HOW to Drill into Porcelain Tile -- And WHY You Need This Setting!

HOW to Drill into Porcelain Tile -- And WHY You Need This Setting!
This video explains how to drill into porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile using a DeWalt 20V Cordless Hammer Drill. Porcelain Tile is one of the hardest building materials used in a home. Baked in the kiln at higher temperatures and for longer than ceramic tile, porcelain tile is very hard and dense. A regular drill will not penetrate the tile. This is why a hammer drill setting and masonry bit is needed to drill into or through porcelain tile.

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[sebytro]

I should have read the comments before trying this. I now have a cracked tile where I wanted to place a mirror. Thanks, thanks a lot.
After reading more about this, the best drill bit for drilling through tiles is a diamond tipped bit and a little gig with suction cups that has a water sponge. Or just cool the tip off in some water every 15-20 seconds. Also, never EVER use hammer drill setting unless you want to destroy your tiles.

[prezzeruk]

I drill through several layers of masking tape. Not only does it reduce chipping, the thick layer of tape helps stop the bit sliding.

[lastchance]

First of all, that's not Porcelain. Second, never use hammer drill on porcelain unless you want to gamble with cracks and chips.

[seephor]

Isaac. I think you do great work but I have to disagree with your approach with this one. This is a disaster waiting to happen and bad advice and I suggest you do a followup. There are two major issues here. 1) you never want to use hammer mode on any tile. Reason being is that tile is super brittle and you don't know how the installer attached them, the quality of mortar or quality of work they did. Any voids behind the tile, a bad mortar mix, usage of old mortar etc will cause the tile to crack or fall off from the vibration. 2) Usage of carbide for tile is wrong, Those bits have a point and this puts point pressure on a brittle surface further giving it the chance to crack. Also, some shower tiles are glass and this bit will crack the glass 100% of the time. Hammer drill + Carbide bit is for drilling concrete and brick. For tile, you always want to use a diamond tipped bit with no hammer action. You should treat all tile like natural stone like granite. Would you put a hammer drill to a granite countertop? I hope not.

[imanenigma]

I'm here as I have to drill through 9mm porcelain tiles in my own bathroom reno to attach fittings.
I have been out of the game thankfully, for some 13 odd years.
I used diamond hole saws for the large plumbing entry points.
As a second generation tiler, I'm 59 and my old man is 91, we never ever used impact on any tiles.
Fine for brick and concrete and you may get lucky but I would not risk it, full stop.
In my experience I would also advise masking tape to stop initial drill wander or apply firm pressure
on your mark and with the drill on slow, let it get a start in the surface to be drilled.
Coolant on hard surface is essential throughout the cutting process, not required on a glazed
biscuit back tile with a standard masonry drill bit.

Even in the mortar joint between brickwork I don't use impact, it is usually soft as shite, just
let the bit cut into it, without the aggression of the impact function.
Stainless screws would also be mandatory in my opinion.
A message for all you tiling/waterproofing hopefuls, your best work, in the interest of long term
reliability and pride in the job, will be the stuff nobody will see, hidden by all that pretty tiling.
Also, for any of you interested out there, if there was to be some rules for being a good tradie
Rule #1 would be, the first thing you get out of the truck/ute is a rubbish bucket, dustpan and brush
and they're the last thing you put back into it.
My 2 cents worth, if you are worthy of the title of a "true tradesman" or "tradesperson" as the case may be.

[michaelnielsen]

Good tips. Here are a few more. I center a washer with a hole the same size of the bit over the drill spot and secure it with a big X of masking tape. This keeps the drill bit from wandering until it has cut a groove. I used to buy Milwaukee 3/16" diamond bits at about $15 each... They last for about 8-9 holes in thick porcelain before the coating is gone. That is with water cooling. The cheap Chinese hollow core bits cost about $14 for a 20 pack and each bit can do about 3-4 holes. A much better value and they cut very well.

[joshdahle]

you should check out self tapping screws! those work great on granite and porcelain, but you gotta use the hammer setting with the 60V battery. For those holes next to that one, did you just use a really large hammer bit? For the larger holes i use a plasma cutter so they come out smooth.

[garychadfield]

The speed that drill went through means it's not a porcelain tile, just a soft wall tile.

[optical-sound]

This is weird. Every other video I've watched on drilling porcelain says use a diamond tipped bit, and never use the hammer setting 🤔

[maxsnts]

Maybe the porcelain is different in my country, but this is one major problem in my neck of the woods.
To anyone doing this in Portugal, please don't. Use a new bit and go slow, but never the hammer.
Maybe the fact that they have wood backing make it safer because it absorves vibrations or something.

[travisk]

That style bit cuts better at a lower rpm. Like you said, the heat is the enemy.
I prefer diamond hole saws for drilling into tile.

[jeffostroff]

I have that exact impact driver and hammer drill the 887. Did you buy them as a kit? That's how I got them 2 years ago.

[redhoward]

We use 1/4" diamond hole saw bits at low speed with water in a spray bottle constantly wetting the area. Carbide bits and hammer drill makes A LOT of noise and the bits only cut a few holes before they burn up.

[jeffj]

Another thing I do is to cover the place I’m going to drill with tape. It seems to reduce chipping that can happen when drilling through tile.

[samson]

if you don't know where the stud is located behind the tile, what kind of anchor should be used?

[MS-rsle]

I agree with those below you should NEVER use the hammer setting on any tile.

[erichnowe]

There are a number of comments on here in regards to his approach in this video. I just used his exact setup for a porcelain tile shower. As a DIY homeowner, I have run into nearly every pitfall working this shower and thought based on the comments, Isaac might be leading me astray. I put 15 holes into a test piece without cracking the tile. Impatience is the enemy, not his approach.

[eaglex]

I drilled 1/4" holes in porcelain tile using a $20 electric drill from Harbor Freight and some generic diamond hole bits from amazon...took about 15 seconds for each hole.

[j-kane]

I install commercial toilet partitions, grab bars, tp dispensers, etc...I've drilled through every type of tile, but one thing is for sure...I never use a mason bit and a hammer drill, never

[holman]

Do Not use hammer drill action it will crack the tile use A proper tile drill bit without hammer action