How to Drill a Hole in Glass Without Breaking It

Have you been working on some cool DIY projects? You might be wondering how to drill a hole in glass without breaking it. This is a cool hack if you want to make unique decorations on vases or drill an outlet for water in planters among other things.

Luckily, with the right tools, you can drill a hole through glass in just a few minutes. We’ll go over that process step-by-step. You can also check out the video below.

What You Need

• Power drill
• Diamond-coated or carbide drill bits (Check these out from Amazon)
• Quarter-inch piece of wood (for template)
• Second scrap piece of wood
• Empty two-liter soda bottle
• A pin
• Wood file or sandpaper

When drilling a hole through glass without breaking it, the hole should be at least an inch from the edge. Use a hole-cutting drill bit for the best results. First, make a template with scrap wood and drill a hole into the wood. Use the template to help keep the drill stable as you make the hole in your glass. Pour some water on the glass while drilling so it doesn’t get too hot.

You can use any standard power drill to drill holes through glass. The most important thing to have is the diamond-coated or carbide drill bits.

Learn more about the full process below. This technique works for many fragile surfaces like mirrors, ceramic tiles, plant pots, and more.

1. Drill a hole into the quarter-inch wood with the appropriate drill bit.

You’ll line this up against the glass and use it as a template for drilling your hole later. You can use your hole-cutting drill bits for this step.

2. Slide the hole-cutting bit through the hole. Make sure it fits smoothly.

You just want to test and make sure the hole cutting bit will fit smoothly through the template. You don’t want to force it through because you could break the glass.

If it doesn’t fit, sand the hole larger or use a wood file. Here’s a wood file you can try out from Amazon.

3. Take your soda bottle and poke a small hole in it about halfway down.

You can also use a sponge to apply water as you drill. It can be difficult to multitask while drilling though. You might want a friend’s help.

4. Fill the bottle with water and put the cap on tightly.

When drilling, you’ll open the cap to release the water onto the glass.

5. Lay your glass onto a piece of wood to prepare for drilling.

This will protect your floor in case you drill through the glass.

6. Set the full two-liter bottle next to the glass with the hole facing you.

The water should pour onto the glass and template.

7. Apply masking tape over the glass where you are going to drill.

The masking tape gives the drill some traction so you can comfortably drill a clean hole. It also protects you from getting cut if the glass cracks.

8. Line the template up (that you made in step 2) with the area where you want to drill your hole.

9. Open the lid on your two-liter bottle and let the water fall on the glass.

10. Drill the hole in the glass.

Depending on the glass thickness, this may take up to a minute. Rock the drill bit back and forth slightly to help cut the glass.

Use the template to get the hole started. After about a few seconds (depending on the thickness of the glass), remove the template.

The process takes some practice, so you may want to try it on some scrap glass first.

Make sure the water is hitting the glass while you’re drilling. Otherwise, the drill bit will get incredibly hot and the heat may warp the glass.

What kind of drill bit do you use to drill glass?

Drill bits with diamond or carbide tips are best to drill glass cleanly and efficiently. These durable materials penetrate glass easily without needing much force. This reduces the risk of breaking glass while drilling a hole through it.

How long does it take to drill through glass?

It can take anywhere from 10 seconds to about a minute to drill through glass with a new drill bit. If you have an older or dull drill bit, the process can take several minutes. It’s important to be patient. Avoid applying pressure to rush the process, because the glass can break easily.

Can you use a Dremel on glass?

Yes, you can use a Dremel drill on glass as long as the drill bits are diamond or carbide tipped. Make sure to apply water as you drill so the bits don’t get hot. They can get hot enough to burn your skin, so use caution.

Hopefully you found our article on drilling a hole through glass helpful. For more practical DIY guides, check out the articles below!

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