We’ve had quite a few customers asking this question recently, so I thought I’d give some background info as well as the answer …
Ever-increasing quantities of porcelain tiles have been reaching the Australian market in recent years -- and while porcelain tiles themselves are not new -- some of the areas they are now being utilised in certainly are new for this type of material (Eg: bathroom walls).
Historically, bathroom/laundry/kitchen wall tiles have always been glazed ceramic materials with a non-densely compacted clay body fired at a sub 1000C degree temperature. This meant they were usually very easy to drill through to fit towel rails, shower screens and other screw-on fittings. A typical masonry or diamond drill bit was all it took to get the job done.
Porcelain tiles however, are made with a more densely-compacted type of clay and are fired at higher kiln temperatures (much more than 1000C degrees) for longer durations -- and this makes them harder to drill through using traditional drill bits.
Fortunately, diamond tool manufacturers such as DTA Australia have answered this challenge by developing specialised diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bits. Typical masonry drill bits try to grind the porcelain into powder, while a diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bit (see photo) removes a “core” from the tile in the required diameter. At the moment, these porcelain tile drill bits are available in 5, 6, 8 or 10mm diameters.
These drill bits should be used at slow speed (approx 1000RPM) with the hammer-drill setting on “off”. Before drilling, masking tape can be stuck over the surface of the tile to help “centre” the drill bit and stop it skidding on the surface before “digging in”. It is advisable to keep a cup of water nearby and periodically dip the drill bit to help cooling. It is also important to not push too hard as it might damage the cutting edge of the bit. Of course, all relevant safety precautions should be taken (eye & ear protection and an electrical safety cut-out switch on the power source).
We’re keeping these drill bits in stock now at our Mitchelton showroom, so feel free to get in touch with us to buy or for more info.
Sean Sinnamon
Ever-increasing quantities of porcelain tiles have been reaching the Australian market in recent years -- and while porcelain tiles themselves are not new -- some of the areas they are now being utilised in certainly are new for this type of material (Eg: bathroom walls).
Historically, bathroom/laundry/kitchen wall tiles have always been glazed ceramic materials with a non-densely compacted clay body fired at a sub 1000C degree temperature. This meant they were usually very easy to drill through to fit towel rails, shower screens and other screw-on fittings. A typical masonry or diamond drill bit was all it took to get the job done.
Porcelain tiles however, are made with a more densely-compacted type of clay and are fired at higher kiln temperatures (much more than 1000C degrees) for longer durations -- and this makes them harder to drill through using traditional drill bits.
Fortunately, diamond tool manufacturers such as DTA Australia have answered this challenge by developing specialised diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bits. Typical masonry drill bits try to grind the porcelain into powder, while a diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bit (see photo) removes a “core” from the tile in the required diameter. At the moment, these porcelain tile drill bits are available in 5, 6, 8 or 10mm diameters.
These drill bits should be used at slow speed (approx 1000RPM) with the hammer-drill setting on “off”. Before drilling, masking tape can be stuck over the surface of the tile to help “centre” the drill bit and stop it skidding on the surface before “digging in”. It is advisable to keep a cup of water nearby and periodically dip the drill bit to help cooling. It is also important to not push too hard as it might damage the cutting edge of the bit. Of course, all relevant safety precautions should be taken (eye & ear protection and an electrical safety cut-out switch on the power source).
We’re keeping these drill bits in stock now at our Mitchelton showroom, so feel free to get in touch with us to buy or for more info.
Sean Sinnamon
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