Drilling A Hole Through A Ceramic Pot

How to drill a hole in a ceramic pot.

Drilling a hole through a ceramic pot. The key to properly drill drainage holes is using the correct drill bit. Slowly begin drilling while applying just a bit of pressure to the top of the drill with your opposite hand. These containers can be found either glazed or left in their natural state. If you know how to drill a hole in a ceramic pot you can turn any pot into a custom piece for your container garden.

A titanium bit would be even better. 5 16 3 8 and 1 2 diamond drill bits for ceramic glass check the package just to make sure it s ok for ceramic. This will keep the bit from slipping. At first we thought we were going to use a bit for tile but my dad couldn t find his so we opted for a masonry bit.

Drill a hole in a ceramic pot a drainage hole helps excess water leave the soil so that your plant s roots are not sitting in a puddle rotting. Drill into the center of your previous hole using this new bit. So i attached a 3 8 tile and glass bit to the battery powered drill. Work as you did before applying light pressure and drilling slowly.

Once you start to see a hole forming in your pot you can increase the speed of your drill. Many of the ceramic containers intended for plants are made from soft terracotta clay. It can be an electric drill or a battery powered one. We used a masonry bit to drill our hole.

For example drill a small indentation then remove the drill and dampen the hole and the base of pot with water as this will prevent the pot from getting too hot and cracking. You should also drizzle water on the pot as you are drilling which will keep the drill bit from getting too hot and help drill through the surface. We have indeed been turning various ceramic cache pots into planters by drilling holes in the bottom. For this tutorial my glazed ceramic pots need drainage holes.

Drilling holes in cast aluminum isn t much different than drilling any soft metal. In this manner you can slowly enlarge the hole while putting less strain on the clay. If using a battery powered drill make sure it is thoroughly charged. And here s how to drill a hole in a ceramic pot.

Find a masonry bit. After drilling a small hole through the pot change your drill bit for one that is 1 8 inch 3 175 mm larger. Ceramic pots can crack quite easily so it might be best to complete the hole in stages. Repeat this process until the hole is completed.

Spray bottle of water. A sharp standard metal drilling drill bit should work. This prevents the bit from skating around on that shiny finish before it takes hold. You might try using a center punch first to keep the bit from walking.

Some of them specifically say not to use it on certain materials even if it drills through tile painter s tape. A good drill is important so you have enough power needed to properly drill through the pot. So here s what i used.