How to Drill Marble (7 Steps)
Content
In this article, I will teach you how to drill marble without breaking or cracking it.
Drilling into a marble surface can be a concern for most people. One wrong move can break or crack marble tiles. Many people wonder if there is a way to do this safely. Fortunately, there is, and I hope to teach this method to all masters in my article below.
In general, to drill a hole in a marble surface:
- Gather the necessary tools.
- Choose the right drill.
- Clean up your workspace.
- Wear protective gear.
- Mark the drilling location on the marble.
- Drill a small hole in the marble surface.
- Keep the drill wet and finish drilling.
Read my guide below for more details.
7 Easy Steps to Drilling Marble
Step 1 - Gather the necessary things
First of all, collect the following things:
- Electric drill
- Tile drill bits (covered in step 2 if you're unsure)
- Masking tape
- Governor
- water container
- Protective glasses
- Clean cloth
- Pencil or marker
Step 2 - Choose the right drill
There are several different drill bits for drilling marble tiles. Depending on your requirements, choose the most suitable one for you.
Diamond tipped bit
These diamond tipped drills are similar to conventional drills. They have diamond grit and are best suited for dry drilling. These drills can penetrate the hardest marble surfaces in seconds.
Carbide tipped bit
Carbide tipped drills can be categorized as durable drills made from carbon and tungsten. These bits are commonly used for drilling tiles, masonry, concrete and marble.
Basic bit
Compared to the above two types, the basic bits are different. First, they are coated with carbide or diamond. They have a center pilot bit and an outer bit. The center pilot drill holds the drill in place while the outer drill drills through the object. These crowns are ideal if you plan to create a hole larger than ½ inch.
Quick-Tip: Crowns are commonly used for drilling granite or marble surfaces.
Shovel
As a rule, spade bits are slightly weaker than conventional drills. Most often, they bend when subjected to too much pressure. Therefore spatula bits should be used with softer marble surfaces, such as boned marble.
important: For this demonstration, I am using a 6mm diamond tipped drill. Also, if you are drilling into a finished marble tile surface, purchase a standard 6mm masonry drill bit. I will explain the reason at the drilling stage.
Step 3 - Clean up your workspace
A clean work area is vital during drilling operations such as this one. So be sure to clean up the mess and debris before starting the drilling process.
Step 4 - Put on your protective gear
Remember to wear safety goggles to protect your eyes. Wear a pair of rubber gloves if necessary.
Step 5 - Drill a Small Hole in the Marble
Now take a pen and mark where you want to drill. Then connect the diamond tipped drill to the electric drill. Plug the drill extension into a suitable socket.
Before drilling deeper into the marble tile, a small dimple should be made. This will help you drill into the marble surface without losing sight. Otherwise, a smooth surface will create a lot of risks when drilling. Potentially, the drill could slip and injure you.
So, place the drill in the marked place and slowly scratch a small dimple in the surface of the tile.
Step 6 - Start Drilling the Hole
After making the recess, drilling should become much easier. So, place the drill in the hole and start drilling.
Apply very light pressure and never push the drill against the tile. This will crack or break the marble tile.
Step 7 - Keep the drill wet and finish drilling
In the process of drilling, it is necessary to regularly moisten the drill bit with water. The friction between the marble and the drill is great. Therefore, a lot of energy will be created in the form of heat. To maintain a healthy temperature between the marble surface and the drill, the drill must be kept moist. (1)
Therefore, do not forget to regularly put the drill in a container of water.
Do this until you reach the bottom of the marble tile.
Read this before completing the hole
If you drill a single marble tile, you will drill a hole without any problems.
However, you must be careful when drilling into the finished marble tile surface. The finished tile surface will have a concrete surface after the tile. Thus, when completing the hole, the diamond drill can touch the concrete surface. Even though some diamond bits can drill through concrete, you don't have to take unnecessary risks. If you do, you may end up with a broken drill. (2)
In this situation, make the last few millimeters of the hole with a standard masonry drill.
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- Rope sling with durability
- What is a step drill used for?
- How to drill a broken drill
Recommendations
(1) healthy temperature - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-temperature-what-is-and-isnt-normal/
(2) marble – https://www.thoughtco.com/marble-rock-geology-properties-4169367
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