Porcelain tile possesses such qualities as high wear resistance and unique strength. Such characteristics create some difficulties when processing the material. It is also important to note the high fragility, which completely excludes the possibility of mechanical impact in the form of shock. The outer and inner lining is fastened with mechanical fasteners, which are installed in holes of different diameters. Therefore, a variety of tools are used for drilling porcelain stoneware.
How to drill?
If you are thinking about how to drill porcelain stoneware, then you should pay attention to the list of tools that are used in carrying out such work. These include a drilling machine, a special stand and a two-speed drill. For the processing of artificial stone, experts recommend the use of certain varieties of drills and crowns, the most common of which are:
- diamond drills;
- diamond crowns with galvanic spraying;
- sintered core drills.
If you still have a question about how to drill porcelain stoneware, then you should consider all options. The latter include tools that are used in working with concrete. With the help of ring drills, about 100 holes can be made, but they will have weak points. It is worth highlighting the duration of the hole, which takes about 5 minutes, as well as high end pressure. If you prefer diamond crowns with spraying, you should know that they are not so common. They can be recognized by the thickness of the walls.
Depending on the diameter of the hole, you need to select a specific crown thickness. This option is considered today the most affordable economically. Diamond crowns allow you to get large holes for electrical outlets. Quite often, home craftsmen think about how to drill porcelain tiles.
Alternative solution
You can choose diamond drills, which are characterized by a high grain content, the latter have high strength. This tool allows you to get holes of the required diameter. Thus, an 8 mm product can be drilled in just 40 seconds. If a diamond drill is used with additional equipment, then up to 350 holes can be made. If a more impressive diameter is required, then tubular drills should be used.
Specialist recommendations
Quite often in everyday life, the question arises of how to drill porcelain stoneware. If it is necessary to lay a plastic cable channel or pipe through a tile, a carbide or diamond drill should be used. In this case, the tip can be very different.
What else do you need to know about porcelain stoneware drilling tools?
Porcelain tile drilling is only necessary using a special tool. The diamond crowns described above have a low cost, it is the price that is their main advantage. When drilling with their help, you can reduce the end pressure and significantly increase the speed of the process. If we consider the cons of crowns, then it is worth highlighting a small working resource. If you have porcelain stoneware with a thickness of 8 mm, only five holes can be drilled with a galvanized diamond core.
Sintered core drills are most often used not for porcelain stoneware, but for concrete and other durable materials. The thickness of the working part of such a drill may be 2 mm or more. Such drills are not used so often, and their disadvantage is the low drilling speed. But despite the minuses, diamond drills have advantages that are expressed in the working resource exceeding the resource of crowns.
Recommendations for drilling porcelain stoneware
After you decide what to drill porcelain at home, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the technology of the process. It is necessary to start work from the front. If you want to save the resource of the drill, then the holes are made only 2/3 of the thickness of the product, and then the rest is knocked out by a sharp blow. In this case, you may encounter the formation of cracks and chips. In order for them to be hidden, it is necessary to start work exclusively from the front side.
It is possible to drill porcelain tile with a drill stand or a special drilling machine. This will extend the life of the drill and simplify the work of the master, while the holes will be neat and even. The drill must be two-speed, since when drilling porcelain stoneware a high rotation speed is not needed. It is better to abandon the impact drill , and if these recommendations are neglected, the tile may crack. Before starting drilling, plywood or fiberboard should be placed, and you will prevent damage to the surface with a drill. The latter should be directed vertically, in the process of work, the strong inclination of the working element with respect to the product should be excluded. If you make a similar mistake, the drill will fail, and the tile will be destroyed.
Methodology
If you will drill holes in porcelain stoneware, it should be remembered that diamond drills can become very hot during use. In order to exclude the formation of microscopic cracks and the destruction of tiles, they must be cooled. The problem can be solved by feeding water to the drill. To prevent heating, it is necessary to work at medium speeds.
When porcelain stoneware is cut under industrial conditions, the coolant is constantly supplied. In everyday life, a drill can be cooled with water from a bottle. To do this, small holes must be made in the lid through which water will enter the drill. Some masters do even easier: they cool the heated surface of the drill with a sponge well moistened in advance.
How to eliminate errors?
Every home craftsman sooner or later wonders how to properly drill porcelain tiles. If you performed the work correctly, then the drilled part will drop out of the tile, which repeats the diameter of the drill. If chips appeared on the back of the product, then there is nothing to worry about, their master will fill with glue, which will not affect the quality of the finish.
It is best to prepare a powerful drill for work, which can be installed at low speeds, this approach will significantly minimize drill wear. Experts advise installing the drill on a special rack or using a machine. This will simplify and speed up the work, as well as extend the life of the drill. Drilling is best done by laying the tile on a flat, solid surface, and the pressure should be minimal.
Conclusion
If it is necessary to make a hole in porcelain tile with a diameter exceeding 6 cm, first you need to use a smaller drill bit, deepening it into the product by 2/3. After drilling continues with a larger diameter tool. Depending on what diameter of the hole you need to make, you can use one of the nozzles, namely: a tubular drill, an ordinary drill, a diamond crown or a feather.