Diamond Bits

[PatInTexas]

Just about done tiling our new shower and have run into a roadblock when trying to find a source for a diamond bit for cutting a hole in 6x6 poreclain tile for the shower spout. Of course, the spout is located dead center in the tile. I have called everywhere in the Houston area and can't find anyone who carries them. Nationsrent will rent me one for a day for $100 per day which of course is ridiculous!!

Hubby went through two rotozip bits and many masonry bits, had it just about done after almost three hours and the tile broke in three pieces. We know there HAS to be a better way! Tile Outlet doesn't carry them, Lowe's and Home Depot don't either.

Thanks!
Pat

[Sponsored Links]

[Stoneguy]

Go here:

http://www.vicintl.com/

[Toddl]

I do not own a tile hole cutter, so have had to innovate several times. I take my 4" grinder and start grinding vertically on the back of the tile to make a bowl shape. Once it breaks through (you may have to do the same on the front), I take nippers or pliers and start nipping away at the tile (very small pieces), which by now is fairly thin. Between the grinder and the nipping you will be able make a suitable hole for passing the copper pipe through, providing you use a flange to cover it with. The closer you are to center of the tile the better this method works. It's ugly, but it works! :D

[Davy]

Some porcelain tiles are very tough to get a hole in without it breaking. Once I wanted to cut a hole in a the middle of a piece for a soap dish. I cut the tile by going under my blade and lifting up but before I could get a 4"x6" cut out the tile would break. Did this three times, on the fourth I cut it real slow and finally got it. After turning off the saw I could hear it cracking and about five seconds later, it broke too. Weird. I decided to make a U shape cut and put the dish alittle higher.;)

[Dan the Man]

the best way to cut a hole in a tile is with one of the old tile hammers, chip away at the back of the tile while it is in a hole clamp which provents the shocks of the hammer shattering the tile. once you have chipped away at the back to make the middle of the tile thinner you can then slowley drill in thefront of the tile obviosuly not with a hammer setting on a drill.

You can try other chipping techniques but the intention is to make the centre of the tile weak and not the edge so however you do it, it should work.

Dan

[PatInTexas]

Thanks for all the replies! I think we've got this issue solved. I have been lucky enough to have an installer volunteer to cut the shower spout hole for me. I'm going to take him about 4 tiles to his jobsite and he'll do his thing. If we had known about the toughness of porcelain before we selected our tile, I don't think we would have gone this route. On the upside though, this shower will be beautiful and last a long time.

Installing the shower door and the Better Shelf that we decided to get as an afterthought :bang: presented problems too with regards to getting through the poreclain. We decided to install the shower door right on the CBU and tile up to it. The shelf, we'll go in through grout seams. Hope it works!

Pat

[madmax]

Forget hole cutters. They are a waste for the most part. If you have a grinder or a wetsaw, just mark the cut and cut a square hole from the bottom. As long as you make a decent cut the flange will cover the hole.

[Rd Tile]

http://www.diamond-drill-bit-and-tool.com/Diamond-Drill/Default.htm?Diamond-Drill-Bit.htm

[Shaughnn]

I'll add to madmax's solution that using the blade to score the glazed face of the tile, along the same lines you cut on the back, will prevent any chipping from ruining the face of your cut. Depending on the hardness of the tile, I can usually pop out a 3/4" hole in a tile by scoring an octagon around the hole and then cutting through from the bottom. Sometimes a little TLC with the nippers is called for. While I do keep a cheap hole saw in my tool box, I don't pull it out except for use with softer tiles. One day I'll get a real one, but until then I'll trust estucheons to cover a straight-sided hole. :)
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

[doitright]

Get to know someone who owns a waterjet. They'll cut any size, any design, any hardness, anytime. Downside - Cost! My brother's company had one. Boy do I miss that service! :shades:

[PatInTexas]

Thanks everyone!! The hole has been made by an installer who works for Lowe's. He didn't want to charge me anything, but I compensated him very nicely anyhow! :) The shower should be ready for christening by Thursday or Friday. Kinda scarey, even though the water test for the liner was fine. So much hard work involved in rebuilding a new shower...just the thought of having to redo is a bit unnerving. :rolleyes:

Pat

[John Bridge]

It will work. It will hold water, Pat. :)

Where's the picher?

[doitright]

Hey Pat,

Congratulations! I do agree though on the point, nothing worse than having to tear out your own work. Had a builder who's cabinet maker provided inaccurate dimensions. The floor was with a perimeter border. Had to tear out and redo. It was stuck real good! :cry:

[PatInTexas]

Hi guys!! The shower is wonderful!! We christened it yesterday morning. Not one low spot on the floor!! Everything drained out just the way it's supposed to. Not too shabby for two rookies, huh? Sure glad that project is over. We've worked 12 hr. days every weekend since the beginning of the year.

I don't know how to insert pics into a post. I sent a picture from home to the office where I'm at now, but am clueless as to how to get it in a post. Maybe save it to my PC here first???:confused: :confused:

Pat

[John Bridge]

Pat,

Save it to your PC, but you'll have to get it down to under 50 kb somehow.

You can send it to me, and I can post it for you. john@johnbridge.com

Make sure you mention this thread in the email. :)

[PatInTexas]

John....check your mail. :D

Thanks
Pat

[John Bridge]

Here are Pat and David's pictures. Very impressive for a couple of weekend warriors. Excellent design and workmanship. :)

This is what they started with.

[John Bridge]

Nemero Dos

[John Bridge]

Tres. I'm also going to add the two finished shots to the album. ;)

http://johnbridge.com/bathroom_projects10.htm

[PatInTexas]

Thanks for posting the pitchers John! However, the pic that you labeled "Nemero Dos" is actually the bathroom before the demo. The glass shower was the leaky shower that we started with originally. The picture with the wooden blinds and carpet is the real finished bathroom. :)

Pat

[doitright]

Hi Pat :)

Beautiful bathroom! Went for a little more privacy this time? :D

[Dan the Man]

Aint it good when you see the rusult of a really good job? Love it!

[John Bridge]

Oh, I knew that.

Not. :D