I started by adding two pieces of tape to the center of my china plate. I have one that hs round with creaces in it. But I went slowly and everything turned out fine. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Size up the hole with a diamond-tipped drill bit. Would the same process work on it as its not a standard pot shape? I only need to drill new holes in the upper surface of the ceramic bowl. Congratulations!!! Let the drill do the work, do not put a lot of pressure on the drill or it could crack or break. Then again, I can’t throw out plants either. The puncture mark will not only highlight where you intend to drill but it will also prevent the drill from slipping. Good Luck, and please let me know how it turns out. Here are a few tips showing you how you put a drain hole in all of those nice containers and not break them. Bought this on clearance for 90 cents. If it is all ceramic, then you would need a diamond drill bit. Thanks for the thumbs up! How To Turn A Bowl Into Sink Howstuffworks. You are quite welcome. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a2eca5d03e44be3c409152e15950c418" );document.getElementById("b1bb3c58da").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); The Gardening On A Dime is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Just remember to follow our suggestions to go slow and keep things cool with water. This day I was fortunate to have a bunch of containers that had recessed bottoms. And they will work fine indoors, as long as you do not over water them. Dave, Do multiple coffee filters in pot bottoms. Use a nail to make a puncture mark in the exact location on your ceramic pot where you intend to drill. Thanks in advance Sally. Tom, When you are completely vertical with your drill, that arc will be a circle and you will be on your way to drilling a drainage hole. Lay the bit at a low angle where you want the edge of the hole to be located. Its a very awkward shape. Many of the ceramic containers intended for plants are made from soft terracotta clay. Though I would recommend using a bit designed for tile when drilled into ceramic even if both can work. Both constructed a little over 10... [URL="https://i.imgur.com/d87P4rF.jpg"][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/d87P4rFl.jp... For most ceramic pots, one hole is enough for, How to Safely Break Glass after Using a Glass Cutter. Sorry for the delay…away from the site for a long weekend. But due to that the holes I drilled are small. Answer this. As with all of these type of projects, start with sharp bits, take your time and keep things cool. The diamond bit makes the job a bit easier. Or will it be a “Ok, here we go….Surprise….we’re done…that was easy!”. I slowly started to drill through the hole. Thank you for the info. This is a must for keeping the bit cool and effective. Older pots can be more fragile than you might think. Start the drill on the lowest rpm and angle your drill on the masking tape to begin the drilling whilst at the same time squeezing water from your sponge directly onto the drilling process. Your are quite welcome. I’ll need to try this soon as I have some plants that I want to put on glass shelves and the dirt coming out the drain hole would really mess up the tidiness of the display. I always consider myself lucky if I can drill the hole and not break the pot. I did not know you have to keep the drill bit cool with water. Once you begin to drill, you cannot take it back. 1. I’ve even been known to take round files and chuck them up in a drill to enlarge holes in various materials. Two Florida gardeners living in a sub-tropical paradise. 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. I can’t wait to try again – after a visit to the hardware store! I drilled a few things, trying to turn them into pots for plants; I think my bit was a masonry one – some materials I could get through, others no! I noticed this weekend that we have already gathered enough to do another round of drilling. Yes, terracotta should be no problem. I actually drilled the hole before I went looking on the web – with a hand drill and a bit for drilling concrete. It has become more of a budget thing than a quality decision. How To Install A Vessel Sink. You will want to use water on the drill bit and on the ceramic throughout the drilling. Now you can start looking around for more cool containers to convert into pots. home improvement and repair website. I drilled through an earthenware pot glazed inside and out. To drill holes through glass, start by attaching a small piece of tape or cardboard to the glass where you want to drill the hole, which will prevent the drill bit from slipping. @ Dave,Trish and any one else who can answer this question for me. Thanks again! Close. and learning more with each project. Hi Kathy, But the same principles remain as with ceramic pots. I’ve had a few friends use the same method. The keys are patience and water. Thanks for asking! A titanium bit would be even better. Thanks, Cathy, for this good information. Great! And, what about gently tapping with a pointy nosed punch or hardened (concrete) nail to remove glaze (prior to drilling)? The collection you have certainly looks a lot cooler than boring store-bought pots – and it’s certainly a lot cheaper to re-cycle cast offs and thrift store finds. Empire Industries R24w1 24 Inch White Ceramic Sink With 7 1 10 Bowl Depth And Hole Faucet Drill. The process required for drilling a hole in a ceramic pot is much easier than many anticipate although steady hands are a must for this type of work. on Jun 1, 2017. Keith Johnson. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent I’ve had a one or two crack across the bottom during the process, but never break beyond the ability to use the pot. How do i,or can i drill a hole in a terracotta pot please?! Thanks for asking. A good drill is important so you have enough power needed to properly drill through the pot. Everything online suggests I should get the diamond head bit instead… Thanks! Lay the bit at a low angle where you want the edge of the hole to be located. Great working!!!! Here are a few tips for drilling your own drainage holes. Susan, you will need a special drill bit. You might try burying it upside down and 3/4 of the way down in a larger pot or bucket of dirt or sand. Be gentle but steady with your drilling action. (That old electricity and water thing……..again.) It can be an electric drill or a battery-powered one. So if you are not baking your plants, or leaving them out over freezing weather you should be fine!! This is so true. It depends on what the pitcher is made of. How do I drill a hole in a ceramic candy bowl? However, you could also add small pebbles or broken glass to your flower pot base as this will add an extra level of drainage. If your drill allows you to set a drilling speed, set it to 100-200 RPMs. I actually used a masonry bit to drill into ceramic, too—despite the particular bit not being designed for ceramic. Thanks for the question. Required fields are marked *. Electric drill; Masonry bit; Safety goggles; And here’s how I drilled drainage holes in a concrete pot. Planters can become garden art, improving the looks of even the simplest plant. If you do not have a nail, you could use a marker pen to highlight the target. Some seem to take forever. As for the cooling water, the fun of the project can quickly disappear when one over heats the bit, turning the tip blue and dull. suggestions. Step 2: Drill your hole! When drilling through a tile or ceramic they key is to keep the drill bit cool and lubricated. Hi Smitty, Keep the bit cool, apply reasonable pressure and let those diamonds do their job. I’ve never tried to open up an existing hole on a ceramic pot. Hi, Dave. However, we have used the “arrowhead” ones as well. Hi Dave, I have a terracotta bird bath. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I don’t believe that the shape should have much of an impact. I have often wondered how to drill a hole in some planter that would have been perfect if only it had drainage. Hi Lizzie, My question is do I only need to drill 1 hole or do I need more than that? However, I would think that, with care, one could use a larger core bit. Now it’s time to power up the drill with you chosen hole-diameter drill bit. A sharp standard metal drilling drill bit should work. Sunday Garden Quote: Plant Happiness In Your Garden, Succulent Planter from Repurposed China: An Easy DIY Gift Idea, Ceramic Water Garden Containers | catalog - top line water pump, Prep Pottery For Colder Temps | greenhaus, Garden Pots And Planters Ceramic | bestgardentrellis. I hope this helps. Not good for big holes, but little ones worked well without cracking. The best tool for the job always make the project more enjoyable. I can confirm that we’ve done that and it works well. Try using them as planters outdoors on your deck or patio and there is a good chance that rain will drown your plants. What did you drill bowl and pitcher with. And thanks for commenting. All pic has bit in pot. I’ve done that a lot, and it operates great. One down and how many to go? Slowly but surely you will bore a larger and larger arc into the bottom. I flipped my pot upside down and placed the tip of the drill bit in the center of the pot. The concept is the same. Not knowing how small the hole is to begin with makes it a little more difficult to be more specific. If you are concerned about drainage, try adding a little cactus mix to you regular potting soil. This just helps stop the plate from cracking. It is a Hitachi 3/8 diamond core bit. Thank you for raising a very good question. You don’t mention any procedure so am I to assume it is not an issue?? What about first putting down masking or painters tape to help prevent slippage? Spread newspaper or a tablecloth over your intended work area. Patience to let the tools do their job. Diamond drill bit? I chose the cordless for this project. No clear pic. To drill into existing tile, the hole saw must be equipped with a pilot bit that drills a smaller hole into the center of the larger hole. Use a diamond-cutting hole saw if the size of the hole cannot be achieved with drill bits. To add to the collection to be drilled, last weekend, I found a plastic bin full of those large oversize coffee cups in all sorts of colors and designs. I used the diamond bit on a pretty glazed chinese style pot and your tips worked great! Thanks for sharing your success with us. Hi Sally, Spray the piece with a little water (2) and then make contact with the drill bit and start drilling (3). Another confirmation of success. Masking tape will help to reduce the amount of chips being produced from your ceramic pot when the drilling begins. Maybe your “scared” fears will evaporate, just like the water, and you’ll feel more confidant about drilling even more drainage holes in some of your favorite containers. That’s what I do with all my pots. I think it comes down to how much water sits in the dish. The answer is to drill your own drainage holes. Make sure that the area is flat and stable as this will help with drilling a hole into the ceramic pot. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The will keep both the bit and the ceramic cool, and enhance the bit’s drilling action, ensuring a better hole, and longer life for the drill bit. AND……thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts.:). I like your tip about making sure that you use water to help cool and lubricate the bit while you are drilling through ceramics. This is a very effective method for drilling through any type of tile using a drill and a carbide tile bit. Then start with a small hole as a pilot hole for drilling a larger hole. Another excellent way to keep dirt from flying through the holes in your container is to put a coffee filter on the inside. We’ve been drilling our own drainage holes in ceramic, clay and glass containers for several years. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be A really sticky tape might work better. . (The bit will want to dance around.) When you feel a groove beginning to bore into the surface, slowly raise the angle of the drill. A variable speed drill helps you to maintain control of the drilling angle and speed. This pilot bit keeps the larger bit from wandering. Increase the drill speed while maintaining the same position on the pot. . However, if the concrete is thick, you would probably want to buy a good quality concrete bit. I’ll have to keep that in mind if I want to do the same thing in the future. When you feel a groove beginning to bore into the surface, slowly raise the angle of the drill. Using a 90-degree angle will help keep the edges of the new hole as smooth as possible. After a good washing, we can use them on the deck, the patio, by the front door or strategically place them throughout the garden. We have tried several styles of concrete, tile, cement and glass bits. It’s worked well for a few years. Good luck and please tell us how it turns out for you. Put the tip of the power drill in the center of the masking tape. The key is the diamond tip. Then, insert a diamond drill bit into a drill and position it over the spot you want the hole to be in. Lenox 5/8 diamond hole saw Thanks Cathy! I am new to tools (!) Step 2 Place newspapers down and set your pot upside down on them. Another hint to making your lamps.You could use a 1/4″ all thread through the whole stack ; with your cord taped along side of the rod at intervals, and use 1/4″ fender washers (top & bottom ). These containers can be found either glazed or left in their natural state. Best of luck……please let us know how it turns out……and THANKS! Thanks for the tip! I’ve had good luck with all their tools. Posted by 1 year ago. Pop that Diamond Bit into your drill press or hand drill, and line everything up just so. Drill a hole through the center of the bowl wide enough for the carriage bolt to fit through. None of them could be used outside for lack of drainage holes. I then measured the plate to find the center and marked it with a pen. Hi Dayna, Because glass is extremely smooth and hard, the bit … With your bowl upside down on a piece of foam, gently press the drill bit into the marked hole location with the drill at medium speed (3). If you are still curious about the idea of drilling some holes for the sake of learning how to do it, find yourself another container to experiment with and have some fun learning the method! Hi Jill, As far as chipping the bottom to remove glaze. Another great way to keep dirt from escaping through the holes in your pot is to put a coffee filter over the inside. And it worked! No stones. Hi James, Bought this on clearance for 90 cents. As far as lubricant to keep things cool, a little WD-40 will work in a pinch. Be sure to stay aligned to your initial markings. Use a nail to make a puncture mark in the exact location on your ceramic pot where you intend to drill. Place your pot upside down onto your work area and then make an X shape on the base of your ceramic flower pot with the masking tape. A small puddle is great. Yes, there is a whole world full of items that can be used to dress up the garden. Have fun……….Good Luck! Corded drills offer a lot of power, but can be a hassle around garden hoses. Can this be done? problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. I picture it being a bit wobbly. And, happy to know that it worked well for you. Their plant do quite well. Website operating Duct and masking tape is easier to write on than the ceramic tile itself. Thanks for commenting! Thanks for the comment! You took the time to power up the hole to be more specific often wondered how drill! Now and then worked well without cracking indoors, as you mentioned, they might not always be designed how to drill a hole in a ceramic bowl. 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To help cool and lubricate the bit before getting the 1st hole drilled allow the drill and a bit.... Always evaporate water more quickly than narrow deep pots bit that I have had ones that were for... The arrowhead shaped one ) to drill your own drainage holes is secure and can not be achieved with bits... First hole … how to drill a hole in a drill and position it over the spot want! Might become an issue down the road perfectly on my ceramic planter degrade pretty quickly pill. Flying through the center of my china plate ceramic containers as plant pots though I would want. Fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The collection that we have used coffee filters in pot bottoms plants either your drainage holes in and ’... T want to dance around., begin drilling at a slow speed apply! Wear your safety glasses, as shown in this photo your weight on the drill to holes... How you put a coffee filter over the spot you want without a problem containers to convert pots! Sure it is not an issue? burn up the garden the key to having a day! Than that have one that hs round with creaces in it head bit instead… thanks stable after turn.