Can you drill porcelain tile without breaking?

[stanleyoutdoors]

I plan to install porcelain but want to bolt some things to the floor. Possible to drill or do i need to tile around (difficult because I won;t know where I want the holes...)

 

[dandan111]

I drilled my bathroom tile with a diamond bit,it was a pita.

 

[Dakota00]

yes you can drill it, you need a diamond bit. Drill on slow speed, keep the bit cool with water.

 

[Frank Dreb]

I have done it many times. As long as the tile is applied properly, there should be no issues.

like others have said - get a diamond bit not a masonry bit. I have had success with a masonry bit before I knew about diamond bits, but diamond bits are just awesome. Home improvement stores actually have tile hole saws.

little tip I learned to keep the bit cool - get some plumbers putty or even fun tack, and make a small circular "dam" around the hole to be drilled. Fill with water and drill.

 

[slickgt1]

Pain in the *** every time I have to drill porcelain. Hammer drill is good, but if you didn't do the tile, you won't know if it was done right, so no hammer drill. If tile was done right, it will stay put and won't crack. Just to be safe in your case, diamond bit, keep the bit cool and drill away.

 

[197044RT]

Yep, Drilled many here too. Diamond coring bit is the way to go. Must keep the bit cool to last more than a couple holes.

 

[larry_g]

Many have said how, I would have to ask what? As a machinist I think machine tools and some of them have some perty high point loads on the feet. I would wonder if you should leave an area untiled for the machine, place the machine and then tile up to its base? If your not bolting down a machine then are you confident the tile can support the load, especially if the load is dynamic?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[slickgt1]

I am really confident in tile supporting high dynamic loads. My truck weighs 5000+lbs, and I can lift half of it with one floor jack. So most of the weight is over the front wheels of the jack, supporting close to 2.5k lbs. If he is bolting down cabinets, or something else, Should not be a problem either. But as stated earlier, if you have to drill a lot of holes it will be a pain in the ***. I recommend having a hammer drill handy, especially for the spots that are out of sight.

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Thanks for the help

I plan to bolt down a stand/ramp for dirtbikes as well as a stop to hold my trailer as I lean it against the wall.

I have a small lathe but planned to just rest that on rubber pads not bolt down

 

[slickgt1]

Yea I don't see an issue with all you want to do. That stop for the trailer, glue it down as well. I am more worries about the bolts shearing off, then the tile breaking.