Which drill bit is best for porcelain stoneware (types, sizes and tips)
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At the end of this guide, I will tell you about the best porcelain stoneware drill bits, how to use them, and why some are better than others.
Various drills can work with porcelain stoneware; however, using the best porcelain drill bit is the key to getting neat cuts or holes. Using the wrong drill bit to cut porcelain stoneware can result in breakage, unprofessional cuts or holes in the tile. Being a jack of all trades, I know which bit is best for cutting porcelain stoneware without breaking, and I will teach you everything I know below.
As a general rule, the best drill bit for cutting porcelain stoneware should be a masonry bit: carbide or diamond tipped. I recommend the Bosch HDG14/XNUMX inch diamond hole saw. It has many possibilities.
- It is strong enough to sink into porcelain tiles.
- Features segmented teeth that prevent overheating by generating less heat
- It has a quick-change design for easy handling and manipulation.
I will delve into this.
Best Drill Bit for Drilling Porcelain Stoneware (Bosch HDG14 1/4" Diamond Hole Saw)
Drilling porcelain stoneware is serious work and you don't have to be confident with your drills.
I am happy to share with you my experience with a variety of tools, from inexpensive Home Depot tools to Bosch for small holes and diamond drill bits for complex jobs.
Bosch carbide tipped tile drills are inexpensive but excellent equipment. If you have a sprayer nearby to keep them from overheating, they work incredibly well.
I can feel how Bosch drills grind porcelain as they drill through it quite effectively. The rod cannot wander or walk due to the pointed tip. A selection of 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″ and 5/16″ bits will satisfy most of your needs. I always start at 1/8" and work my way up.
Which drill bit is ideal for porcelain stoneware?
One of the best drill bits is the Bosch carbide tipped glass, porcelain and tile bit set (Bosch HDG14 1/4" diamond hole saw).
My colleagues mark the hole with a tiny chip with a spring-loaded hole punch, but I never do this because I'm afraid of cracking the tile, even if the risk is negligible.
Having drilled through the tile, I change it to a regular masonry bit, turn on the drill at maximum speed, but do not use the impact mode. Sometimes I have to use a hammer to keep from breaking the tiles when the wall is particularly strong.
Yes, even expensive parts are not eternal. But the good ones last a long time; I've had mine for a while and most of them are still sharp enough.
For occasional use, you can also use less expensive nozzles, such as this set of 10 ceramic tile nozzles in sizes 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 and 1/2. . If you drill tiles infrequently, a lower quality may be acceptable, while a wider selection of sizes may be useful.
Key features Bosch HDG14 1/4 inch. Diamond Hole Saw
Diamond sand vacuum brazed on the dust: It has strong and durable reliability. As a result, the saw starts quickly and effortlessly cuts through even the toughest materials, including stone, brick, ceramic tile and PE5 porcelain stoneware.
segmented teeth: Segmented saw teeth produce less debris and generate less heat. However, drilling with a cup of cold water is recommended. It will be easier for you to work if you dip it in cold water.
Quick Change Design: Thanks to the adapter quick change mechanism. As a result, switching between bits is simple. Thanks to this, you can also remove material plugs quickly and easily.
pros
- Powerful Tool
- Easy to use
- Quick change style
- Outstanding design
- Cuts fast
Cons
- Bells require a unique center mount or 3/4" drill bit (of these types)
- wears out easily
Diamond drill for porcelain stoneware
I like using porcelain bits with electroplated diamonds. You should drill with them using a lot of water and low rotation speed. Wet the surface of the tile and, starting at an angle of almost 45 degrees, hold the drill chuck between your thumb and fingers. To prevent the tool from jumping over the tile as it rotates, tap the tile.
Work further at a 90 degree angle to the tile after trimming the small ledge. To wet the surface you are sanding through, have a colleague pour water over it.
Neiko diamond jewelry is my top choice for porcelain. They are strong enough to break through even the hardest tiles. And they work well with porcelain, ceramics, glass and marble!
The best diamond drill bit for porcelain stoneware
- Neiko diamond hole saw set
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Tile is not a good surface for pilot hole saws. They are designed to work with clay and stone. Carbide tip often pops out of porcelain. So while hole saws CAN work, they do so slowly and the tile can easily chip under their edge. Even with them, use a spray bottle to squirt water into the hole every few seconds.
Drilling with plenty of water at a reasonable rate is what diamond tipped core drills are for. Start at an angle and don't let them get too hot.
- Diamond core bits for ceramic and porcelain tiles, 1/4″
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Milwaukee diamond drill bits also perform well. With them, I punched a few holes, moving slowly and splashing water on them. If you're a pro, you should have a cache of bits that are sometimes hard to get locally, more than 2-3 at a time. As you continue, add a few new snippets to save time. Very helpful.
Can a ceramic tile drill bit be used to drill porcelain stoneware?
Check the specifications of the tool to make sure it is designed for ceramic work, as porcelain and ceramic drill bits are different. (1)
I was lucky, I used Bosch "Natural Stone Tile" drills to work with hard porcelain tiles. The atomizer is required as usual. Drill carefully and avoid overheating because these drills can eat through tiles quickly. It helps a lot to shoot him with water to avoid overheating.
Tips and Tricks for Drilling Porcelain Stoneware
Drill slowly and confidently
The drill and tile can overheat if drilled too fast and hard. The bit will immediately become dull and the temperature will rise. Heating the tile can cause it to break.
Avoid edge tiles
Avoid drilling too close to the edge of the tile because this increases the chance of damaging the tile. Reduce drill speed and avoid using a hammer.
Mark or mask the areas you want to drill into porcelain stoneware
Masking tape can indicate exactly where you want to drill while protecting the tile, making it easier to drill neatly. Then, using a tile/glass drill bit and reduced drilling speed without using a hammer, slowly drill through the tile.
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How to screw into concrete without a puncher
- What size drill is 29?
- How to use left hand drills
Recommendations
(1) porcelain – https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-european-obsession-with-porcelain
(2) Ceramics - https://mse.umd.edu/about/what-is-mse/ceramics
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