Using a Drill Press
It is best to have a drill press if you are doing a lot of drilling. It provides a stable drilling action and the pressure on the bit can be controlled. It is important to ensure the bit is running true without wobble. The drill press should have instructions to help correct any untrue running of the chuck. Make sure the drill bit is secured firmly. Core drill bits are easier to keep true, as they normally have a threaded fixing.
With a drill press, you can drill continually until the hole is completed, or until a white paste or dust begins to appear. This indicates the drilling is being done dry and will in a few moments heat up the glass too much. When the white paste appears, back out of the bottom of the hole a little to allow water to flush the glass out. Then continue.
Keep a firm grip on the glass being drilled. Maintain its position, especially if you are intending to back off intermittently to allow water to the bottom of the hole. This enables you to get back into the hole without scratches.
If possible, submerge the piece. But if that isn’t possible, just squeeze a little puddle of water on the surface and watch it swirl around. You can see if it is pulling ground glass out of the hole by watching the circulation. Placing a plasticine or clay dam around the drill area will keep the water confined.
Don't push down any harder than you comfortably can with the tips of your fingers. Keep it steady. Listen for the sound of diamond grinding glass
If the core gets stuck in the bit, knock it out with some stiff wire or a nail. Always remove each core right after drilling. They are very difficult to remove if there is more than one in there.
Every diameter drill bit has an optimum drill speed. The smaller they are the faster the speed required. Based on what the manufacturers recommend, a Dremel running at top speed is way too fast. When using a Dremel for drilling glass, slow it down with the speed control. Drill presses do tend to be on the slow side for glass drilling so it takes a bit longer, but there are big advantages in other respects.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Keeping Wire Hangers in Place
Even though it is normal to place the wire between two layers of glass, it often moves from its original placing.
Using glue only keeps the wire in place while moving the piece(s) to the kiln. The glue will burn off at just under 500C, which is before the sticky point of glass, so it cannot hold the wire in place at the critical temperature – from about 700C. In fact, if you fire quickly the glue can “boil” and cause the wire to move.
There are a variety of methods to help keep the wire where you placed it. Some of them follow.
You can try weighting the wire down with small scraps of glass to keep the wire in place until the glass sticks to the wire. The scrap will often form a small bead that can be used in other projects. Sometimes though, the scrap sticks to the wire.
Another method is to place a small piece of 3mm fibre paper under the wire to support it during the firing. This will be enough to keep the wire from moving, and the scraps of fibre paper can be reused many times.
You could also bend the wire loop so that the end touches the shelf. The part in between the glass needs to be flat with the bend starting after the wire emerges from the glass. You can bend the wire straight after firing.
Flattening the wire by tapping the wire – placed on an anvil – with a hammer will reduce the possibilities of movement, and certainly any rolling possibilities. It will also have a greater area of contact with the glass.
You can also make a shallow groove in the glass where the wire is to go. This can be done with a Dremel type tool with a diamond bit, or on the small diameter bit on the top of a glass grinder.
Lay the glass in the groove and cap with the top piece.
Using glue only keeps the wire in place while moving the piece(s) to the kiln. The glue will burn off at just under 500C, which is before the sticky point of glass, so it cannot hold the wire in place at the critical temperature – from about 700C. In fact, if you fire quickly the glue can “boil” and cause the wire to move.
There are a variety of methods to help keep the wire where you placed it. Some of them follow.
You can try weighting the wire down with small scraps of glass to keep the wire in place until the glass sticks to the wire. The scrap will often form a small bead that can be used in other projects. Sometimes though, the scrap sticks to the wire.
Another method is to place a small piece of 3mm fibre paper under the wire to support it during the firing. This will be enough to keep the wire from moving, and the scraps of fibre paper can be reused many times.
You could also bend the wire loop so that the end touches the shelf. The part in between the glass needs to be flat with the bend starting after the wire emerges from the glass. You can bend the wire straight after firing.
Flattening the wire by tapping the wire – placed on an anvil – with a hammer will reduce the possibilities of movement, and certainly any rolling possibilities. It will also have a greater area of contact with the glass.
You can also make a shallow groove in the glass where the wire is to go. This can be done with a Dremel type tool with a diamond bit, or on the small diameter bit on the top of a glass grinder.
Lay the glass in the groove and cap with the top piece.
Drilling Glass 1
Keeping Things Wet
It is important always to keep the drill bit and glass wet, otherwise the glass gets too hot and will break. There are a variety of things you can do to achieve this.
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
It is important always to keep the drill bit and glass wet, otherwise the glass gets too hot and will break. There are a variety of things you can do to achieve this.
- Drill with the glass under the surface of the water in a container.
- Drill in a ring of clay, plasticine, etc., holding water. To do this, you need to make a ring about 50mm / 2 inches in diameter and press it around the drill site. Fill the ring with water to cool the drill site and glass. Diamond coolant is not necessary, but can extend the life of the bits.
- Use a recirculating water pump such as those made for indoor water features. Direct the small flow of water to the drilling site and catch the water in the bucket in which the pump is submerged.
- Use a glass drill with hollow core bits and an internal water feed. This is the most expensive but it is the best equipment with which to drill many holes or large ones.
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Drilling Glass, 3
Drilling with a Flushing Head
A flushing head with a re-circulating pump will deliver water to the drill site through the core of the drill. These are supplied complete or as a fitting for an existing drill press. This is suitable for holes of 4mm and larger. Smaller core drills are impractical both because the glass is easily trapped in the drill and the wall thickness of the drill makes them almost solid anyway.
An additional requirement is to have a means to direct the water back to the reservoir.
Every diameter drill bit has an optimum drill speed. The smaller they are the faster the speed. Drill presses do tend to be on the slow side for glass drilling, but often have ways of altering the speed. So it takes a bit longer, but there are big advantages in other respects.
Don't push down any harder than you comfortably can with the tips of your fingers. Keep it steady. Listen for the sound of diamond grinding glass
If the core gets stuck in the bit, knock it out with some stiff wire or a nail. Be careful not to damage the edges of the drill bit. Always remove each core right after drilling. They are difficult to remove if there is more than one in the core of the bit.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
A flushing head with a re-circulating pump will deliver water to the drill site through the core of the drill. These are supplied complete or as a fitting for an existing drill press. This is suitable for holes of 4mm and larger. Smaller core drills are impractical both because the glass is easily trapped in the drill and the wall thickness of the drill makes them almost solid anyway.
An additional requirement is to have a means to direct the water back to the reservoir.
Every diameter drill bit has an optimum drill speed. The smaller they are the faster the speed. Drill presses do tend to be on the slow side for glass drilling, but often have ways of altering the speed. So it takes a bit longer, but there are big advantages in other respects.
Don't push down any harder than you comfortably can with the tips of your fingers. Keep it steady. Listen for the sound of diamond grinding glass
If the core gets stuck in the bit, knock it out with some stiff wire or a nail. Be careful not to damage the edges of the drill bit. Always remove each core right after drilling. They are difficult to remove if there is more than one in the core of the bit.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Drilling Glass, 4
Avoiding Chipping
There are a number of methods to avoid chipping out the back of the glass when drilling:
All these things will help to avoid chipping out the glass at the bottom of the hole.
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits
There are a number of methods to avoid chipping out the back of the glass when drilling:
- Placing a piece of scrap glass under your good glass will help avoid chipping on the backside. By pressing firmly but gently on the glass (not the bit) the bit will go through the upper piece of glass without chipping the back. This can be a difficult process to keep stable when both the pieces of glass are wet.
- Another method is to put duct tape under the glass to help minimise chip out.
Drill from both sides to avoid chip out as the bit breaks through. Go slowly toward the bottom of the hole. When the hole is almost through, turn the glass over and drill back to front. - Sometimes the glass is curved and drilling from the back is not easy. This is when the drill press mechanism to stop the bit sliding comes into its own. Before switching the drill on, lower it to the surface supporting the glass. You can adjust the mechanism to stop the press just as it reaches the support surface. Then place the glass under the press and the turn the drill on to begin the drilling.
- Don't push hard as you come to the end. Don't push down any harder on the drill press levers than you comfortably can with the tips of your fingers throughout the process. Keep it steady. Listen for the sound of diamond grinding glass.
All these things will help to avoid chipping out the glass at the bottom of the hole.
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits
Drilling Glass, 5
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
You can drill holes by using loose grit and a copper tube of the correct diameter. It can take quite a while. You will need to have a chuck big enough to take the tube, or have a means to reduce the tube diameter to the chuck size. Alternatively, use core drills that have had the diamonds worn away.
Prepare the glass as for a drill press without a flushing head, so the water and grit are confined. The dam can be putty, plasticine, clay, or other mouldable material put around the area to be drilled.
The grit can be sandblast grit or other abrasive of about 100 to 200 grit.
Drill as normal.
If the core gets stuck in the bit, knock it out with some stiff wire or a nail. Always remove each core right after drilling. They are very difficult to remove if there is more than one in the core of the bit.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
You can drill holes by using loose grit and a copper tube of the correct diameter. It can take quite a while. You will need to have a chuck big enough to take the tube, or have a means to reduce the tube diameter to the chuck size. Alternatively, use core drills that have had the diamonds worn away.
Prepare the glass as for a drill press without a flushing head, so the water and grit are confined. The dam can be putty, plasticine, clay, or other mouldable material put around the area to be drilled.
The grit can be sandblast grit or other abrasive of about 100 to 200 grit.
Drill as normal.
If the core gets stuck in the bit, knock it out with some stiff wire or a nail. Always remove each core right after drilling. They are very difficult to remove if there is more than one in the core of the bit.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Drilling Glass 6
There are a variety of tools that can be used to power glass drills.
Dremmel and similar craft motorsThese are light duty high-speed drills. Those with variable speed controls are especially useful. They work best for small diameter holes. They must have the speed turned down for drilling, especially for larger holes.
These can be combined with a flexible drive shaft for lighter weight.
Drill pressHowever, the most important thing to have when drilling glass is a drill press. Doing it by hand is very difficult and wears out diamond bits very fast. Dremmel and others make drill presses for their tools.
Drilling machinesPurpose made glass-drilling machines are important for larger holes and production work. Flushing head adapters are available from suppliers that will convert a standard drill press into a glass-drilling machine. These tend to be much slower than the Dremmel style motors, but are very steady. The important thing about these is that they use hollow core drill bits, allowing the water to be fed through the drill bit directly to the glass-drilling site.
Drill bits
The other tool needed is drill bits. The recommended type depends on the size of hole to be drilled.
Small diameter holes, up to and including 3mm require solid bits. These can be spade (unusual) or solid diamond-tipped bits. A number of manufacturers make solid drill bits from 2-6mm and some (especially lapidary suppliers) make the very small diameter bits from less than 1mm to 2mm.
Larger diameter holes are best drilled with hollow core bits, as less glass needs to be removed to achieve the hole. These can be used with a flushing head or simply by directing water to the drill bit, with a dam to hold the water around the site.
The bits will last longer if you use a drill press. The press keeps the bit wobble to a minimum and maintains the vertical, both helping to reduce the wear on the bit.
Hollow core bits
Hollow core diamond bits are of two types:
One -where a heating process attaches the diamond - is called sintered in Europe and a number of other countries.
The second – where the diamond is bound to the metal with resins and other chemical attractions – is called bonded in Europe.
Bits of the first type are longer lasting and more expensive. These can be dressed with an aluminium oxide dressing stick to maintain their effectiveness.
Bits of the second type wear quickly and should not be dressed.
In general a diamond core drill breaks out much less glass at the bottom of the hole than a solid drill bit.
Water pumpA further tool that is useful to have is a re-circulating pump. This can be a small fountain pump with a flexible spout to aim the water on the drilling site. A foot switch can control the water flow. A large tub is required to act as the catch basin for the water that comes off the drill and as the reservoir for the pump.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling Speeds for diamond bits
Dremmel and similar craft motorsThese are light duty high-speed drills. Those with variable speed controls are especially useful. They work best for small diameter holes. They must have the speed turned down for drilling, especially for larger holes.
These can be combined with a flexible drive shaft for lighter weight.
Drill pressHowever, the most important thing to have when drilling glass is a drill press. Doing it by hand is very difficult and wears out diamond bits very fast. Dremmel and others make drill presses for their tools.
Drilling machinesPurpose made glass-drilling machines are important for larger holes and production work. Flushing head adapters are available from suppliers that will convert a standard drill press into a glass-drilling machine. These tend to be much slower than the Dremmel style motors, but are very steady. The important thing about these is that they use hollow core drill bits, allowing the water to be fed through the drill bit directly to the glass-drilling site.
Drill bits
The other tool needed is drill bits. The recommended type depends on the size of hole to be drilled.
Small diameter holes, up to and including 3mm require solid bits. These can be spade (unusual) or solid diamond-tipped bits. A number of manufacturers make solid drill bits from 2-6mm and some (especially lapidary suppliers) make the very small diameter bits from less than 1mm to 2mm.
Larger diameter holes are best drilled with hollow core bits, as less glass needs to be removed to achieve the hole. These can be used with a flushing head or simply by directing water to the drill bit, with a dam to hold the water around the site.
The bits will last longer if you use a drill press. The press keeps the bit wobble to a minimum and maintains the vertical, both helping to reduce the wear on the bit.
Hollow core bits
Hollow core diamond bits are of two types:
One -where a heating process attaches the diamond - is called sintered in Europe and a number of other countries.
The second – where the diamond is bound to the metal with resins and other chemical attractions – is called bonded in Europe.
Bits of the first type are longer lasting and more expensive. These can be dressed with an aluminium oxide dressing stick to maintain their effectiveness.
Bits of the second type wear quickly and should not be dressed.
In general a diamond core drill breaks out much less glass at the bottom of the hole than a solid drill bit.
Water pumpA further tool that is useful to have is a re-circulating pump. This can be a small fountain pump with a flexible spout to aim the water on the drilling site. A foot switch can control the water flow. A large tub is required to act as the catch basin for the water that comes off the drill and as the reservoir for the pump.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling Speeds for diamond bits
Drilling Glass, 7
Drilling glass without a drill press
It is best to have a drill press for drilling holes in glass, but there are ways of doing it with a hand drill.
Make a ring of modeling clay, plasticine, putty or other mouldable material about 5cm/2" in diameter and press it around the drill site. Fill the ring with water to cool the drill site and surrounding glass as well lubricate the drill bit. Buying sinered (more expensive) bits is worthwhile as they work much better than the cheaper resin bonded ones.
Use a paint pen to mark the spot where the hole is to be. Without a drill press, starting at an angle with a slow drill speed will stop the bit from sliding around as you establish the drilling point. As the glass surface is roughened, bring the drill to vertical. Move the drill up and down a little as you drill to allow the water into the hole. If you are using a solid or spade drill, a little oscillation keeps the bit from jamming in the hole. Do not do this with a core drill.
A Dremel running at top speed is way too fast. Slow it down with the speed control.
Every diameter drill bit has an optimum drill speed. The smaller the bit is, the faster the speed required.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
It is best to have a drill press for drilling holes in glass, but there are ways of doing it with a hand drill.
Make a ring of modeling clay, plasticine, putty or other mouldable material about 5cm/2" in diameter and press it around the drill site. Fill the ring with water to cool the drill site and surrounding glass as well lubricate the drill bit. Buying sinered (more expensive) bits is worthwhile as they work much better than the cheaper resin bonded ones.
Use a paint pen to mark the spot where the hole is to be. Without a drill press, starting at an angle with a slow drill speed will stop the bit from sliding around as you establish the drilling point. As the glass surface is roughened, bring the drill to vertical. Move the drill up and down a little as you drill to allow the water into the hole. If you are using a solid or spade drill, a little oscillation keeps the bit from jamming in the hole. Do not do this with a core drill.
A Dremel running at top speed is way too fast. Slow it down with the speed control.
Every diameter drill bit has an optimum drill speed. The smaller the bit is, the faster the speed required.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Drilling glass, 8
Hole Placement
The general rule on drilling holes in glass is that the edge of the hole should be further away from the edge than the thickness of the glass. This means that the edge of the hole on a 6mm thick piece of glass must be more than 6mm from the edge of the glass.
The calculations are simple arithmetic.
Remember this is the minimum distance. For safety and durability in architectural or heavy circumstances, an additional margin must be added.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Centering the drill bit
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
The general rule on drilling holes in glass is that the edge of the hole should be further away from the edge than the thickness of the glass. This means that the edge of the hole on a 6mm thick piece of glass must be more than 6mm from the edge of the glass.
The calculations are simple arithmetic.
- calculate the centre point of the hole by adding the radius of the hole to the thickness of the glass plus at least 1mm.
- For example, to drill a 10mm hole in 6mm glass, you add 5mm (radius of hole) to 6mm (thickness of the glass) plus 1mm = 12mm as the minimum distance from the edge of the glass to the centre of the hole.
Remember this is the minimum distance. For safety and durability in architectural or heavy circumstances, an additional margin must be added.
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Centering the drill bit
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Drilling Glass, 9
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Diameter 3-4mm
Speed 6000 rpm
Diameter 5-8mm
Speed 4500 rpm
Diameter 9-12mm
Speed 3000 rpm
Diameter 13-16mm
Speed 2500 rpm
Diameter 17-25mm
Speed 2000 rpm
Diameter 26-28mm
Speed 1800 rpm
Diameter 29-44mm
Speed 1500 rpm
Diameter 45-64mm
Speed 1200 rpm
Diameter 65-89mm
Speed 900 rpm
Diameter 90-120mm
Speed 800 rpm
[Based on CR Lawrence and Amazing Glazing recommendations]
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Diameter 3-4mm
Speed 6000 rpm
Diameter 5-8mm
Speed 4500 rpm
Diameter 9-12mm
Speed 3000 rpm
Diameter 13-16mm
Speed 2500 rpm
Diameter 17-25mm
Speed 2000 rpm
Diameter 26-28mm
Speed 1800 rpm
Diameter 29-44mm
Speed 1500 rpm
Diameter 45-64mm
Speed 1200 rpm
Diameter 65-89mm
Speed 900 rpm
Diameter 90-120mm
Speed 800 rpm
[Based on CR Lawrence and Amazing Glazing recommendations]
For other tips on glass drilling see:
Keeping things wet
Using a drill press
Drilling with a Flushing Head
Avoiding chipping
Drilling holes with copper tube and grit
Drilling tools
Drilling glass without a drill press
Hole Placement
Drilling speeds for diamond bits in glass
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)