How to drill hole in the glass without breaking it?

Answer 1

They make a special drill bit just for glass and tile. You must drill at a low speed and keep the glass cool by misting with water while drilling. The drill can be bought at any hardware store...and they come in many sizes.

Answer 2

The advice about heat is good, but let's talk about the size of the hole. If it is a hole that's several inches wide or wider, you don't drill it, you cut it with a glass cutting tool mounted on a swivel that's stuck to the center of where the hole will be.

What the heat does is soften the glass, but this get's tricky. If you had a propane torch with a needle thin flame, you MIGHT be able to actually melt through the glass; the problem is that the rest of the glass carries heat AWAY, so you may never be able to melt the target area.

Another method I've seen is to heat up a section of metal pipe that is the width of the desired hole. And when I say heat up, I mean RED hot. While your pipe section is getting hot, pre-heat the area where the hole will be with a torch -but do it gradually -its rapid changes in temperature that shatter glass. Then place the hot end of the pipe where the hole should be, so the circle of hot metal contacts the glass surface. Leave it there for about 30 seconds, remove it, and then place ice inside the circle. The glass will fracture where the metal pipe was and can then be punched out. This can be iffy, because sometimes a crack will just run through the entire pane.

Can the glass be removed? If so, mark the target area, take it to a glass shop and ask them to make your hole for you. If not, you might want to ask them to come to you and do the job. Some auto glass places with mobile service might be a good bet, as well.

There is a glass cutting drill bit, believe it or not, but as others have said, hot is good when you use it.

Good luck. Really.

Answer 3

This is an ex-glazier talking here.
You need to buy/make a bit similar to a hole saw.
A piece of tubing, cut teeth in it like a saw blade, paying attention to the proper rotation/teeth orientation direction.
Get some putty, and build a small dam around the area you want to cut/drill a hole.
Inside the dam, add some water & valve grinding compound.
Use a SLOW speed, and light pressure. KEEP THE HEAT DOWN, or kiss the glass goodbye!
A drill press is best to do this, if one is available, and the glass can be brought to it.

Answer 4

With a hole saw or drill bit made for glass, and cover the area with making tape on both sides.

Answer 5

It isn't too very difficult at all. I use a nice sharp drill bit and start gently tap-tap-tapping the glass. Soon, it'll begin to powder and gradually, you'll produce a small hole. Taking it slowly, keep tapping it, enlarging the hole a tiny bit at a time.
Keeping on in this fashion, it'll take some patience, and a steady hand, but soon, you'll have it. Just takes time.
It doesn't take any specialty bit-I used wood/metal bits. Mostly on beverage/food bottle quality glass.

Answer 6

Use a diamond tipped glass drill bit which can be picked up at your local hardware.

Answer 7

a special diamond tipped drill bit is needed. Any thing else will shatter the glass.

you may want to briefly research on the net on proper methods on doing that sort of thing

Answer 8

make the drill bit as hot as possible ... or maybe heat up the glass .. try this on a piece of glass that doesnt matter first ..

Answer 9

try sellotape .make it into a cross then drill directley in the middle at slow speed.are you making a ship in a glass bottle lol?

Answer 10

If you're talking glass glass and not plexiglass....it's going to be very hard to do.