Drilling a hole through tiles

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:05 pm     Post subject: Drilling a hole through tiles

Hi,

Ok, this isn't 100% related to clocks, but it's still related to clocks in a way.
I need to drill a hole through my ceramic tile to insert the quartz clock movement.

My question is: how do you drill through ceramic tiles without the drill bit sliding off the tiles?

I saw some website articles where they said to paste masking tape on the area of the tile where you want to drill, so as to prevent the drill from sliding.

I tried that but it's useless. Immediately after my drill bit has pierce through the masking tape layer, the drill bit starts sliding all over the tile. I've also tried pasting multiple layers of masking tape, but well....

I'm using the carbide-tip drill for tiles, which is the correct type of drill bit.

Any ideas? I'm trying to figure this out really hard.

Thanks!

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:23 pm     Post subject:

I have always had better luck with diamond boring bits - which are better suited for the job. We had used to carry two different bits (which retailed around $20). There was a 5/16" diameter and a 3/8" diameter bit. While we no longer carry these, you should be able to source them through Woodworking supply companies or hardware retailers. What was nice about the diamond boring bits was that you do not have any sort of point that you must start the hole with (as the bit itself is cylindrical and hollow in the center - with the diamond coating around the outside diameter of the bit). Because it is manufactured in this manner, the bit will not slide around on the tile (as other bits might do).

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:36 am     Post subject:

Thanks a lot, Chris!

I found an alternative method via Yahoo Answers!

Someone there said to get a piece of wood, and drill a hole in it.
Then, place the wood on top of the tile and clamp everything down.
Then, using the wood with the hole as the template, drill through it and the drill bit won't slide anymore!

Now, I need to buy those drill bits for wood + an MDF board.

Thanks!