I have recently tiled my bathroom with heavy porcelain tiles and now need to put up fixings. I'm stumped by the recommended porcelain drill bit as it keeps slipping when I start to drill... any suggestions please?

It is a bit difficult until you break through the outer surface. Do not be tempted to use a center punk or awl. Make sure you are perfectly perpendicular to the surface and apply a good deal of pressure then start your drill. You aren't using a masonary bit are you? Tile requires a special spade bit for glass and ceramic.

Not a masonry bit, it is specifically designed for porcelain supplied by Topps Tiles

Sounds like you have the correct tool.

Try turning bit in reverse by hand to make a small dent in tile. This works for me.

Good luck

Chuck

Do not be tempted to use a center punk or awl.
I guess I live life in the fast lane - I use my punch all the time... or if I can't find it, I use a nail. The trick is to tap not hit. Any more than a tap and you risk breaking the tile. All you want to do is score the glaze

You are a lucky son of a gun if you get away with this often. Break a tile on a customer who has not spares and I'm up the creek without a paddle. On really expensive stuff when I know there are no spares I will actually break the glaze with a Dremel before drilling.

Use a coring bit, they come in all sorts of diameters and hold a sponge next to it to keep the blade cool. FOr a larger hole, a diamond blade in a grinder or a rotozip with an xbit.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/bljack/granitecounters022.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/bljack/granitecounters024a.jpg

I could be mistaken but I think the poster is talking about just a screw hold to mount something.

Yes, it's just for mounting a shower and shower screen, many thanks for your help, job done:)

Glad to hear it all worked out. THe picture I posted of the Rotozip has a 1/4" diameter bit and while the other picture was a 1 3/8 coring bit, perfect for pipe holes, there are coring bits small enough for most wall anchors. Since they are flat on the bottom, they don't walk like spear shaped pointed bits, which by the way, add to the 1000's of used for duct tape. A piece where you want to drill keeps the bit from walking.

I just use a porcelain cutting bit with my dremel tool and it does just fine.

I have used RTW Travel method for years. All it takes is a tiny dent in the tile to start your bit. Ya don't WHACK the punch, you give it a little "love tap". Hey! Works for me! Cheers, Tolm

"love tap"

Tom,
I haven't had one of those in 45 years. Use to get them from 9th grade English teacher for misspelled words.

How about a piece of masking tape on the tile to keep the bit from skating.