| Author |
cutting holes in ceramic tile - best solution?
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| Am remodeling our bathrooms this weekend and need to cut a 4" hole in a
ceramic tile. I bought a ceramic fly cutter and jigasaw blade both designed
for cutting ceramic and neither work at all. I must be doing something
wrong. Maybe they are meant to be used at a very slow speed? If so, it will
take me a couple of hours to cut this hole and that is not an effective
solution.
Anyhow, am looking for another option. The guys that installed my granite
countertops had cut holes pretty quickly using these large deep socket
shaped cutters. Is that where I need to go? If so, where can I buy those
today? Are these carried by rental stores?
I appreciate any advice
Mike in Dallas
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| Hank Williams 2006-04-16, 12:21 pm |
| What you need is called a "hole saw". These are round, deep drill bits in
various sizes commonly from 1/2" to 4" and larger. They are available in any
hardware store.
"mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
news:TbqdnRCU49Mwst_ZnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@comcast.com...
> Am remodeling our bathrooms this weekend and need to cut a 4" hole in a
> ceramic tile. I bought a ceramic fly cutter and jigasaw blade both
> designed for cutting ceramic and neither work at all. I must be doing
> something wrong. Maybe they are meant to be used at a very slow speed? If
> so, it will take me a couple of hours to cut this hole and that is not an
> effective solution.
>
> Anyhow, am looking for another option. The guys that installed my granite
> countertops had cut holes pretty quickly using these large deep socket
> shaped cutters. Is that where I need to go? If so, where can I buy those
> today? Are these carried by rental stores?
>
> I appreciate any advice
>
> Mike in Dallas
>
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| I have several "hole saws" but none come close to cutting material as hard
as ceramic. Looks like the carbide or diamond coated hole saws are what the
pros use. They are pilotless and are started at slow speed on their edge and
slowly righted to 90degrees.
Where can I get one of those today?
"Hank XXXXXXXX" <hank@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xSs0g.34$Sd3.8@fe03.lga...
> What you need is called a "hole saw". These are round, deep drill bits in
> various sizes commonly from 1/2" to 4" and larger. They are available in
> any hardware store.
>
> "mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
> news:TbqdnRCU49Mwst_ZnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
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| Hank Williams 2006-04-16, 1:21 pm |
| I've used regular hole saws to cut through stainless steel and that's a lot
tougher than ceramic. The trick is to start s small pilot hole first with a
drill bit and then work the hole saw in a alow RPM.
"mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
news:7LOdnThysIcgwd_ZnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>I have several "hole saws" but none come close to cutting material as hard
>as ceramic. Looks like the carbide or diamond coated hole saws are what the
>pros use. They are pilotless and are started at slow speed on their edge
>and slowly righted to 90degrees.
>
> Where can I get one of those today?
>
>
> "Hank XXXXXXXX" <hank@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:xSs0g.34$Sd3.8@fe03.lga...
>
>
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| I beg to differ with you on that- stainless is tougher than conventional
steel but ceramic and stone is much harder and is in a totally different
class.
It has a more brittle quality that quickly dulls most conventional metal and
wood cutting equipment. The break through point is critical in this type
material and most equipment designed for this actually "grinds" the material
to make the cut.
"Hank XXXXXXXX" <hank@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:mlt0g.30$J52.28@fe06.lga...
> I've used regular hole saws to cut through stainless steel and that's a
> lot tougher than ceramic. The trick is to start s small pilot hole first
> with a drill bit and then work the hole saw in a alow RPM.
>
> "mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
> news:7LOdnThysIcgwd_ZnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
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| A dry diamond bit would make short work of the problem. You would
need a tool to turn it. They are far to expensive to consider for
a single hole and may not be readily available to rent.
I am not a huge fan of Roto Zip brand, but there is a 1/4" shank
carbide burr made to fit them that does quite a nice job on
ceramic. It is shown here as a dura cut:
<http://www.rotozip.com/Shop/Categor...D=188064&BID=18>
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net
"mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
news:TbqdnRCU49Mwst_ZnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@comcast.com...
> Am remodeling our bathrooms this weekend and need to cut a 4"
> hole in a ceramic tile. I bought a ceramic fly cutter and
> jigasaw blade both designed for cutting ceramic and neither work
> at all. I must be doing something wrong. Maybe they are meant to
> be used at a very slow speed? If so, it will take me a couple of
> hours to cut this hole and that is not an effective solution.
>
> Anyhow, am looking for another option. The guys that installed
> my granite countertops had cut holes pretty quickly using these
> large deep socket shaped cutters. Is that where I need to go? If
> so, where can I buy those today? Are these carried by rental
> stores?
>
> I appreciate any advice
>
> Mike in Dallas
>
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| Al Bundy 2006-04-17, 1:21 am |
| "mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in
news:TbqdnRCU49Mwst_ZnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@comcast.com:
> Am remodeling our bathrooms this weekend and need to cut a 4" hole in
> a ceramic tile. I bought a ceramic fly cutter and jigasaw blade both
> designed for cutting ceramic and neither work at all. I must be doing
> something wrong. Maybe they are meant to be used at a very slow speed?
> If so, it will take me a couple of hours to cut this hole and that is
> not an effective solution.
>
> Anyhow, am looking for another option. The guys that installed my
> granite countertops had cut holes pretty quickly using these large
> deep socket shaped cutters. Is that where I need to go? If so, where
> can I buy those today? Are these carried by rental stores?
>
> I appreciate any advice
>
> Mike in Dallas
>
>
If you bought the tile locally maybe their installers will cut it for
you.
Maybe any shop will do it for a fee. Probably be cheaper than buying a
4" diamond/carbide hole saw.
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| CWatters 2006-04-17, 8:21 am |
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"mike" <atxguy@NOMORESPAMcomcast.com> wrote in message
news:7LOdnThysIcgwd_ZnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@comcast.com...
> I have several "hole saws" but none come close to cutting material as hard
> as ceramic.
I've used a round blade in a hand held fretsaw. Picked up a blade rated for
ceramic tiles. Works very well and I also use it to cut notches etc Mark
the hole. Drill small hole for the blade to go through and cut inside the
line.
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