Porcelain stoneware has such qualities as high wear resistance and unique strength. Such characteristics create some difficulties in processing the material. It is also important to note the high fragility, which completely eliminates the possibility of mechanical impact in the form of shocks. The outer and inner cladding is fastened using mechanical fasteners, which are installed in holes of different diameters. Therefore, a variety of tools are used to drill porcelain stoneware.
What to drill?
If you are thinking about the question of how to drill porcelain stoneware, then you should pay attention to the list of tools that are used in such work. This should include a drilling machine, a special stand and a two-speed drill. For processing artificial stone, experts recommend using certain types of drills and crowns, the most common of them are:
- diamond drills;
- plated diamond crowns;
- sintered core drills.
If you are still faced with the question of how to drill porcelain stoneware, then you should consider everythingoptions. The latter include tools that are used in working with concrete. About 100 holes can be made with core drills, but they will have weak points. It is worth highlighting the duration of creating a hole, which takes about 5 minutes, as well as high end pressure. If you prefer coated diamond crowns, then you should know that they are not so common. They can be recognized by their wall thickness.
Depending on the diameter of the hole, you need to choose a certain thickness of the crown. This option is considered today the most affordable in economic terms. Diamond crowns allow you to get large holes for electrical outlets. Quite often, home craftsmen think about how to drill porcelain stoneware.
Alternative solution
You can choose diamond drill bits, which are characterized by high grain content, the latter have high strength. This tool allows you to get holes of the required diameter. Thus, 8 mm products can be drilled in just 40 seconds. If a diamond drill is used with additional equipment, up to 350 holes can be made. If a larger 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 the tile, use a carbide or diamond drill. At the same time, the shape of the tipcan be very different.
What else do you need to know about porcelain stoneware drilling tools?
Drilling porcelain stoneware tiles is only necessary using a special tool. Diamond crowns, which were 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 impressively increase the speed of the process. If we consider the disadvantages of crowns, then it is worth highlighting a small working resource. If you have porcelain stoneware that is 8 mm thick, only five holes can be drilled with an electroplated diamond core bit.
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 can be 2 mm or more. Such drills are not used so often, and their disadvantage is the low drilling speed. But despite the disadvantages, diamond drills have advantages, which are expressed in a working resource that exceeds the resource of crowns.
Porcelain stoneware drilling recommendations
After you have decided how to drill porcelain stoneware at home, it is recommended that you become more familiar 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 for 2/3 of the thickness of the product, and then the rest is knocked out with a sharp blow. Whereinmay experience 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 stoneware 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 should be two-speed, since when drilling porcelain stoneware, a high rotation speed is not needed. It is better to refuse an impact drill, and if these recommendations are neglected, then the tile may crack. Before starting drilling, plywood or fiberboard should be placed, while you will exclude damage to the surface with a drill. The latter should be directed vertically; during operation, a strong inclination of the working element in relation to the product should be excluded. If you make such a mistake, then the drill will fail, and the tile will be destroyed.
Work methodology
If you drill holes in porcelain stoneware, you should remember that diamond drill bits can get very hot during use. In order to exclude the formation of microscopic cracks and the destruction of the tiles, they must be cooled. The problem can be solved by supplying water to the drill. To prevent heating, it is necessary to work at medium speeds.
When porcelain stoneware is cut in an industrial environment, coolant is constantly supplied. In everyday life, the drill can be cooled with water from a bottle. For this, small holes must be made in the lid through which water will flow to the drill. Some masters do even easier: they cool the heated surface of the drill with a pre-dampened sponge.
How to avoid mistakes?
Each home master sooner or later wonders how to properly drill porcelain stoneware. If you did the work correctly, then a drilled part will fall out of the tile, which repeats the diameter of the drill. If chips appear on the reverse side of the product, then there is nothing to worry about, the master will fill them with glue, which will not affect the quality of the finish.
It is best to prepare a powerful drill for work, which can be set at low speeds, this approach will significantly minimize drill wear. Experts advise installing a drill on a special stand 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 with the tile on a flat, hard surface, with minimal pressure.
Conclusion
If it is necessary to make a hole in a porcelain stoneware tile, the diameter of which exceeds 6 cm, you must first use a smaller drill, deepening it into the product by 2/3. After drilling, continue with a tool of a larger diameter. Depending on the diameter of the hole you need to make, you can use one of the nozzles, namely: a tubular drill, a regular drill, a diamond crown or a pen.
