Drilling through travertine

[DazJWood]

Would a standard tungsten carbide tipped masonry drill bit drill through travertine ok?

I will probably buy the 365drills pack later as I need to make various holes in the tiles.

However, I am hoping that my plumber mate will come and install my towel rail tomorrow so I will need a drill bit now (6 or 8mm I would think), hence the question.

Thanks in advance,

Daz

 

[White Room]

Being a soft stone they should be ok, don't use the hammer on the drill though

 

[DHTiling]

No probs..

 

[SLR]

Would a standard tungsten carbide tipped masonry drill bit drill through travertine ok?

I will probably buy the 365drills pack later as I need to make various holes in the tiles.

However, I am hoping that my plumber mate will come and install my towel rail tomorrow so I will need a drill bit now (6 or 8mm I would think), hence the question.

Thanks in advance,

Daz

I have done this quite allot with a good quality masonry drill bit in a combi drill! I wouldn't use an sds hammer drill as the chance of shattering the tile is very high. I start off by putting the drill in normal drill mode (no hammer action) drill until there is a good indent preferably half way through then switch the combi drill to the hammer drill setting and finish off the hole! Just go easy with it and don't push too hard, let the drill bit do the work! I have fitted many different things this way like shelving toilets towel holders and have never had a problem. A combi drill has a very fine hammer action whereas a full blown hammer drill like an sds has a very harsh hammer action and thats the key thing with drilling through any tiles, gentle hammer if needed at all!
Hope this helps!

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Agreed yes standard masonary bits will work OK into soft travertine.

On the right these standard tile drills are up to the job for travertine.

However - Diamond cores will give you a better finish, will last longer and are guaranteed not to break tiles because they grind holes, rather than drill them.

In the tile above you can see the difference between a hole made using a standard carbide tile drill (A) and a hole drilled using a professional diamond tile drill from 365Drills (B)

Notice that hole (A) is irregular in shape, ragged and the sides have chipped. This is because the hole is formed by chipping away at the tile in a paddle like swathing motion from a centre point.

In hole (B) the diamond core has basically worn away a perfect hole

A perfect hole is formed using a diamond core drill from 365drills.

The diamond core drill causes a plug to form as it grinds into the tile.

A plug formed from using a tile drill made of diamond from 365Drills, Porsadrill

In this example the hole at the bottom was formed with a spade drill. The new hole is being formed with a diamond core drill.

We have the smaller sizes ready in stock for anyone who needs to drill holes for Fixtures and Fittings.

 

[Dan]

Don't mind me while I bump up some of the old threads. I wont be doing this much more. Just the last few in the Tile Drilling forum - How to Drill Porcelain Tiles. Just one of the many tiling advice forums.