ned
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 posted on 30/1/07 at 12:24 PM |
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OT drilling large hole in bathroom tile
Been doing the tiling and nearly the last one is where the outlet from the shower (recessed into the wall) comes out. It is a 10mm plastic pipe
sticking square out of the wall. I am using large tiles (this one is about half a tile) so about 7-8"x12" high (full tiles are
18x12"!) Tiles are also 8-10mm thick. I recon i need 1/2-3/4" clearance hole to get the grout lines round the tile correct etc. I tried
once with the tile drills I had (6m dia) and drilled 8 holes about 2-3mm apart, blunted the drills (pack of 2 -only size b&q warehouse had) and
when I tried to carefull knock the centre out you guessed it the tile broke into 3 pieces.
Any advice/suggestions/special tools for this type of thing. It must be a pretty normal thing to have to do, so how do i do it?
cheers,
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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RazMan
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 12:26 PM |
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I bought a tile saw for this type of job - a bit like a fret saw which is designed for ceramics. 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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BenB
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 12:27 PM |
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I got a good result using tile cutting hacksaw blades... You still have to very careful not to apply too much pressure and depending on the type of
tile it may take a couple of goes due to cracking... Start off with a drilled hole then jigsaw it out, finish with a file...
Good luck!
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Pants On Fire
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 12:28 PM |
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Split the tile in half, dont cut it with a tile cutter, you'll lose 1-2 mm which will make a big difference and use a tile nibbler to nibble out
2 1/2 circles big enough to take the pipe.
Offer the 2 pieces back together and you'll hardly see the join if you split it as suggested.
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Aboardman
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 12:31 PM |
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i always tend to use small drill bits and keep moving up a size, just have to watch starting the new size as it can grab on the hole, then if need to
make hole larger use a tile file and file the hole larger, and just go a bit above the pipe the size as the fitting what goes over the pipe covers the
hole anyhow.
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steve m
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 01:09 PM |
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I do the same, small masonry drill bits at a very slow speed, takes frigging ages, but is worth the wait if done properly
I bought a tile file , rhymm? from Bodget & question for about a fiver, and once the whole is big enough it cuts it like butter
Goggles and mask essentional !!!!!!!!!!!1
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daviep
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 01:15 PM |
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I've bored a hole and then used a die grinder with a burr to open out with great success.
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PeterW
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 01:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
Been doing the tiling and nearly the last one is where the outlet from the shower (recessed into the wall) comes out. It is a 10mm plastic pipe
sticking square out of the wall. I am using large tiles (this one is about half a tile) so about 7-8"x12" high (full tiles are
18x12"!) Tiles are also 8-10mm thick. I recon i need 1/2-3/4" clearance hole to get the grout lines round the tile correct etc. I tried
once with the tile drills I had (6m dia) and drilled 8 holes about 2-3mm apart, blunted the drills (pack of 2 -only size b&q warehouse had) and
when I tried to carefull knock the centre out you guessed it the tile broke into 3 pieces.
Any advice/suggestions/special tools for this type of thing. It must be a pretty normal thing to have to do, so how do i do it?
cheers,
Ned.
Are you saying you need a 20mm hole in the middle of a tile...?
If so, use one of these - Tile Holesaw and an arbor.
I've got various sizes and they work fine. Drill from the front first to break the glaze and make a pilot hole, then come through from the
back.
Cheers
Peter
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 01:28 PM |
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I noticed yesterday that B&Q do a set of hole cutters specifically for ceramic tiles.....
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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andyps
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 01:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveFJ
I noticed yesterday that B&Q do a set of hole cutters specifically for ceramic tiles.....
I used one with perfect results for the shower outlet when I did my bathroom last year - it was blue in colour and basically an abrasive with a drill
in the middle. At £10 I did realise it cost me £5 per hole I used it for, and it may be some time before I use it again, but it was a job which had to
be done.
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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ned
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 02:15 PM |
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Been to the big B&Q warehouse in Sutton at lunchtime and got another couple of drills and a tile saw and a spare blade. I did look at the arbour
holesaws but they only had a 35mm one which is a bit on teh large side so I shall see how I get on this evening. I think keeping the speed down and
keep cooling/lubicating with water is the trick as I have done it before but it was late last night and I was getting tired/impatient so probably gave
the drill too many beans
cheers for the advice I shall see how I get on and maybe post a piccie later if successful 
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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BenB
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 02:39 PM |
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The old trick is to make up a damn of bluetack or similar around the place to be drilled then fill the damn with water.... The drill away..... Keeps
everything cool and lubricated....
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ned
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 03:05 PM |
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sounds like a top tip, apart form getting water everywhere as it runs off the tile any fresh cold water I put on also just ran through the holes
I'd already drilled so prob best to block them up aswell in future!
cheers,
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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whitestu
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 04:17 PM |
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Hi
I've just done what you need to do.
I drilled a single hole with a tile bit and used a hacksaw with a tile blade to cut round.
It was dead easy and the result was pretty neat.
I didn't need to use anything to lubricate it - the drill went through dead easy and the saw blade didn't get hot at all.
Stu
[Edited on 30/1/07 by whitestu]
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 04:40 PM |
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Seen somewhere make a drill bit out of copper pipe, make slits longitudinally, twist a little bit, put into drill, use as a hole saw, but add valve
lapping compound as cutting media...
I guess they use to cut blanks for telescope eyepiece lenses....
Pipe size to suit..
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 06:37 PM |
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bits
Have you got the drill bits that just look like an arrow head?
I have some and they are fab , much safer than a masonry bit no hammering !
They go through like a knife through butter, you may be a ble to drill a series of holes and chip it out and grind it?
 
Rescued attachment 509004_s.jpg
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chockymonster
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 07:19 PM |
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I've got a tile cutting bit for my dremel.
Best attachment I've bought, I can cut all sorts of shapes into the tile without breaking it!
PLEASE NOTE - Responses on Forum Threads may contain Sarcasm and may not be suitable for the hard of Thinking.
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JoelP
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| posted on 30/1/07 at 08:14 PM |
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i thought you could get abrasive blades for jigsaws? Best would be a hole cutter though.
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ned
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| posted on 31/1/07 at 08:01 AM |
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Yes Dave those are the bits that I've been using. The bosch ones seem to be £6-8 each which I thought a bit pricey but they havea pack of 2 for
£6 by the tiling tools in b&q. Keeping the speed down I did all the work with just one of them. Obviously rushing things the other night to blunt
2 of them!
Ended up drilling a couple of holes to get the blade through then cutting about half the hole with the saw then two more holes to break the centre out
then used the saw blade lightly as a file to tidy up the sharp edges. Worked a treat. Yet to stick it to the wall (didn't mix enough adhesive up
- better than too much which I normally do and end up throwing loads away!) Hopefully I can cut and fit the last few fiddly edges tonight then get on
with the grouting woohoo.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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