How to drill tile

Ceramic tiles - a great finishing material, which is widely used in private construction and for repairs in the apartments.Strength, water resistance, high hygiene, practicality, ease of care, a relatively low price, and plus to all this - a great decorative effect makes tiles virtually irreplaceable material for building kitchens , baths, toilets, to finish entrances - porches, verandas, vestibules and etc .

Learning qualitatively lay tile - quite affordable for the average home owner or an apartment: a little bit of diligence, diligence - and experience very quickly come .But it is equally important to know how to drill the tile.Holes, anyway, need, for example, for hanging furniture, interior accessories, for wiring pipes or other communications, for the installation of sockets and switches and for other purposes.Do not worry - we will learn drilling ceramics.

What will it take for drilling ceramic tiles

In than , in fact, the essence of all drilling problems ceramics?Features of the manufacturing process tiles - high-temperature firing, the high density of the material and its surface strength ( especially if there is a layer of glazing) are in addition to the obvious advantages stemming logical flaw.Ceramics are fragile, the lack of any kind was plasticity, and tiles with rough handling, cutting or drilling can easily give a cracked, chipped, if not break into several fragments.

In addition, the material itself has on the processing of cutting tools very strong abrasion, and the usual drill blunt in few seconds.

Conclusions - Drilling can not put an excessive load, the vibrating action, a large number of tool revolutions.And, accordingly, do drill must be made of high-strength materials, can undergo a dense structure, and have the appropriate configuration or sharpening.

So that you may need to drill tile:

Figure	Short description
	Electric drill.The main requirement for it - the obligatory presence of a smooth speed control.
	It may be sufficient and high-quality screwdriver with a powerful source of autonomous power.
	No need to write off the already half-forgotten hand-held drills.For drilling small holes of this instrument would be sufficient, and the speed control is generally no problem.By the way, sometimes it can be useful even an ordinary brace.
	standard drills with carbide tipped.Frankly, not the best choice - this option will create sharpening difficulty in passing the most durable top layer of tiles.Rather, they will be necessary to deepen into the thickness of the wall after the hole in the tile will be done other drills.Most are designed for shock-rotary action.
	Special hastate drill to work with tiles.It is very convenient for making holes of small diameter (for example, under the dowel fixing).There may be a conventional cylindrical shank for clamping in the chuck drill.There are drills and hexagon, the size of a standard bit - they are convenient to operate using a screwdriver.Usually such drills is enough for a couple of dozens of holes in a conventional tile.With granite harder - more than two or three holes they do not overpower.
	Special carbide drills with acute unilateral sharpening.Good "bite" in the tile is easy to pass the appearance, densest layer.Similar drills from a good manufacturer will work a lot.
	Special drill bits, diamond or ceramic-coated.It belongs to the category of professional tool, able to cope and tile, and granite.Is a hollow tube, which facilitates the process of drilling - have free access to the waste.Most often available for large diameter holes.
	Similar to the already mentioned - drill bits with tungsten carbide coating.They can be used not only for ceramic tiles, but also for the natural materials - marble, granite, etc.Usually sets sold to a variety of diameters, that is, they become increasingly professionals are constantly faced with this process step.
	for a single work, if necessary, making holes of large diameter, more profitable to buy a special drill - "Ballerina".It is expensive, but allows fully cope with the task of diameters ranging from about 30 and up to 90 mm.The design is simple - the central drill bit (usually a spear) and located parallel to the leg with tipped.Return legs can vary - so set the desired radius of the hole.
	Some models-Tile machines are equipped with built-in manual "compass" - a device that allows, without resorting to other instruments, cut a hole in the tile.The scheme is similar to the "Ballerina", and the rotation is transferred manually with the handle.conductors -
	For convenience, to accurately drill holes smooth, special devices can be used.They are usually mounted on the surface via suction cups and allowed to leave the drill sideways, which is particularly important at the beginning of the drilling.
	when drilling some types of tiles tool is heated rapidly, and the quality of work is reduced.One has to resort to artificial cooling with water.For this purpose, special blowers which deliver water under slight pressure to the point of cut.

After the tool determined, you can proceed to the practical work.

How to drill tile

For a start - a few general tips:

• If it is possible (there are fragments of unnecessary tile), it has smy seq etc. ca n walk to start a small workout.When everything starts prepared, you can go to perform the required task.
• It is very important to make an accurate counting.You can, of course, put the point of the future drilling with a pencil or marker directly on the surface of the tile.However, during the preview, for tiles (in particular - on the glazed) not every pen will leave a trace. Second , this mark is very easy to lubricate the awkward movement.The best seems a very simple way - the area opening is sealed with a piece of ordinary masking tape, and then it is already possible to carry out marking - all be perfectly clear.

positive "influence" of adhesive tape on it is not limited.Practice shows that this is much easier to start drilling - sharpened edge drill will not slip off the target point.This is - a lot better than trying to kernit center.When using a core (let it be seasoned dowel-nail or sharp needle file), there is always the chance of damaging the surface of the tile or even prevent peeling (crack).

• Never use a high speed when drilling tiles.Speed ​​Range - 100 to 400 revolutions per minute.Specify the exact value is difficult - it depends also on type drill , and by its diameter, and from thickness and material of manufacture the most tiles.But in practice, the required frequency is very fast empirically.
• should be taken as a rule - there used drill, which provides shock function, it is necessary to check before starting off this option.If
• drilled still not laid tile, you need to prepare for a comfortable workplace.The surface must be flat, stable, does not vibrate.Bottom should be laid material that does not become an obstacle to drill - it can be wood, plywood or even unnecessary piece of drywall.

sure to verify that the desktop could be no solid fragments which prevent tight fit to the surface of the tiles.

• cutting tool can very hot during operation, and overheating of the drill hole locations often leads to cracks in the tile.So, excessive force is not necessary to apply - it is better to give the hole a little more time.The very fashionable drill periodically cooled by dipping it, for example, in the engine oil.Sometimes, when working on horizontal surfaces, resorted to "local cooling» - around the intended hole center vyleplivayut plasticine ring shaft, and the resulting « capacity » filled with water.

When the hole drilled in the wall already laid tile, then drill oil outlining the need to be extremely careful - drops of oil could fall into mezhshovnuyu grout and have a lot of torment, to get rid of these spots.

Sometimes it is necessary to resort to forced feeding coolant.Many professionals have for this purpose a special tool - usually container-blower, in which created hand pump overpressure, and a special jig, which and the center of the drill and provides a flow of fluid in the drilling area.

• drill must always be perpendicular to the surface of the tiles - if there is no special holding devices, it will be necessary for it to constantly monitor yourself.

• Drilling ceramics (especially when making holes of large diameter) can be accompanied by the expansion microscopic, but very sharp pieces.Do not forget about it - it is necessary to take measures to protect the hands and especially - the eye.

Now that the basic concepts presented, you can proceed to the most common bore ceramic tiles - small holes for dowels and holes of large diameter - for the construction of communications and installation of plumbing, outlets or switches

Drilling Smalldiameter

typical situation when you need to hang on the wall of a furniture item, the mirror, towel rail, cabinet or shelf, another bathroom or kitchen accessory.In this case, commonly used precast plastic dowels, diameter up to 12 mm.The situation is considered when work is being done on an already tiled wall, under which the glue is completely frozen.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the position of the opening.The fact that it is desirable that it is aligned at least 15 mm from the edge of the tile.Otherwise, a very high probability that the drill or slip into the seam between tiles , or edge from overheating or vibration during drilling simply das reflux reschinu or general break away.

• After marking must be inserted into the drill chuck correct diameter drill.Based on the amount being prepared for installation of anchors - a hole in the tile should be 1 ÷ 2 mm wider than the diameter of the anchor cork.
• drill bit set in the center of the planned (adhesive tape should not let slip the tip), and then begins drilling at low speed.The most difficult thing - to go the upper layer of tile - more drilling will «fun».
• Once the thickness of the tile is passed, and the drill has reached the walls, it is removed - there is no sense blunt expensive tool.Take usual drill to perforate the walls, with a diameter corresponding exactly to the size of the dowel.
• drill should pass freely through the hole in the tile, and you can then continue drilling in the wall itself to the required depth.Of course, it is done very carefully so as not to damage the random skew edge of the hole in the tile, since long drill may be a small "run-out".
• Then you only invest in the hole made by the plug and gently hammer it.Remember, awkward movement can ruin all the work - from accidental impact on on surface tiles can give a crack.
• After that, nothing should prevent the screw hook, screws, otherwise mounting.

Drilling of large diameter

holes of large diameter (20 mm and above) often drilled into a tile even before laying it on the wall or floor.Conduct a careful marking with the definition of the centers, and tiles laid on a work bench.

where drilling technology may be slightly different - this is largely dependent on the type of drill.

1. If a « Ballerina », to begin with it is advisable to go through the tile in the center of a small diameter drill (4mm about 3 ÷) - this will greatly simplify the process further.

When installation movable legs « Ballerina » do not forget that so we ask radius that is half the diameter - do not make mistakes here.After setting the desired radius locking ve nt etc. internally twisted, with an effort to under the influence of vibration and centrifugal force moving the foot is not moved.

When drilling kept small momentum perpendicular to the location of the drill to the surface and not too big, but a constant, uniform pressure down.When excessive force drill may jam, and keep the surface of the tiles on the bench will be extremely difficult.The sharp cutting edge of the tool itself should make its business.

Be sure to pay attention to maintaining a constant depth of cut the entire length of the resulting circle.

Sometimes the edges of the hole will require a little refinement - it is possible to perform a pair of pliers, and then grind sandpaper.

When drilling « Ballerina » should observe extreme caution - it itself is eccentric, so the process may be accompanied by excessive vibration.it is recommended to use « Ballerina » with safety plastic casing for greater safety.

2. If available the master has the diamond, corundum or carbide-tungsten -crown drill , the process is simplified.