?

rubbish.... I haven’t found anything that will drill through porcelain quickly and effectively. We use diamond hole saws in 6.5 mm..... sloooooooowly, and using water. Takes ages, coase each grab rail needs 6 plugs and screws.... usually two or three grab rails per bathroom. Not pleasant.....

Originally Posted by ian

are those bits the Kanga equivalent of Bosch's Multiconstruction bits? https://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/he...593258-ocs-ac/

yeh, looks like them..... I haven’t seen them before, might try them out......

Originally Posted by Spelunx

rubbish.... I haven’t found anything that will drill through porcelain quickly and effectively. We use diamond hole saws in 6.5 mm..... sloooooooowly, and using water. Takes ages, coase each grab rail needs 6 plugs and screws.... usually two or three grab rails per bathroom. Not pleasant.....

Yes that is my experience too. When I use the little hole saws I have a little spray bottle in one hand and drill in the other and just keep the water up to it. I have found it better with a bit of detergent in the water as it helps the water stick to the drill bit

Originally Posted by Spelunx

yeh, looks like them..... I haven’t seen them before, might try them out......

Nice to see those bosch ones are suitable for cement asbestos drilling, thought it was a dying skill so reassuring to see drill makers keeping the option open.