Diamond core bits for porcelain stoneware: features of selection and use

Porcelain stoneware is highly durable. This quality is both a plus and a minus.

When installing tiles, it must be cut and sometimes drilled. For holes up to 10-12 cm, spear or conventional drills are used. For large sizes, for communications, diamond crowns will be the best option. Spraying has its own characteristics that you need to know before starting work.

The diamond core bit looks quite typical and is mounted on a special metal shank. Outwardly, the design resembles a drill with a small bowl. Its size corresponds to the resulting hole.

Diamond crystals are fixed on the extreme part of the cutting edge using vacuum diffusion welding. The larger the number, the easier it is to drill.... There is also a galvanic deposition method, which also gives a dense layer of diamond "grains". Such a tool can be used for working with hard porcelain stoneware, but withthere is a risk that the nozzle will not cope with the load during prolonged use and will lose part of the working layer.

Diamond bits may differ from each other. The main criteria for differences:

• Wall thickness... Thin walls give an accurate result, the hole will be exactly as you wanted. True, because of this, the possible service life of the drill is reduced.
• Diameter may vary from 19 to 100 mm. A wide range makes it possible to make a hole of the desired size in one go.
• Length... The depth of the hole that needs to be made in the porcelain stoneware slab depends on the length of the drill.
• The size diamond segments and the distance between them affect the ease of drilling and the quality of the final hole.
• Concentration of diamonds in a bundle... The overall performance of the crown depends on this factor. At 100% concentration, diamonds occupy ¼ of the total diamond sputtering volume.
• Quantity and configuration holes for cooling, or their absence.

Some crowns are equipped with a center drill. In the absence of such an element, drill clamps are used. - holders - or stationary machine. If there is a drill, then no additional devices are required for work.

There are many manufacturers in the modern market who are engaged in the manufacture of such tools. It is very easy to install or remove the drill, regardless of the manufacturer. When choosing a diamond core bit, the following factors are taken into account:

• diameter of the future hole;
• thickness of porcelain stoneware;
• hardness of porcelain stoneware.

These devices are more expensive than those that need to be refrigerated on their own.

The size of the nozzle affects the cost: the larger the diameter and length, the more expensive. Choose wisely. Drilling holes with one drill size will save a lot of money.

The most popular are the crowns with a diameter of 32, 35 and 68 mm... If you plan to make different holes, then get a set of crowns.

Making a hole in porcelain stoneware is much easier than it might seem at first glance.There are several rules that must be followed in order to obtain a quality result. They will also help to avoid early breakage of the crown:

• Consider crown cooling during work. The most important thing to do is to prevent the crown from getting too hot.
• Be sure to use a backing... You can use plywood or chipboard of a larger size. Such a simple solution will protect materials from possible damage and provide additional safety during operation.

• Start making a hole from the front and always make sure that the drill fits exactly into the porcelain stoneware. When the crown emerges, a small chip is always formed, which is not desirable on the decorative surface.
• Using crowns with a center drill will save you from many mistakes.

• It is recommended not to drill completely, and 2/3 of the plate. Then all that remains is to knock out the porcelain stoneware cork.
• Do not put pressure on the drill while working too much, it may split the tiles. Close to the end and minimize the impact altogether.
• Drill work before mounting the plate... This way you can always correct random mistakes.

Small holes are usually made for dowels. Large - suitable for mounting sockets, pipes or decorative elements. For drilling, you can use both a drill, and a hammer drill with the hammer action turned off.

To make in porcelain stoneware a hole with a diameter of up to 10 mm get drills with a diamond tip... Be sure to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fluid to the drill tip while working. This will cool down and the drill will stay sharp longer.

Position the drill at a 90 degree angle while drilling... Use holders or a special machine to secure this position. At the beginning of work, you need to bring the already switched on drill to the porcelain stoneware, otherwise the drill will slip off and damage the decorative layer of the tile.

The principle of drilling large diameters is the same as in conventional work. Only here you will need diamond crowns for porcelain stoneware. Also keep the drill at an even angle and do not forget about the cooling fluid.

When working with porcelain stoneware, both through drilling and drilling not completely are permissible. The latter option requires special attention. Make a hole 2/3 of the desired depth and knock out the remaining plug with a sharp blow... You only need to strike from the front side of the tile. This creates a noticeable chip on the back of the panel.

Once you've started drilling, don't stop. During the operation of the drill, the oil and spray will heat up, if you stop, they will solidify again. Such a rash decision will have a detrimental effect on both the crown and the porcelain stoneware.

During drilling operations, diamond core bits become very hot. This causes the product to deteriorate. With a single use, you may not notice this in vain, but soon the defect will manifest itself.

Due to overheating, the characteristics of the drill first deteriorate, and then destruction occurs altogether.... As a result, the purchase of a new crown awaits you.

Cooling during the work will ensure a longer and better work of the crown. To do this, use one of the methods:

• Constant water flow... For this method, you can get a tool that has a built-in water supply function. You can also be smart and supply water from the outside. This is not always convenient if you are making a small hole.
• Puddle... Make a puddle in the place of the future hole. In the process, add water as needed. This cooling option is lighter than the previous one, but also less efficient.

Evaluating all the nuances of the work, we can conclude that using diamond crowns when drilling porcelain stoneware is quite feasible at home.

Find out more information about diamond core bits in the next video.