5 Tips for Choosing the Right Diamond Tile Drill Bits

FACTS CHECKED BY  NICOLE PAV 

Drilling holes in tiles are somewhat unavoidable. The diamond tile drill bits may be the tool of choice, but the right choice of these tools is paramount to achieving the desired result.

Although there are other types of drill bits, examples are carbide drill bits, steel drill bits, and many others. But diamond bits are the most selected.

Here are some tips on the factors you should consider when choosing diamond tile drill bits.

Table of Contents

5 Tips For Making a Selection

Using the right diamond tile drill bit confers more advantages to you than you can think of. The tool allows for consistent performance in all jobs and causes lesser damage to the drilled materials. More importantly, it is more durable than most drill bits available.

1. The Material You Want To Cut:

Tiles are made of different materials, and there are varieties of materials you can drill using a diamond tile drill bit. However, it is very important to consider the type of material that you would be drilling with the diamond tile drill bits you are choosing. Different materials have different hardness and abrasiveness properties.

For example, the common types of tiles are majorly ceramic or porcelain. Porcelain tiles are harder than normal ceramic and require much more sophisticated tools to drill. Diamond drill bits for porcelain tiles are the only viable option when drilling because other drill bits cannot possibly cut past the tile due to their extreme core hardness.

The cost of the material used may also influence the choice of the tile drill bit tool. Expensive materials require a perfect finish with minimal damage. Choosing the diamond tile drill bits tools that will ensure these requirements are met is the first step to success on the job.

Image of a constructor with ceramic tiles
Figure 2: Image of a constructor with ceramic tiles

2. Diamond Concentration:

Another thing to look out for is the concentration of diamond present in the diamond tile drill bits. It is the percentage and distribution of diamonds in the tool. It has an overall effect on drilling efficiency.

Selecting the right diamond tile drill bit for the material you want to drill. This is because it is critical in the optimization of your drilling operations. It is critical because it plays a major role in determining diamond tile drill bits’ drilling speed and lifespan.

When you want to drill very abrasive materials, manufacturers recommend using diamond tile drill bits with high diamond concentration. If your material is less abrasive, choose low diamond concentration bits. It is easy to know because of the work of the tile drill bits manufacturers.

They ensure the optimal performance of these tools by using their analytical capabilities and technical experience to balance the diamond concentration in diamond tile drill bits. It helps them to achieve optimum performance. So it would be best if you considered this factor before choosing.

Image showing an image of diamond particles
Figure 3: Image showing an image of diamond particles

3. Size of Holes You Want To Drill:

The size of the holes you want to drill is also important to consider when choosing the tile drill bits. There are different applications of the diamond drill bit tool, and each application has specific details that determine the number and the size of holes you would be drilling. The size of the hole you would be drilling will determine the method of drilling that you should use and, thus, the type of diamond tile drill bit to use.

Ascertaining the diameter of the holes you want to drill in tiles is wise because it will inadvertently result in the choice of the right tool for the job. As a beginner, if you are unsure about how to measure these holes, there is a way out. You could consider using a small wood as a template.

Drill a hole into the wood with any tool that is available to you. Make sure the hole has the same diameter as you want on the tiles. You can measure with tape and take the diameter along, and cross-check with the tile drill bits manufacturers’ recommendation.

Image showing the measurement of a hole before drilling
Figure 4: Image showing the measurement of a hole before drilling

4. Bond Type:

As with every diamond tool, there are different ways the diamond bits bonded in the tool. There are more than two different ways manufacturers could embed the bond matrix of the diamond tile drill bit. It could be Bonded or Sintered.

The tip of the diamond tile drill bit has its diamond bond to the edge of the tip. Manufacturers usually do this through an electroplating-like bonding process. This bond type of diamond tile drill bits is relatively slow and less expensive than the other.

When drilling the tile, the bonded diamonds on the tile drill bits mostly wear off the tool. It happens because of the hardness and abrasive resistance of the tile or porcelain you are drilling. Tile drill bits with this bond type usually consist of just a single layer.

So after wearing out, the best thing you should do is to replace them with new drill bits. Manufacturers do not recommend tile drill bits of this bond type for any other material except ceramic tiles. It usually does not work well for porcelain.

The tile drill bits require proper speed and adequate lubrication with water. The other bond type is the sintered diamond tile drill bit. These tile drill bits have their diamonds directly inside the steel tip.

Therefore, when drilling your tile, new diamonds resurface as the metal tip wears off. It happens because the sintered diamond tile drill bits have more than a single layer of diamonds on the tip. Unlike the other bond type, you can drill porcelain efficiently with tile drill bits of this bond type.

Even though there are multiple-use diamond tile drill bits, different bond types are best suited to different jobs and subjective to the user’s discretion user.

Image of a Sintered diamond Trulli drill bits
Figure 5: Image of a Sintered diamond Trulli drill bits

5. Lifespan and Cost:

Tile drill bits’ lifespan depends on several factors. They range from hardness and thickness to the abrasive quality of the tiles and porcelain you are drilling. You can also affect the bits’ lifespan with the speed and pressure you use during drilling.

However, diamond tile drill bits have a long lifespan with good use. For example, bonded diamond tile drill bits last long when you drill tile or porcelain at a relatively low speed.

However, should you decide to use it to drill holes in porcelain, do so at a much slower speed. This simple guideline indirectly determines the lifespan of the diamond tile drill bits. It shows that the diamond tile drill bit would overheat due to excess drill speed and pressure.

The lifespan of a diamond drill bit varies according to the type of material you are cutting, lubrication drilling speed, and pressure. It could also be on the bond type. Sintered bond type lasts longer than the bonded type.

Conclusively, the cost of diamond tile drill bits is the last thing to know. Diamond tile drill bits might sound expensive compared to other types of tile drill bits. However, if you want the best quality bits to drill your tile and porcelain, you cannot compromise.

If you are not on a tight budget, you should get the diamond tile drill bit. Since they are of two bond types, they cost differently. Bonded diamond tile drill bits are less expensive than the sintered variant.

Image showing credit card and cash
Figure 6: Image showing credit card and cash

After choosing the diamond drill bits, it is also important you know how to use them efficiently to get the results you desire. You will find them beneficial when you know how to utilize diamond tile drill bits fully. One thing to note is that no matter how much you know how to choose the right diamond tile drill bit, getting the best performance depends on the right exploration of the diamond tile drill bit.

Huge costs of operation, imperfect jobs, and profit loss are implications of the wrong choice of diamond drill bit for tile drilling.

Conclusion

It is, therefore, imperative that every necessary factor is put into consideration before the choice is made. The right tool is what guarantees a perfect job.

These tips will help you choose the right diamond tile drill bits.
Fortunately for you, at NCcuttingTools, we can provide you with your best experience in drilling holes in tiles and porcelain. Contact us at https://www.nccuttingtools.com for more information and to do business together.

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