home · Other · How to make a hole in a glass window. How to drill glass correctly at home. Drilling glass using a regular drill

How to make a hole in a glass window. How to drill glass correctly at home. Drilling glass using a regular drill

The need to make a hole in the glass arises when you need to hang a new mirror on the wall or fix a glass tabletop. Glass gives in machining, but the fragility of the material requires increased caution and light pressure on the tool, protection from chips and cracks during operation. This problem can be solved in several simple ways.

Having chosen any of the methods, it is better to first test it and practice on a small fragment.

Use a small piece of glass to learn how to properly drill into this fragile material

You cannot ignore safety rules; you must wear protective gloves and goggles.


Do not neglect safety precautions, eyes, face and hands must be protected

To prevent the glass from breaking during operation, you need to prepare the table surface. It must be clean and level, small potholes within the hole area are acceptable, and the entire workpiece must fit on the base. You can place a sheet of plywood and a piece of soft flannel under the workpiece. Then you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

  • drill and spear-shaped carbide drill for working on glass or metal, drilling machine;
  • turpentine, plasticine;
  • marker;
  • acetone, alcohol.

How to make a hole in regular glass

  1. Lay the workpiece, mark the center and draw a circle required diameter, taking into account the thickness of the glass. For thin material it is necessary to step back from the edge by at least 15 mm, and for thick ones - 25 mm.
    Before you start drilling, you need to make markings on the glass
  2. Install a spear-shaped or core drill and set the drill speed to the minimum speed, acceptable from 250–1000 rpm.
    To make holes in the stele, you will need special drills
  3. Wipe the hole area with acetone or alcohol to degrease.
  4. Place the drill according to the markings in the center of the circle and begin work, while dripping turpentine onto the glass. In order not to be distracted by the gravy, you can make a small side out of plasticine and stick it around the hole, pouring turpentine there.
    -
  5. The easiest way is to pour water little by little.
    The drill must be positioned strictly vertically, otherwise cracks and chips cannot be avoided
  6. Drill the hole halfway, lightly pressing the drill so as not to split the workpiece, then turn the glass over to the other side and do the same. Turpentine is needed to constantly cool the drill, which will ensure high-quality drilling without overheating.
  7. If the hole is planned to be large in diameter, then you need to use a crown: a tubular drill with diamond coating.
    Water or turpentine will prevent the drill from overheating

Drilling Tempered Glass

To temper, glass is heated to 680ºC, and then the outer layers are cooled quickly and the inner layers slowly. Thanks to this treatment, mechanical strength increases 6 times, but areas of internal stress during drilling contribute to the destruction of the workpiece.

It will not work to drill tempered glass with a regular drill or drill - it will split into small chips, so if necessary, holes are first drilled in the glass and the desired shape is cut out, the edges are processed, and then it is tempered. In industrial conditions, waterjet cutting is possible, when a special powder with water is shot through a narrow nozzle at a speed of 1000 m/s.


Strength due to special treatment tempered glass increases significantly

Is it possible to do without a drill?

Glass was successfully cut long before the invention of drills, here is a time-tested method that guarantees an even hole with smooth edges, no drill required. When working with a torch and hot solder, you should follow safety precautions and take tools personal protection and fire fighting.

To work you will need:

  • tin or lead;
  • fine clean sand, glue or water;
  • alcohol;
  • unnecessary iron mug;
  • gas-burner, plate.

Stages of work:


People have been using mirrors and glass for a long time and cut, drill and shape them different shape, apply drawings to the surface. Therefore, even a novice master can do this work if he has carefully studied the instructions and follows all the steps carefully and slowly. The result will be neat and perfectly straight holes, and the glass will remain intact.

From time to time situations arise that require the creation of holes in glass various diameters. For example, this is required when installing mirrors or when installing various devices on glass. This is very rare view work, and therefore calling a specialist can be very expensive.

You can do it yourself necessary work and do without the services of a master. However, you need to understand that glass is quite fragile and expensive material, so you should prepare carefully before you start drilling.

Composition and production stages

Regular glass contains quartz sand, lime and soda. Various additives greatly influence the final properties of the material, but quartz sand remains the main component, and its amount reaches 75% in the mixture. The lime component adds shine, strength, and protects against the effects of many chemical substances. Baking soda can significantly lower the melting point of the mixture. The most common additional components include:

  • Lead gives additional shine and ringing.
  • Manganese, nickel and chromium are used to obtain various shades.
  • Boric acid adds strength, shine and reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Industrial glass production includes the following steps:

Currently, there are many types of this material, depending on the components used in production. The most common are:

Drilling attachments and operating rules

Most often, the need for drilling arises when using industrial glass, quartz, crystal. These types are often fragile, so unskilled attempts to make holes most often end in damage to the workpiece, so the process must be approached very responsibly.

Drills for metal and concrete are not similar in shape to special glass drills. You need to work with them very carefully, and if possible, then not use them at all. But if only data is available types of drills, then it is best to use carbide concrete or spear drills for tiles. Metal drills must be hardened.

There are also special attachments, designed specifically for glass:

  • Feather- or spear-shaped carbide drills of various diameters. It is highly advisable to use those that have diamond coating on the cutting part.
  • A drill presented in the form of a tube. This type Glass drills can be used when you need to make a hole of large diameter. When working with this attachment, it is advisable to use a drilling machine.

When conducting drilling work you must adhere to the following rules:

Surface cooling can be done in several ways:

  • Cover the drilling area with plasticine and fill with water.
  • Place a moistened rag or a ball of cotton wool around the hole to be treated so that the water gradually flows into the recess.
  • You can wet the drill itself, and a break in work will allow the drilling tool to cool down.

Ways to make a hole in glass without a drill

If you don’t have a drill and can purchase one, you can make holes using other methods or make a homemade drill, but such methods do not have high accuracy and quality, and as a result can lead to damage to the glass surface. But still, some methods can theoretically be applied, so they should be listed.

Using sand and solder

Enough interesting way, which does not require drilling skills or tools. To use it you will need:

  • Sand.
  • Low-melting solder, for example, tin-lead.
  • The container in which the solder will be melted.

The surface in which the hole is to be made should be degreased and dried, after which a mound of wet sand is poured onto the area in which the hole should be located. Next, you need to make a recess in it of the diameter required by the hole being created.

Solder, melted using a torch or soldering iron, is poured into the formed hole, after which you need to wait for it to completely harden. When sand and hardened solder are subsequently removed, a hole of the required diameter remains on the glass.

This method is different high quality and the accuracy of the resulting hole.

Making a homemade drill

If you don’t have special nozzles for working with glass, you can make them yourself.

To do this, you will need a metal rod and a simple glass cutter with a diamond roller. To turn it into a drill, you need to cut a hole in the rod into which the roller is inserted and fixed so as to remain motionless relative to the rod.

The resulting workpiece is fixed in the drill chuck, and then drilling is carried out according to the principle of a conventional drill.

You can also prepare a regular drill, for example, for metal, for working with glass. To do this, you need to clamp it in a vice or pliers and hold it in the flame of a gas burner until the metal is white-hot. After this, the drill is dipped in warm water or oil. The tool thus hardened is suitable for drilling glass.

Using a metal tube

Piece metal tube also suitable for making holes in the absence of a drill. To do this, cuts are made on the part of the pipe that will be used for cutting to create a cutting part in the form of teeth. When applying such work, you should use auxiliary abrasive powders or pastes, but this method is quite labor-intensive and often leads to damage to the workpiece.

Using a glass cutter

An ordinary glass cutter can also replace a drill, the main thing is not to make sudden jerky movements, not to put pressure on the glass, and tap the cut surface being formed with the handle of the tool.

To cut large diameter holes with a glass cutter, you can use a compass, fixing one part of it in the center of the intended hole, and with the second part (on which the glass cutter is fixed) to cut the surface.

Often there is a need to drill glass at home. Videos of these works can be found on the Internet; they cover similar topics well. in simple language with illustrative examples.

If possible, it is better to carry out the work with a screwdriver rather than a drill. This will give more soft way drilling and will reduce the likelihood of damage to the glass surface. In addition, it is recommended to use safety glasses and clothing, and carry out drilling in a non-residential area.

It is important to maintain minimum clearances from the edge of the workpiece: for fragile materials - at least 25 mm, for common species glass - at least 15 mm.

It should be remembered that glass is a rather fragile and expensive material, so you need to work with it extremely carefully. In the absence of experience similar works It is important to practice on unnecessary pieces of glass in order to gain experience and understanding of the process.


There is an ancient, but somehow forgotten now method of making holes in glass. The space on the glass where there should be a hole is properly cleaned of dirt and grease with gasoline, acetone or alcohol. Next, wet fine sand is poured onto the washed area and a funnel is made in the sand up to the glass with a sharpened stick of the required diameter. Molten solder (lead or tin is acceptable) is poured into the mold prepared in this way in sand. After 1-2 minutes, you should discard the sand and remove the solder cone. A smooth appearance appears in the glass through hole.

Making holes in glass

There is an ancient, but now somewhat forgotten method of making holes in glass. The space on the glass where there should be a hole is properly cleaned of dirt and grease with gasoline, acetone or alcohol. Next, wet fine sand is poured onto the washed area and a funnel is made in the sand up to the glass with a sharpened stick of the required diameter. Molten solder (lead or tin is acceptable) is poured into the mold prepared in this way in sand. After 1-2 minutes, you should discard the sand and remove the solder cone. An even through hole appears in the glass.

Drilling a hole in glass

A hole in glass can be drilled using a carbide drill. The secret to the success of this operation is in the liquid with which the glass is wetted. It is prepared from aluminum alum dissolved in acetic acid, or from a mixture (one to one) of camphor or turpentine. A plasticine roller is built around the drilling space. Liquid is poured into the resulting bath. The glass must lie on a soft cloth during processing.

Another way to make a hole in glass

Another method for making a hole in glass.
A drill made from hard metal plasticine for the production of a small bath, a combination of equal shares of camphor and turpentine, as well as a piece of dense rubber.

Once again about how to drill a hole in glass

About how to drill a hole in glass in 10-15 moments. To do this, you will need to sharpen a thin file like a chisel and attach it to the chuck of a hand drill. Just remember to let the file cool while drilling, even sharpening it occasionally.

Drilling a large hole in glass

The drill is made from a piece of aluminum, duralumin or copper tube 40-60 mm long. From the first end, a wood plug is hammered into it to a depth of 20-25 millimeters, and at the other end the teeth are cut out with a triangular file. A small screw 4-5 mm thick is screwed into the cork so that its smooth part protrudes 10-15 mm. The head is sawed off. A paper washer with a hole equal to the drilled diameter is glued to the glass on both sides. The glass is placed on a piece of rubber. A little abrasive powder is poured onto the drilling space. Then insert the end of the screw protruding from the cork into hand drill, lubricate the teeth with turpentine and then start drilling. When the tube goes deep into the glass by at least 1/3 of its thickness, the glass is turned over and drilling is completed on the second side.

Cutting round glass

We offer the possibility of cutting round glass. A roller from a glass cutter is attached to one jaw of the caliper. Another sponge rests on the glass through a rubber washer. The roller is rolled in a circle a couple of times, then 3-4 tangents are made with a standard glass cutter, making it easier to chip the glass along the boundaries of the cuts. Sharpened edges are cleaned with a file or emery under running water.

Unconventional glass drilling methods

1. A thin steel drill, heated white, is hardened in mercury or a piece of sealing wax and sharpened. Then prepare a saturated solution of camphor in turpentine, moisten it with a drill placed on the brace, and quickly drill the glass, which is then wetted at the point of convergence with the said solution. This method can drill through 1cm thick glass in less than one minute.

2. To drill a hole in glass, we recommend taking a triangular file, dipping it in turpentine and carefully drilling the hole.

3. You can also drill glass into lathe copper rod, lubricating it with oil and sprinkling with sandpaper. Special attention should be pointed at the hole when the drilling process comes to an end and only the last one remains thin layer, since the glass can easily crack

Hole in glass video

In life you often come across such moments that you need to drill a hole in glass and you don’t know how to do it. It seems that there must be special skills here, because glass is expensive and it is a very fragile item. It turns out there is nothing complicated, this procedure You can do it at home, the main thing is to know how. This is what the story will be about.

Small hole in glass

If you need to make a small hole in glass, you can use a regular wood drill. But this drill must first be hardened. You need to harden it as follows: heat the tip of the drill until it turns white, then press the sealing wax to it and hold it until the sealing wax stops melting. And now you can safely start drilling. But do it very carefully to avoid any troubles (for example, to avoid cracking the glass). To avoid these very troubles, you need to moisten the drill with turpentine, and if the glass is small, then it is better to drill in water.

But if you don’t have a drill, and you urgently need to drill a hole, then you can use copper wire. For this you will need: coarse sandpaper, camphor and turpentine. Mix one part camphor with two parts turpentine and four parts emery. You should end up with something resembling a paste. Then apply this paste to the glass, in the place where the intended hole should be. Place a piece of plywood on the glass with drilled hole in the place where it should be and near the glass. Clamp copper wire in the grooves of the drill and start drilling. Do not forget that the glass must lie on a hard, level and stationary surface so that it does not break.

Drilling thick glass

If you need to drill thick glass, then you need to take copper tube with a slightly smaller diameter than the intended hole and fix it on the drilling machine. Then, around the place where the hole should be, make a small pool with approximate dimensions: 40-50 millimeters in diameter and 8-10 millimeters in height (can be made using plasticine or putty). Next we prepare corundum powder from an unnecessary emery wheel. Pour water into the powder to make a paste. We put this mixture into the basin and start drilling.

Another simple way to make a hole in your glass. To do this, wipe the glass with acetone, alcohol or gasoline to degrease. Then pour slightly moistened sand onto the glass. Using a sharp stick, we make a hole in the shape of a cone in the place where the intended hole should be and clean it of sand. Pour molten solder into the resulting mold at a temperature of 200-300 degrees. After the solder has cooled and hardened, we remove the sand with the solder, and the glass hole stuck to it will come out along with the solder.

Make a small hole in the center of the glass

And the last method that I would like to tell you. To do this, make a small hole in the center of your intended hole. Take a wire and place one end in this hole, and attach a diamond or glass cutter to the other. And like a compass, cut a circle of the diameter you need in it. Then, from the center to the line of the circle, draw several straight lines around the entire circle. When everything is done, take a wooden object and gently hit the hole, and it should successfully fall out. But it’s better to do all this in water to make it more accurate. Finally, take pliers and trim the edges (break off the protruding edges of the glass). Do not forget to be careful; all this must be done with the edge of pliers, pressing and crumbling the edges of the glass.

Don’t be upset if suddenly, while making a hole, the glass cracks or breaks. Even professionals don't always succeed. And just don’t be nervous, take another piece of glass and try to do everything again. I wish you success.

drill glass at home

Three ways to drill glass at home

Very often, when carrying out work around the house, we are faced with the need to drill a hole in glass or a mirror. For many, this process may cause some difficulties and turn out to be a completely insoluble issue. But in fact, if you know some of the subtleties and “nuances”, you can solve it quite simply this question, using only available tools and means.

So, let's not waste time and take a detailed look at these methods that will help us figure out how to drill glass or glass product. Well, then, when you receive the necessary information, I think that you will easily decide which method is the most optimal for you.

METHOD No. 1

The first method is the simplest of all. In order to use it we will need the following materials and tools:

Metal drill or better for ceramic tiles(with spicy pobeditovy tip), or you can use a triangular file sharpened in a special way

- drill (low speed) or screwdriver
- alcohol
- turpentine
- plasticine
- flat surface (table)

Now let's start preparing for drilling:

First, we lay the glass on flat surface in such a way that its edges do not hang down and the glass does not play on the table.

We set the rotation speed of the drill (screwdriver) to the minimum permissible speed, insert the drill and check it for “beating”. If the runout is large, then we change the drill.

We degrease the surface of the glass with alcohol, then make a boundary circle from plasticine and pour a little turpentine there. That's it... now you can drill glass.

The only thing you need to consider is not to use much force when drilling, otherwise the glass may crack.


And so you have mastered the first method, which tells you how to drill glass at home, and now it’s time to move on to the second...

METHOD No. 2

This method has been known since ancient times, when electric drills and screwdrivers did not exist. And in order to use it you don’t need any drills or drills...

For work we will need:

Sand
- lead or tin
- metal mug
- gas burner or stove
- alcohol

Now we prepare the place for drilling... To do this, degrease the surface with alcohol. Then pour wet sand on it. and with a sharp object in the sand we make a funnel of the appropriate size.

Now molten lead or tin is poured into the prepared mold in the sand. After two to three minutes, the sand can be removed from the surface and the frozen solder can be removed. As a result, you will see a smooth through hole.


And now that one more method, which tells how to drill glass, has been mastered, it remains for me to tell you about the third, last method known to me...

METHOD No. 3

This method is essentially a modification of the first method, but does not require additional lubricating fluids when drilling.

True, in this case you will have to slightly modify the “drill” that will be used in the process.

To do this, we need to take a glass cutter and remove the diamond roller from it.

Then this roller should be secured to a metal rod in which a slot was previously cut. Then we fix the roller in the rod with a rivet, so that the roller sits rigidly in the seat and is not able to rotate.

Now we attach our homemade drill to the drill chuck... and now you can safely drill holes in the glass with this device.

That's all... This is a description of methods that allow you to drill glass or glass surface finished. I wish you to successfully use the acquired knowledge in practice.