Drilling Glass

[Kev]

Here are a few sites a few of us found that might be of assistance in the process of drilling holes in glass and a few possibilities of where you can get them.

http://diamondburs.net/tiforusdidrb.html
http://www.truebite.com/drill_degrout/
http://www.diamond-drill-bit-and-tool.com/Diamond-Drill/MAIN.htm

[JoanFrances]

many of these bits are the ones you would use for glass engraving also

[Audrey]

Cool. Thanks

[Lady Helen]

I've drilled glass and my only problem is when I first start
the drill bit jumps slightly which sometimes producing a scratch.

I tried to get around that using a little well constructed with
mac tac (the stuff you use to put posters up on a wall without leaving marks,
its a bit more rubbery than plasticine.

Other suggestions welcomed!

[Anne]

I've drilled glass and my only problem is when I first start
the drill bit jumps slightly which sometimes producing a scratch.

I tried to get around that using a little well constructed with
mac tac (the stuff you use to put posters up on a wall without leaving marks,
its a bit more rubbery than plasticine.

Other suggestions welcomed!

I've had that happen in the past when I didn't 'seat' the bit far enough into my drill press.  Now I set the bit up to be just a bit longer than what I need.  I'll attach a pic in a sec to show you what I mean.

Sorry, a photographer I'm NOT. Hopefully you can get the idea though.  If your bit is too far out of the - chuck - is that what they call it - lol then it's going to spin before it cuts into your glass and make a circle in the glass you don't want.  If it's set up leaving just enough to drill through your glass then you may get a bit of a chip on the backside but you won't get problems on the top.

That's been my experience anyway!

[Lady Helen]

Thanks for that tip! It is quite possible that I didn't have the drill bit in deep enough.
I'll try it out on a scrap piece just to see what happens.
(Ho-ho-ho I'm working on reindeer faces right now for the church bazaar)

[Graham]

The best answer is a drill press. Then the drill goes exactly where you point it, and stays there.

Without a drill press, try starting with the drill on a slant, ans gently creating a bit of a groove in the glass. Once you've got that bit of a groove, it's relatively simple to keep the bit where it belongs, rather than wandering around.

Sorry if I'm repeating what any body else said. I've been away for a few days and trying to catch up, so I'm skipping through things.

[Becki]

I agree, Graham.  I've got a drill press attachment for my dremel...makes drilling much easier.

[Kev]

Hmmm...maybe that's the next toy on my list...lol

[Glassic]

I got my bits at Harbor Freight

[Kev]

Are you happy with them Yvonne? Do they last very long?

[Glassic]

I cant say, I've only used one, it did the job and I think each bit only cost 4 bits!

[Kev]

Gee...that pretty cheap..I like that!

[Graham]

only cost 4 bits!

Gotta be careful using terms like that nowadays. I said a few weeks ago, to my grand-niece, that something cost only "two bits". She hadn't a clue what I was talking about.

I guess you're safe to use it here, where we're all old farts. (Well, maybe not all.)

[Glassic]

Guess I should watch my tonque, being an Aussie'n'all. And.... it is a four letter word!