How to make a hole in the tile under the socket: 6 ways

Ceramic tile is a difficult but attractive material for decoration. To make a hole in the socket and not to spoil it, you need to have a lot of patience and experience. This article describes a few simple ways of high-quality processing of ceramic tiles. The described methods will help to make holes of any shape. But first prepare the tool and familiarize yourself with the features of the work.

Required tools

Holes can have different shapes. The most simple are square, and more complex - round. Given the planned form, suitable tools are selected.

For square holes:

• Bulgarian;
• glass cutter;
• jigsaw;
• drill.

For round holes:

• diamond-coated crown;
• ballerina;
• drill;
• jigsaw.

What tool to use, everyone decides for himself.But whatever you choose, consider the features of cutting holes in the tile. This will facilitate the work and help prevent damage to the material.

Features of cutting holes in the tile

1. Ceramics have a smooth surface so it is not always possible to keep the drill or bit from slipping. To solve this problem, make grooves using a center punch, and then drill over them. Also will help masking tape or a special template that will not allow the nozzle to slide.
2. Place the tile in water for one hour. This will help prevent further cracking. Drill slowly at the lowest speed. Some masters make holes right in the water.
3. Do not drill too close to the border of the tile, the edges may break off. The minimum distance to the edge of ceramics is 15 mm.
4. Tile, which is already mounted on the wall, drill a hand drill.

Ways to Cut Holes in a Tile

The difficulty of installing sockets in the tile is that there is a need to cut holes. There are several useful tools that can help you do this difficult job.

Hand Jigsaw
This is one of the simplest tools that can be successfully applied. So that they can cut ceramics, you need to buy a tungsten filament. The string is sold in any building materials store. Using a jigsaw, it is convenient to make a round and square hole for the socket, while minimizing the risk of splitting tiles. The disadvantage of the tool is the use of physical force. If you need to make a lot of holes you can easily get tired.

Instruction:

1. Make the contour of the future hole on the glossy side with a marker.
2. Drill a starting hole in the center of the contour with a drill. Thread the tungsten thread, fastening it on the jigsaw.
3. Saw smoothly, from the inside, next to the contour. Try not to go on the markup, so as not to cut too much.
4. Having made a hole, sharpen the edges with sandpaper.

Diamond Crown
For fast cutting of ceramics use a special round nozzle. It has a diamond-reinforced, chipped, cutter, effectively grinding 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 outlet.If the cutter is erased, you can buy another one and solder the old one. This allows significant savings on the purchase of a new nozzle.

Instruction:

• Glue the masking tape on the tile.
• Draw a circle of the desired diameter using a marker.
• Place the plank under the tile.
• Insert the bit into the drill and start drilling at low speeds, slowly going deep.
• The nozzle will be very hot. To cool periodically immerse it in water.
• After making a hole, trim the edges with sandpaper.

Ballerina
This drill nozzle, working on the principle of compasses. It consists of a center in the form of a drill and one or two incisors arranged in parallel. Ballerina is used to create round holes in ceramics and glass. The incisors are adjustable horizontally - you can adjust the required diameter.

Instruction:

1. Make a central recess in the tile with a normal drill.
2. Install the ballerina on the drill and adjust the diameter.
3. Insert a centric, in the made, hole and start drilling at low speeds. Side cutters will scratch ceramics, gradually deepening.
4. Having reached the middle of the thickness of the tile, turn it over and begin to cut a hole on the back side until a circle falls out.

Glass cutter
With this tool you can also make a hole in ceramics.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 the hole, it is important to properly distribute the cutting points.

Instruction:

1. Draw the outlines of the hole on the front of the tile. Draw diagonal lines to determine the center.
2. Drill a hole in the middle of the drawing.
3. Pass the glass cutter several times through all the lines, pressing it down with medium effort. To make the cut even, use a ruler.
4. Take the pliers and begin to break off the pieces from the center, gradually approaching the general contour of the hole.
5. Wipe all the notches with a file, achieving a smooth cut surface.

Bulgarian
With this tool you can easily and quickly make a hole under the socket. For work, you must purchase a special disc, reinforced with diamond chips. Bulgarian is a universal tool. It is applicable not only for cutting any tile, but also for grinding the surface. Working with this tool, you need to strictly adhere to safety.Carelessness will damage the material and cause serious injury.

Instruction:

1. Draw the outline of the hole on a smooth surface so that no chipping appears when cutting.
2. Install the carved disk in the grinder.
3. Start cutting holes. Move the tool away from you while holding the tile. First, go around the contour, making the guide lines, and then gradually deepen.
4. Having drilled the hole, do not forget to immediately grind the surface of the cut.

Drill and pliers
Not everyone has on hand a special expensive attachments, jigsaw or grinder, but many have a drill and pliers. These are simple tools that will make a hole of any shape. The cutting method is technically simple, but it requires a lot of patience and time. This method is best used on a tile that is already glued to the wall - there it will not crack. If you need to make a hole on the free ceramics, then before you start drilling, soak it well in hot water. After soaking the tile will become softer.

Instruction:

• Paste the masking tape on the tile and draw the outline of the hole.
• Put ceramics on a wooden surface.
• Install a 4 mm drill bit on the drill.
• Start making lots of holes. Drill them not along the contour, but nearby, from the inside.
• Take the pliers and bite through the partitions between the holes.
• Sand down the remaining, notched.

The methods described will help you to 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 the tile