Drilling ceramic wall tile 15mm

[Richard]

I wish to drill a 16mm hole in a ceramic tile to pass a water pipe through, how's this best achieved?

[BigWallop]

A drill with a masonry or tile drill bit. Don't use the hammer action on the drill. Start off with a small drill bit, then slowly increase the diameter of the bit up to the size you need for the pipe. Allow the tile to cool off completely before going up to the next size drill bit, but don't try cooling the tile with water or you'll crack it.

You could also try going through the tile with a small diameter tile drill bit in a series of holes around the diameter of the large hole you want, then gently tap out the section of tile with a small block of wood and a hammer. Keep the small drill holes as close to each other as you can, then scratch the tile in between each hole so that the tile breaks away like a normal cutting action should do.

[John Rumm]

I did it in the kitchen recently for the pressure release pipe from the boiler. Used a 400mm long 16mm diameter SDS bit. Drilled through the tile with hammer action off, then engaged hammer for most of the remainder of the wall. The last half inch or so it is worth going back to rotary only to save taking a large "exit wound" lump out the outer face of the wall.