How To: Drill a hole in ceramic, porcelain, clay, or tile

This video will show you how to drill a clean hole in ceramic, porcelain, clay, glass or tile. Materials needed for this project are: carbide tile bit, normal variable speed drill (not a hammer drill), air tool oil, plumbers putty, MDF board or a scrap piece of wood.

Step 1 - This step should be skipped if the tile is already installed. If not, place a scrap piece of 3/4 MDF board or wood behind the loose tile for backing.

Step 2 - Take a large ball of the plumber's putty and warm it in your hands by kneading it.

Step 3 - Roll putty ball into a long log and place it on the tile, in a circle, to hold the oil.

Step 4 - Press the putty circle outside and inside onto the tile. It should look like a volcano.

Step 5 - The putty mound has been formed. This is the area you are going to drill through. Fill the mound half way with your air tool oil. Be sure to put in enough to cover the tile.

Step 6 - Insert your carbide tile bit into your variable drill and lock.

Step 7 - Apply even, gentle pressure to the tile bit as you put into the oil and onto the mark you created for the hole. Start drilling.

Step 8 - This is the last step. Clean off the putty and install your tile.