Holes in glass (which drill to buy question)

[Maru777]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about drilling holes in glass. I saw the sticky and I am (usually) the type that follows rules so I have my impact goggles and safety gloves and I found that I can usually get the glass containers to stay snugly in a plastic pot that I can pad as needed so they do not vibrate which I use as a vise of sorts. Got my trusty garden hose set up so it drips water on it as well. The only problem I have is the drill I think. The one I used so far is a pretty small one that I actually “inherited” when I bought my house from the previous owners. I don’t think it’s terribly old but seems more for tightening screws than drilling holes. I think this is why it takes me forever to drill holes in any glass. Some more than others but I think it’s pretty slow going. I tried different drill bits and they make a huge difference, but it’s slow wvwn with the best ones I found. Could use some advice about what works best for this task as I want to buy a new drill. Things to consider are that I don’t know that much about power tools and also that my hands are pretty small. It won’t likely get used for much else around the house except maybe an occasional hole in a wall to hang a painting, but I doubt it. Any suggestions? What should I buy?

[billc]

You can get a drill bit like this at Lowes. Cobalt is their brand name but any hardware store should have something similar. I completely submerge the glass container in a tub when I drill it is easier than trying to spray water or drop water like you are planning. It also will contain the glass if it breaks, which will happen when you press too hard. Let the drill bit so the work.


Bill

[estación seca]

It is relatively slow going, not at all like drilling wood. Your drill is probably fine.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Get any diamond carbide coated hole saw bit.

Keep the work wet and do not push. Let the weight of the drill do the work

[Subrosa]

The cheaper spade style bits will work, but you'll only get a couple holes out of one before it becomes useless. The carbide hole saws mentioned by DC are more expensive but will give you many more holes.

[Ray]

I purchased a diamond hole bit.

[Maru777]

Thank you everyone! I’ll give the drill bits you suggested a go before buying a new drill then. I love the way the glass pots look and plastic where I live tends to fall apart pretty quickly from the uv and heat. Probably some salt in the air as well. glass is easier, if not for the holes being a bit of a pain.

[WaterWitchin]

Robot Check



Diamond core drill bit. The cheapy drill should work, UNLESS it's one of those little battery powered screwdrivers. If you need a drill, get a cheap battery powered one if you're only using it to occasionally drill glass. Should be able to pick one up for around $30. You only need low torque for it, not high torque.

[Maru777]

I thought I’d report on the progress I ordered some of the diamond circular drill bits and tried them out. They do seem to work much better than most of the other ones and they last much longer (I would have gone through maybe 3 of the other ones with the drilling campaign I went on this week end and I only used one of these new ones, which seems to be still fine) So you were right that a new drill was not needed. I did get another shovel looking bit too that was not terrible either. What I loved about that one was that there was no walking. But I only bought one and can’t find another one now. It was still a bit slower than these circular ones and it lost its sharpness quickly but I loved the no walking so I might try to find it again and just buy more of them this time around.

[WaterWitchin]

Put a piece of painter's tape over the spot where you're going to drill will help with the walking. Using the shim shown in this thread will help with the walking A way to drill holes in glass

Or do both... tape then shim over top. For really tricky ones to drill, I have a piece of thick plastic (a piece of those floppy cutting boards) with a hole drilled in it like the shim. Tape it to the glass until you get your hole started.