STEvieXE
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Registered: 21st Jan 03
Location: Ballymena N.I.
User status: Offline
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Hey guys, need to drill holes in tiles to for a new shower screen. Was told to get a diamond tip drill bit and go dead slow but found out you can get tiles drill bits. Anyone any experience of this? What's my best way to go?
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Dave
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Registered: 26th Feb 01
Location: Lancs
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If it's only a few and you are going through wall tiles a normal tct masonry bit will go through easy enough, try and spray some water on it whilst drilling, don't apply too much pressure and make sure the hammer action is off.
If you don't have a masonry bit you might as well get a proper tile bit, the ones that go to a point are easier to use than the hollow diamond tipped ones. Again use water to keep the heat down and take it steady.
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STEvieXE
Member
Registered: 21st Jan 03
Location: Ballymena N.I.
User status: Offline
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I have no problem with buying a bit, I'm just petrified of breaking a tile. There fresh laid and very expensive. Tile bit slow speed, a lot of water while drilling is my safest bet then? Tiles are porcelain and very thick
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Dave
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Registered: 26th Feb 01
Location: Lancs
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Unless you go about it like a spanner the chances of breaking a tile are pretty slim, from experience you are more likely to break the tip off the bit.
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carl roper
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Registered: 17th May 09
Location: Newport Shropshire
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Offer the drill bit up to your mark first, and give it a few light taps with a hammer. Then put the drill bit into the drill and drill without the hammer action. Never cracked a tile doing it that way
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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From experience the tile bit is much easier
Go slow otherwise they overheat and fall apart
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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The last thing I'd do is hammer the bit onto the tile 
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Rob_Corsa
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
Location: Derbyshire
User status: Offline
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Tile drill bits are so much better than massonry bits on tiles. Have a look at Toolstation for them. I got mine from there and they were excellent quality
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BeetleGav
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Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
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If they are porcelain you will need a diamond tipped bit and plenty of water.
You will be there for 30mins each with a masonry bit and will likely melt it
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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Tile drill bit, masking tape (over hole area), take it easy and let the bit do the work (try not to apply too much pressure; switch off hammer action obviously); have found out the hard and that method is near enough fool proof 
quote:
Originally posted by pow
The last thing I'd do is hammer the bit onto the tile
Yup, no need if you stick a bit of masking tape over the area as that'll stop 'bit slip' 
[Edited on 19-01-2014 by Dom]
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STEvieXE
Member
Registered: 21st Jan 03
Location: Ballymena N.I.
User status: Offline
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So just to clarify a tile bit is best for a porcelain tile. As opposed to diamond tip
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Dave
Member
Registered: 26th Feb 01
Location: Lancs
User status: Offline
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The carbide bits are easier to use as they have a point, a decent quality one will also drill enough holes in porcelain to allow you to fit a shower screen, as long as you keep it cool. I used a horrifically expensive Armeg one a bit back but it probably drilled 50+ 6mm holes in very hard porcelain tiles.
Diamond bits usually cut quicker and last longer but cost more and unless you are using a guide you normally have to start them at a 45degree angle until it bites, then lift up to 90, takes a bit of getting used to.
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IvIarkgraham
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Mar 04
Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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never used anything but a masonary drill but with some tape on the tile
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
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I did it in our brand new bathroom for toilet roll holder and shower screen. Was dreading it.
Masking tape, pencil, brand new drill bit and take your time. Will be confident doing it again now.
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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harrisp
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Registered: 15th Dec 07
Location: Derbyshire
User status: Offline
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A guy I used to work with used to just do it with a standard masonry bit on hammer I used to cringe every time he did it, he was always right though until the day he cracked a large tile. It was a great "I told you so" moment.
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