searching for most suitable drill bit for porcelain tiles

[mattg4321]

The drill is not the issue here, just use a masonry tipped bit without hammers until you have drilled through the tile, then select hammer as normal.

That will work well on ceramic tiles but they won’t even touch a lot of porcelain tiles. You’d be there for hours attempting to drill a single hole.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Porcelain is a pain to drill. I use a glass drill bit to get the hole started, then keep alternating it with a cheapo ebay diamond drill bit until the hole is right through. Seems to work better than just using one type of drill bit. While drilling, an occasional squirt of water from a spray bottle helps keep the bit from overheating.

Quickbit Glass & Tile Drill Bit

For precision drilling of glass and tiles, try this drill bit from Heller's pro-level Quickbit range. As the Quickbit name suggests, this drill bit is designed for super-fast switching between drills and bits, helping to make your job easier and your work more efficient. The tough drill bit is...

www.toolstation.com

Diamond Hole saw Drill Bit Tile Ceramic Glass Porcelain Marble Granite 6mmx12pcs | eBay

Sizes: ---6mm diameter ---2 drill bit per pack x 6 ---Total no. of drill bits: 12 bits Recommend to use with a guide bracket. Rhino Impact Diamond Drill Bits Diamond Drill Bits are also known as Diamond Core Drill Bits, Diamond Hole Saws, or Bonded Diamond Drill Bits. They are often called Glass...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[telectrix]

While drilling, an occasional squirt of beer from a spit helps keep the bit from overheating.

corrected that 4U.

 

[timhoward]

Whatever bit you use, it boils down to:
1 - not slipping/sliding about when starting, until there is enough material removed for the web of the drill bit to sit in.
2 - going extra gently until the bit is through the glaze
3 - continuing to go gently and allowing swarf to clear so the bit doesn't jam and crack the tile

Try and find an old tile to practise on. The same technique works on mirror glass btw.

 

[littlespark]

Have you tried double sided sticky tape?

 

[pirate]

I had a job last year, asked to fit a glazed screen to a fancy tiled shower area. Why the client didn't get the tiler to do it seems to be simply that the screen arrived too late.
i thought this would be a doodle, and gave up after barely scratching the tile on the first hole.
I looked at the perfect 16mm holes for the pipework and phoned the tiler...he said they did them in the workshop with a massive fixed drill with diamond cutter, which works automatically...put the tile in the machine, center the cutter and go for lunch!
He pointed me at this

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/marcrist-pg750x-dry-diamond-tile-drill-bit-7-x/72516

It took a long time drilling 5 screw-holes, but it worked...starting at 45 degrees and "feeding" the bit in. I have never come across such hard tiles!
However, I have used that same bit on softer tiles and it just eases through, with occasional dipping of the bit in a glass of water, and it's still working well.

 

[mattg4321]

I had a job last year, asked to fit a glazed screen to a fancy tiled shower area. Why the client didn't get the tiler to do it seems to be simply that the screen arrived too late.
i thought this would be a doodle, and gave up after barely scratching the tile on the first hole.
I looked at the perfect 16mm holes for the pipework and phoned the tiler...he said they did them in the workshop with a massive fixed drill with diamond cutter, which works automatically...put the tile in the machine, center the cutter and go for lunch!
He pointed me at this

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/marcrist-pg750x-dry-diamond-tile-drill-bit-7-x/72516

It took a long time drilling 5 screw-holes, but it worked...starting at 45 degrees and "feeding" the bit in. I have never come across such hard tiles!
However, I have used that same bit on softer tiles and it just eases through, with occasional dipping of the bit in a glass of water, and it's still working well.

These are the same type as I linked to above. Marcrist are a market leader and very good, but in my experience the toolstation/screwfix ones are nearly as good and a lot cheaper

 

[Baddegg]

Go in any decent tile shop and get a Rubi diamond bit that attaches to ya angle grinder, that’s all I use for tiles now days and you’ll do holes in seconds……not for the faint hearted starting a hole