Drilling holes in laminated glass - possible, sensible?

ISTR that a technique for drilling normal non-laminated window glass was to get some putty and form a ring on the glass into which you pour paraffin or something, and you then drill with the bit immersed in the paraffin.

or a spray of water from a pistol grip spray every so often while drilling.

The small diamond grit edged hole saws make a fairly easy job of it - just need light pressure, let the abrasive do its thing...

Bit like:

I have used these on regular glass

(Triangular bit of hard metal brazed into a holder) and I'd far prefer to use a small hole saw.

I think a drill press would make it whole lot easier.

I don't think you will drill several holes in one piece of glass without the glass being on some sort of backing. Easing through the last bit of glass was difficult for me...

Thomas Prufer

Thanks both, the specific drill (type) recommendations are really useful.

I too wonder about the exit from the other side of the glass being the point at which one is most likely to make cracks. Given that I'm going to try this on laminated glass I wonder if it's worth drilling from both sides and thus making the 'exit' into the plastic layer in the middle.

It can be done! :-)

I bought these bits:-

What seems to be required:- Fairly slow drill speed (slow speed of two-speed cordless is what I used) Keep it cool with lots of water (keeps the dust at bay too) Not too much pressure Drill from the other side to finish