Ceramic tiles are a complex but attractive material for finishing. To make a hole in it for an outlet and not spoil it, you need to have a lot of patience and experience. This article has covered several simple ways high-quality processing of ceramic tiles. The methods described will help you make holes of any shape. But first, prepare the tool and familiarize yourself with the specifics of the work.
Required tools
The holes may have different shapes... The simplest are considered to be square, and the more complex ones are round. Taking into account the planned shape, suitable tools are selected.
For square holes:
- Bulgarian;
- glass cutter;
- jigsaw;
- drill.
For round holes:
- diamond-coated bit;
- ballerina;
- drill;
- jigsaw.
Which tool to use, everyone decides for himself. But whatever you choose, consider the peculiarities of cutting holes in the tiles. This will make work easier and help prevent damage to the material.
Features of cutting holes in tiles
- Ceramic has a smooth surface, so it is not always possible to keep the drill or crown from sliding. To solve this problem, make grooves with a center punch and then drill along them. Will also help masking tape or a special template that will prevent the nozzle from sliding.
- Place the tile in water for one hour. This will help prevent cracking in the future. Drill slowly at the lowest speed. Some craftsmen make holes right in the water.
- Do not drill too close to the border of the tile, the edges may chip off. Minimum distance to the edge of the ceramic is 15 mm.
- Drill the tile that is already fixed on the wall with a hand drill.
Methods for cutting holes in tiles
The difficulty of installing a socket into a tile is that it becomes necessary to cut holes. There are several helpful tools to help you do this difficult job.
Hand jigsaw
This is one of the simplest tools that can be successfully applied. In order for them to be able to cut ceramics, you need to buy a tungsten filament. The string is sold in any store building materials... With the help of a jigsaw, it is convenient to make a round and square hole for a rosette, while the risk of tile splitting is minimal. The disadvantage of the tool is the use physical strength... If you have to make a lot of holes, it can get tired easily.
Instructions:
- Use a marker to outline the future hole on the glossy side.
- Drill a starter hole in the center of the outline with a drill. Thread the tungsten thread, securing it to the jigsaw.
- Saw smoothly, with inside next to the outline. Try not to go to the markup, so as not to cut out too much.
- Sharpen the edges after making a hole. sandpaper.
Diamond core bit
For fast cutting of ceramics, a special round nozzle is used. It has a diamond-reinforced cutter that effectively grinds hard ceramics. The result is a perfectly round and smooth hole. The crown has a different diameter, which is selected depending on the size of the socket. If the cutter wears out, you can buy another and solder it in place of the old one. This allows you to significantly save on the purchase of a new attachment.
Instructions:
- Apply masking tape to the tiles.
- Draw a circle of the desired diameter using a marker.
- Place a board under the tile.
- Insert the bit into the drill and start drilling at low speeds, slowly deepening.
- The nozzle will get very hot. To cool, periodically immerse it in water.
- After making the hole, trim the edges with sandpaper.
Ballerina
This is a drill attachment that works like a compass. It consists of a center in the form of a drill and one or two cutters located in parallel. The ballerina is used to create round holes in ceramics and glass. The cutters are horizontally adjustable - you can adjust the required diameter.
Instructions:
- Make a central indentation in the tile with a conventional drill.
- Place the ballerina on the drill and adjust the diameter.
- Insert the centering tool into the hole you made and start drilling at low speeds. The lateral incisors will scratch the ceramic, gradually deepening.
- When you are halfway through the thickness of the tile, flip it over and start cutting a hole in the back until a circle comes out.
Glass cutter
With this tool, you can also make a hole in the ceramic. It is advisable to use it if the tile has a small thickness and a smooth surface. For work, in addition, pliers and a drill are required. To make a hole, it is important to correctly distribute the cutting points.
Instructions:
- Draw the outlines of the hole on front side tiles. Draw diagonal lines to define the center.
- Drill a hole in the middle of the drawing.
- Work the glass cutter several times along all the lines, applying moderate pressure. Use a ruler to keep the cut straight.
- Take your pliers and begin to break off the pieces from the center, gradually approaching the general outline of the hole.
- File all the notches to achieve flat surface slice.
Bulgarian
With this tool, you can quickly and easily make a hole for the socket. For work, you need to purchase a special disc reinforced with diamond grit. Bulgarian is universal tool... It is applicable not only for cutting any tile, but also for sanding the surface. When working with this tool, you must strictly observe safety precautions. Carelessness will damage the material and cause serious injury.
Instructions:
- Trace the outline of the hole on a smooth surface to avoid chipping when cutting.
- Install the carved disc into the grinder.
- Start cutting the hole. Move the tool away from you while holding the tile. First walk along the path, making guide lines, and then gradually deepen.
- After sawing the hole, be sure to sand the cutout surface right away.
Drill and pliers
Not everyone has at hand special expensive nozzles, a jigsaw or a grinder, but many have a drill and pliers. This simple tools, with which you can make a hole of any shape. The cutting method is technically simple, but it takes a lot of patience and time. This method is best used on tiles that are already glued to the wall - they won't crack there. If you need to make a hole in loose ceramic, soak it well before drilling. hot water... The tiles will become softer after soaking.
Instructions:
- Apply masking tape to the tiles and draw the outline of the hole.
- Place the pottery on a wooden surface.
- Place the 4mm drill bit on the drill.
- Start making lots of holes. Drill them not along the contour, but next to it, from the inside.
- Take a pair of pliers and bite through the formed partitions between the holes.
- File the remaining jags.
The methods described will help you cut a hole in the tile yourself. The main thing is to practice and gain skill. Do everything slowly and use the tool carefully.
Video: how to make holes in tiles
During overhaul the premises are electric installation work... Initially, electricians "separate" the wires from the electrical panels, and then install the mounting boxes for the sockets.
When it comes about the kitchen "apron", the installation of the socket boxes should be carried out before finishing work - the tiles must be laid after the installation of the mounting boxes. Usually, a hole in the tile for an outlet is made by professional craftsmen, but these types of work are also performed independently.
Tile - aesthetic finishing material, but it is highly durable, which makes it difficult to cut. Especially when the ceramic tile has a glazed surface, the tool slides off when the hole is drilled and the top surface breaks. Because of this, it is necessary to buy tiles with a margin of approximately 10% of the total footage of the tile covering.
Features of working with tiles
To neatly cut the hole in the tile for the outlet, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Markup. The area where the hole is to be drilled needs to be marked with a marker - mark the contour on outside tile.
- Pasting. If we are talking about a glossy tile material, cover the cutting area with mounting tape, adhesive plaster. This process will prevent the drill from slipping off when cutting. You can make the outline with a nail by scratching the surface along the markings.
- Wetting. Professional craftsmen usually use special equipment to wet the tile with water when cutting. But you can simply put the tiles in water for an hour to reduce dust and prevent cracking. You need to cut the tiles at low speeds. The diamond blade is used for dry cutting.
- Safe distance. Drill at least 15 mm from the edge to avoid spalling.
- Convenience. To make a hole conveniently, you need to guide the tool away from you from any edge. If you change the direction of machining during the drilling process, then the cut lines may not converge. Cutting must be done exclusively from the front side. If the tile is already on the wall, you need to drill the hole with a hand drill.
Required tools
Since the holes for the sockets can be round or square shape, you should choose the most suitable tools. For holes round shape use a jigsaw, ballerina, drill and diamond crown.
For square holes, they use - a glass cutter, a jigsaw, a drill and a grinder - the choice of tool depends on the individual wishes and possibilities. The main thing is to take into account all the rules for safe cutting.
Methods for cutting holes in tiles
The choice of tools for cutting holes for rosettes is large, so there are many ways to cut. The choice of drilling option depends on the availability of the tool and the personal desire of the cutter.
Cutting with a crown
If there is a drill in the house, then special attachments, including a crown, must be included in the set. Otherwise, you can buy it at any power tool store. Moreover, choosing a crown in order to drill a tile should be in accordance with the size of the mounted outlet. The seller will tell you the suitable diameter.
Cutting with a crown on the tile for a rosette is considered the most fast way making holes. The main thing is to use a drill, not a hammer drill, in order to exclude chips and cracks on the tiles. It is necessary to drill at minimum speed, about 2-3 minutes per hole. You need to cut on a thick wooden board for best quality holes.
To work with tiles, 3 types of crowns are used:
- Diamond core bits. Usually used professional craftsmen... They drill quickly and accurately, which leads to their high cost.
- Winning crowns. They have a low price and can be used up to 20 times. Drills qualitatively, in the same way as a crown with diamond dusting.
- Carbide bits. They are not inferior in quality of cutting to the two previous types, but they are 3 times cheaper than victorious crowns.
The drilling process is simple: insert the crown into the drill and press down. Then, according to the marking, drill a square or round hole without pressing with great strength... Cutting should be done on a flat board; it is better to use a diamond-coated bit. Uneven edges can be corrected with a file or emery.
Cutting with the "ballerina"
The metal bar with adjustable cutters and a drill is called "ballerina". This tool is similar to a nibbler and is a drill attachment. Usually a ballerina is enough for a maximum of 20 cuts, and she has a relatively low cost. It is most difficult for a ballerina to cut a hole in a tile, since the angle of the angle cannot be changed during cutting. Therefore, you need to install the drill on a special tripod.
The ballerina cutting process consists of 3 stages:
- in addition to the usual marking, you need to mark the center of the circle;
- set the guide drill in the center of the circle, and adjust the cutters to the diameter;
- drill slowly and carefully for up to 3 minutes at minimum speed.
Tungsten wire cutting
To eliminate any defects in the tile when cutting, you need to use a tungsten wire. This method is relevant only for the home, since one hole takes from 20 to 30 minutes, which is excluded for industrial purposes.
Tungsten wire cutting is performed as follows:
- apply markings on both sides of the tile;
- make a hole with a drill inside the circle;
- insert the string into the hole made with the drill and cut the hole along the markings.
Tungsten strings can be purchased at any hardware store... It is inserted into the saw in place of the cutting blade. This method is neat but time consuming.
Cutting with a thin winder drill
If you need to urgently cut tiles for an outlet, but not special tools, often a winder drill is used, which is inserted into the drill and a hole is made.
Along the marked line on the tile, make 15-20 holes with a victorious drill up to 8 mm in size, and then remove the remnants of the tile with nippers or pliers. Irregularities can also be easily removed with emery or a small file.
Using the grinder
A grinder is often used to cut holes. This method is applicable when the tiles are not yet on the wall. Cutting is performed on the face of the tile material. Initially, as a rule, the outline of the cut is marked with a marker. Then they start drilling with a grinder with a diamond disc in the direction away from you.
Using a jigsaw
This method is acceptable when the tiles have not yet been installed. V electric jigsaw insert a diamond drill and drill a hole, make markings, insert a jigsaw blade and cut a hole along the marked contour. Sometimes a hole for the outlet is made with a hacksaw for metal.
Before starting cutting, remember the safety rules and do not do such manipulations without experience. If you have not held a drill, tile cutter or grinder in your hands, it is better to call a specialist in finishing works so that you have a neat and beautiful outlet hole.
When renovating premises in houses and apartments, it is often necessary to cut holes and recesses in the concrete wall. To do this, apply diamond drilling, which requires considerable expenses. If you buy a product of poor quality, the funds will be wasted and there will be no result. If you choose the right tool and do the operations correctly, the socket hole is easy and effective. For this, tungsten carbide and diamond core bits are used with a center drill bit.
Solid carbide socket bit
The most common crowns are with carbide tips. Their price is several times lower than diamond ones; you should take the tool when you need to make a few holes. The device of the product includes the following components:
- chuck for fastening the working part and drill;
- a crown in the form of a piece of pipe with carbide tips on the edge;
- drill.
Rosette crown elements
Carbide has high strength and wear resistance, but when working, you should always remember that there is reinforcement in the wall that can damage the tool.
The tungsten carbide crown is coated with a very hard alloy, it can be used to drill a hole in the tile for a socket. When working with it, it must be remembered that if used improperly, the working layer of the spraying wears out quickly, and the tool becomes inoperative. The crown will fail if metal gets caught in the wall, which cannot be detected in time.
Drilling a hole in tile
Tungsten carbide and tungsten carbide core bits are in short supply for a long time. Therefore, professionals use diamond tools. They are the most effective remedy, but their cost is high. Industrial diamond is sprayed onto the working segments of the bit, which is able to cope with any hard walls. It even cuts metal, but this should not be abused, since any tool wears out.
Crowns made of hard alloy (a) and diamond-coated (b)
Choice
- First of all, the required diameter of the hole in the wall is determined. It is matched to the size of the mounting boxes, which varies between 60-80 mm. They should be purchased in advance. In addition, boxes for different fittings differ. Therefore, appropriate switches or sockets are pre-selected for them. The diameter of the crown and the box must be the same. When drilling, the hole for the socket turns out to be a couple of millimeters wider, after which the box is inserted into the hole quite tightly. If the hole is too large, it is difficult to fix it.
The depth of the recess for the outlet must be done exactly, and then the box must be attached to the bottom with a self-tapping screw. Then it will hold on for a long time without any covering with a solution. If the gap is larger, the junction box should be placed on gypsum plaster rather than alabaster, which seizes too quickly. You can mix them in equal amounts. The box should be slightly submerged so that the socket does not protrude outward. When installing the unit, the size of the holes is made larger so that there is an opportunity for adjustments during installation.
- It is important to choose the type of product. For large volumes of work, it is advisable to take diamond tools. If only a few holes need to be drilled, the carbide option is sufficient. But at the same time, you should know that it can be enough for 3-4 holes, after which you will have to purchase a new crown.
- It is advisable to take products renowned manufacturers: Alpen, Macita, Bosch, although there may be fakes here. Availability of quality documents is required.
- When buying, attention is paid to the absence of damage and scuffing. Spraying should be applied evenly and not flake off.
- Some concrete walls can be so hard that diamond core bits are definitely required.
- For brick and concrete, the crowns can be different. They differ in materials and inclinations of the cutters. For brick walls he's bigger. When buying, you should ask what material the crown is intended for. If it is intended for concrete, then it will definitely take a brick.
- When choosing, it is important to take into account that their own crowns are selected for the perforator and drill. In the first case, a shank of the SDS-plus type is taken, and in the second, a hexagon.
For successful work you need a quality power tool. Preference is given to drills and hammer drills, the power of which is not less than 1.5 kW. Work should be done without impacts, according to the drilling mode. Professionals prefer to use a tool designed specifically for drilling.
Professional tool for drilling holes in concrete walls
The socket for the socket can be used to drill holes on great depth... They are often used when pipes are laid through walls.
Hole in concrete for socket outlet
- Choice of tools: hammer drill, crown, hammer drill (diameter 8 mm), chisel, hammer.
- Marking of places for drilling. The height for switches is 80-90 cm, and for sockets it is 30 cm.
- Work is done with a lot of dust. Therefore, things and furniture should be removed, and what is left should be carefully covered with foil, including interior doors.
- For work, you must purchase a respirator, goggles and gloves.
- Holes are cut in the wall according to the drilling mode.
- To avoid jamming, do not apply too much pressure or twist to the tool.
- With a low-power instrument and a bad crown around the entire perimeter mounting box holes should be drilled (diameter about 8 mm), after which the process goes faster.
- After drilling, the remaining pieces of concrete are knocked out with a hammer and chisel.
Socket hole drilling process
The process of drilling each hole should take no more than 15 minutes. The working time is influenced by the quality and size of the crown, the power of the power tool and the experience of the master. If the operating time exceeds the permissible, it is necessary to find and eliminate the causes.
Working with a crown requires more attention than usual, since the area of contact between the tool and the wall is large. The concrete elements have to be cut out large, the load on the tool is great, and it can collapse during operation. For safety, wear tight clothing and take all precautions. Especially you should protect your eyes from pieces of concrete flying off. To prevent the destruction of the crown, it should be periodically cooled in a container with water.
Prices and manufacturers
To make one or two holes in the wall, it is enough to purchase the cheapest Chinese-made crown. If you apply the right technology, its service life can be increased. For example, you can make additional holes in the wall around the perimeter and select the bulk of the concrete with a chisel. In this case, the crown is only useful for final finishing and leveling. Then you can do a fairly large amount of work by spending no more than 300 rubles.
You can also buy European or American products twice as expensive. Such devices are effective when the sockets are installed by hand. The crowns made by the Korean company Arix, the Chinese Super HARD and the domestic Distar and Adele are of acceptable quality.
It is more convenient for professionals to work with diamond core bits, since everything is included in the cost of work that needs to be done quickly and efficiently. The price, which ranges from 1000 to 8000 rubles, is influenced by the diameter and length.
During the repair process, there is a need to make a hole in the tile for a socket or, for example, a pipe. Moreover, such a need may appear both during installation and after installation. Let's consider how to act in both situations and what tools to use.
During facing works you can't do without drilling a tile
Most often, making a hole in the tiles is required during the installation phase. Until the tile is fixed to the surface, it is easiest to do this with a grinder. This tool will come in handy more than once during floor and wall cladding. It is suitable for curly cutting along the edge of the tile.
How to make a hole in a tile using a grinder:
- Mark the outlines.
- Take a dry cutting diamond blade.
- Start cutting from a comfortable edge. Move the tool smoothly away from you. Support the tile with your hand, remember to protect your fingers.
- If Workspace not too comfortable, stop in the middle and bring the grinder from the other end. However, there is a risk of mismatching the cut lines.
You need to work on the face of the tile to avoid chipping.
A diamond disc is used for cutting tiles.
Using a jigsaw
This tool allows you to cut any shape from both the edge and center of the tile. True, in the latter case, you need a drill to make the initial hole.
How to cut ceramic tiles with a jigsaw:
- Draw the outlines on the front side.
- If the area to be cut is close to the edge, start cutting.
- To make a hole in the center, use a drill to pre-drill a small hole. Thread the cutting thread through it and place the jigsaw over the edge of the notch.
- Slowly guide the tool according to the markings. Step back from the line a little inward so as not to cut out the excess.
The necessary holes are made in the tiles in advance - before laying.
Handmade
If you need to make a small cut at the edge and you don't have a jigsaw, there is an alternative method. You will need a glass cutter and tongs or pliers. What is the essence of the process:
- Mark the contours of the future hole on the tile.
- To soften the material, soak it briefly in warm water.
- Take a glass cutter and, without lifting the roller from the surface, draw a line according to the indicated markings. Apply enough pressure to create a furrow, but do not damage the tile, especially when it comes to glossy tiles.
- Tap along the cut line to deepen the furrow.
- Using a pair of tongs, break off in small pieces until you have removed all excess and an even outline remains.
- If there are small notches, sand the edges with fine sanding paper.
Drilling a hole
If the tiles are already installed, you will need a drill. When working with ceramic tiles, special cone-shaped drills or ordinary spiral drills are used.
Access to engineering communications
How to make a hole with a simple drill:
- Since the surface of the ceramic tile is quite slippery and it is very difficult to hold the tool in one position, cover the area to be worked on with masking tape. It will protect the tiles from scratches, prevent chipping and slipping of the nozzle.
- Mark with a dot where to drill the hole.
- Start working slowly.
- To prevent the drill from overheating, periodically moisten it with water. Spray on the tile itself, but only after you go deep enough so that the tool does not slip.
If you need to do big hole, after drilling a small hole, use a thicker drill. Increase the diameter gradually, so the risk of chips is minimized.
Another way: make several holes along the inner contour of the future hole. thin drill... Then carefully knock out the center and sand the teeth with sandpaper.
Special drill bits
There are specialized fixtures designed for working with tiles that allow you to cut a hole large diameter... One of these is a ballerina. It is a drill with an additional cutting element.
Special drill bit
How to use a ballerina to cut a round hole in a tile:
- Make a small indentation exactly in the middle in any way.
- Install the ballerina on the drill and fix in the hole with the central drill.
- With slow turns, begin to deepen. The side pieces will begin to scratch the tile, outlining a circle like a compass.
- When half of the work is done, flip the tile over and do the same on the back side until the center falls out.
Another type of bit is a diamond bit. Its diameter is selected for a specific size.
How to make a hole in a tile using a crown:
- Apply masking tape to the ceramic tiles.
- Draw the outlines of the hole.
- Attach the drill and start going deeper at slow speeds.
- Moisten the attachment with water to prevent overheating.
When purchasing drills for a drill, pay attention to their price and quality. You can do a good job only with a solid tool.
In the process of renovating the kitchen, bathroom. toilets or other areas where tiles are laid, it may be necessary to make a hole, for example, for sockets or pipes. In this case, it is very useful to know how to do it and what tools are needed for this.
Methods for cutting holes in tiles
To begin with, you should know that holes in the wall for sockets should be made before tiling. Places for the socket can be hollowed out either with a perforator (first we drill in diameter, then knock out) or with a special crown for drilling round holes. Install the socket outlets.
Nuances when cutting tiles for sockets
There are several nuances in cutting ceramic tiles. If you cut tiles with a glass or tile cutter, then this must be done exclusively from the front side, otherwise chips will appear on the front side of the tile and it will look ugly.
It is necessary to drill the tile from both sides, so that the junction of the holes is inside the tile. To do this, it is enough to mark the tiles on both sides, attach a socket box and circle it. Now you already know where you need to make a hole. And now it's time for the most difficult thing: to make a hole in the tile for the outlet.
Making a hole with a tungsten string
Usually such a string can be purchased at any hardware store. It is installed instead of the cutting blade in the saw. If the rosette is located inside the surface of the tile, then a hole should be drilled in the measured area before using the wire to cut the ceramic. Next, thread a string there and make a cut along the specified boundary. As a result, you should get an even hole in the tile for the outlet.
In my opinion, this is the most convenient way, in which the probability of tile splitting is very small. Minus this method is that you will have to make a lot of effort, especially if you have to make a lot of such holes. For an industrial scale, this method is definitely not suitable.
Crown for cutting holes in tiles for a rosette
Such crowns are quite convenient to use, especially if the tiles are large. It is enough to install the crown on a drill and drill a hole at low speeds in 1-2 minutes. During drilling, it is advisable to wet the tiles with water. Unfortunately, such a crown is not always available in stores, and there is no point in purchasing it for drilling one or two holes.
Using a ballerina to cut holes in tiles
The so-called "ballerina" is a combination of a drill and two (or one) cutters that rotate with the drill (around the drill). This way you can set the diameter of the circle and drill a hole of any size. A very handy tool.
Hole with glass cutter and nippers
If you do not have any of the above, then you can use the old and proven method: wire cutters and glass cutters. But it takes skill. The most important thing is to correctly outline the cutting points. The circle must be divided into at least eight equal parts. This can be done "by eye". After that, the glass cutter makes cuts along the marked lines within the circle. Next, a hole is drilled in the center and the first piece is carefully broken off. Instead of a glass cutter, you can use a grinder with a small disc.
If you only make two cuts in a tile, it will most likely split in two when breaking. Be careful. Bite off the edges from the back of the tile so that the chips are invisible.
Good luck in the repair.