[zuroph]

Originally Posted by Mr Magnolia

Put some masking tape over the spot where you want to drill, this helps stop cracking.

Also, turn the hammer-action off until you get though the tile. Take your time and keep the drill straight.

Still no guarantees though. Good luck!

porcelain tiles. bad advice

Originally Posted by tribesman

Does your drill have hammer action? You need this.

no, you dont.

Originally Posted by squire1

Try using a steel bit* rather than a masonary one to get through the tile. A very small bit to drill a small pilot hole may help. Variable speed drill helps as you can keep the speed low until you get into it a bit. Masking tape stops the bit from slipping on the tile. Hammer action would be risky as the impact may crack the tile if there is a gap in the adhesive behind the tile.

* the bit may wear out very quickly so have a couple at hand.

steel bit is going nowhere on a polished porcelain

Originally Posted by regedit

As a matter of interst, is there any efficient option available which excludes drilling. They have striong doble sided tapes etc. I know that you need boring through a tile for heavy items but for soap-holders etc...

flexel aint bad, but wont hold much of a load. have used it to fit shower doors fine. stick the mount on, and 24 hours later attach the item.

Originally Posted by AdrianR

Most repliers to this post don't know what it is to attempt to drill through a porcelain tile. Porcelain tiles are near impossible to drill perfectly, you would need a few expensive bits like tungsteon or diamond tip as jabaroon pointed out and the patience of jobe.

I have Porcelain tiles in one Ensuite, when drilling I've used an SDS drill with and SDS masonary drill bit, I've just pressed the bit up against the tile with the drill set to hammer action and switched on, the bit tends to punch a hole through the tile, this is risky if you're near the edge of the tile as it can crack, the trick is to push in before turning on the drill. If I'd realised how hard porcelain were before buying them I would have left them in the shop. I've put up a toilet roll holder and towel rail without any problems.

starts well, ends a bit messy, but better than some of the advice on here. When drilling any tiles I push hard before starting, on some ul hear i light crack sound, this is the glaze breaking and the bit will now hold in place. masking tape doesnt really work, it can slip easy. on porcelain tiles, get a diamond tipped bit, start at a slight angle to score the spot ur working on, then straight in. cool with a cup of water. have a few bits.

Originally Posted by wishwashwoo

Hi All Just a couple of tips when drilling tiles.first off put some covers on the floor before drilling.second when drilling any tiles you will need a cooling grease for the bit water will not do as it will cause the tip of the bit to shave whats shave i here you say its when the bit gets to hot and starts to break up you will see little bits of the steel stuck to the side of the bit so please use cutting grease it will save you lots of time and hassle a little trick a tiler showed me a few years ago get the roughest sand paper you can find make all the holes you have to drill with a marker then with the sand paper rub it over the holes that you just marked it will take the first layer of selling off the tile then remard the holes then start drilling you will get no chipping no splitting just clean holes be good and always remember use your head be safe

sand paper wont work on a polished porcelain tile in the way u describe since there is no sealing.

[zuroph]

ugh just noticed the age of this thread. pointless bump.

but while we're on it, a nice way of spotting seconds is looking out for highlighter marker in a line on ur tile. this is how a lot of the factories mark the seconds on the production line.

[delly]

We are gathered here today to bid farewell to an old, old thread...