I want to drill a hole in a glass vase to turn it into a lamp. Any suggestions on how to do this?

Answer 1

First: don't do it!

Second here's why: Glass is not like pottery, or wood that you can drill through. It is like a frozen liquid. It just happens to be solid at room temperature. The structure of glass is under a great deal of tension. If you put stress on that structure, like trying to drill into it, it will crack and shatter.

Third, buy some flowers, put them in the vase, and buy something else to turn into a vase, preferable already with a hole in it.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Buddy is correct they make drill bits for glass... BUT.... the trick with glass is it needs to be wet ground or drilled. So you will need to keep the area wet and the water circulated it keeps the glass cool and prevents shattering

the drill bit can attach to a dremel. you can use some putty in a larger circle dam formation and pour water in, stop ever minute or so and dump and refill. You'll need to be sure to not let the water get too high and sucked into the dremel (it'll short and so might you!)

you may go thru a few bits if the glass is thick and or a rigid or "hard" glass (yes there are degrees of softness in glass)

all the best!

Answer 4

Start with a very small "steel" bit. Use water on the vase as you are drilling the pilot hole. A variable speed drill on slow speed will help you to not break the vase.

I recommend you go get another vase or glass similar to the one you want to turn into lamp to experiment on.

Also I used masking tape to keep the glass from being so slick. The bit kept jumping around. Masking tape made a place to start and also helped to keep the little tiny shards from flying all over.

Answer 5

Not difficult at all with the right tools. Go to lowes and get a glass drill, but it into a drill, and start. Do not put a lot of pressure on it, let the drill do the work. Keep the spot where you are drilling oiled to keep the glass cool so that it will not break in the process

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Answer 6

drill hole glass vase turn lamp suggestions

Answer 7

I have done this before,use a variable speed drill (at a very slow speed)with a drill bit designed for glass(looks like a spear tip) score the spot first with a glass cutter, then pack some putty around it and add some oil to the spot and begin drilling .the putty keeps the oil on the spot you are drilling.this may take a hour or more but easy does it.also once you start to come thru the other side you have to be even more carefull(maybe switch to using a dremel tool with a small stone tip?)

Answer 8

A simple, slow and methodical tapping with a sharp steel drill bit will first powder the glass, then eventually form a hole thru the glass itself. E-A-S-Y does it, though, it's a slow process-graduate up in size slowly.

I've made some decent bongs, er...glass vase lamps using this method.

Answer 9

Its probably not recommended, but if you must it would probably be best to start with a small drill bit and work your way up to the desired size. Glass is kinda tricky so I don't know if it would turn out very good.

Answer 10

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