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How to Drill Glass - Tips and Recommendations

Drilling Holes in Glass with Glass Drill Bit

Do you wonder about drilling glass, including sea glass? 

Here are positive comments, tips, and suggestions gathered from our readers over the years on how to drill glass.

Questions, Tips, Comments, and Answers From Our Viewers

How to Drill Glass with Glass Drill Bits

  • Have you wondered whether you have the ability to drill holes in sea glass without seriously injuring yourself or others?
  • Have you visualized glass shards all over the floor and yourself reduced to tears?
  • Don't give up before you try it! You CAN learn how to drill glass.


sea glass colors line



From what we have read and reviewed from you, our readers, learning how to drill sea glass was not that hard.

How to Drill Glass?How to Drill Glass?

Who... me? Aaaah! ~photo courtesy of Josh Giovo

Many had questions about what types of drill and bits to use.

They all found that drilling sea glass does not require a "Glass Drillers Degree" or any special arts/crafts genius in order to produce great results.

You'll find the following questions, tips, and comments invaluable:

1. Who needs an expensive machine for drilling holes in sea glass!

2. Drilling sea glass - how long?

3. Good drill bit for drilling into small pieces of sea glass?

4. Drilled Sea Glass Mobile

5. Drilled Sea Glass Menageries


(This is a partial compilation of pages talking about how to drill glass for sea glass projects. For the complete listing of pages, use the Search function box in the right column and enter "drill" or "drilling.")

Who needs an expensive machine for drilling holes in sea glass!

How to Drill Glass

How to drill sea glass Toshi
Glass Drill Bit for Drilling Holes in Glass

by Toshi Kanno
(El Granada CA)

Glass pieces with holes and the drill bit for glass and tile .

In her original post, Toshi talks ahout looking for a drill and bit. She ends up happy with a regular electric handheld drill and a bit for tile and glass from the hardware store.

For her full comment, see Toshi's original report.



How to Drill Glass - Comments for

Who needs an expensive machine for drilling holes in sea glass!

Click here to add your own comments on how to drill glass.



Toshi, thank you for the tips on saving money on the drill!

As you state, a regular electric handheld drill will work for drilling sea glass.

With one of those electric drills you already have or can pick up at a garage sale plus a diamond-tipped glass drill bit, you're set to go..

How to Drill Glass with Glass Drill Bit

Dremel and glass drill bit under water drilling sea glass
Dremel drill with glass drill bit. Water covers glass.
Most artists end up using a smaller, lightweight drill, usually a Dremel brand drill or a similar one as seen in the photo.

This is because it is much lighter and easier to hold than a household drill, so over time, you avoid wrist fatigue.

You also don't need high speeds for drilling glass. A lower speed is better. Most Dremel-type drills have dual or variable speeds.

CAUTION: Always drill with the glass completely submerged in water.

The glass dust from the drilling process is very bad for you to breathe in, so the water keeps it from floating around in the air.

The water also helps keep the drill bit cool.

David Schneider (assistant editor and coffee server)


THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIP
by: DONNA FROM CAPE MAY

I am new to the art of doing something more than collecting my beach glass and putting it in jars.

I have wrapped several pieces and am now working on a sea glass windchime.

I always wondered if I could do the holes. Now i know what to get and directions I intend to try.

Thanks again!


DRILLING sea glass - how long?
Drilling
by: Gary Carlson

Diamond bits and water are a must. In addition, I use a plunging action. Moving the bit a little up & down takes some pressure off the bit and gives it a chance to cool down. Keeping a steady pressure downward on the bit only keeps it Hot !!
Drilling sea glass- How long
by: RagHorn Studio

Drilling Sea Glass
How to drill sea glass
Your basic project
How long depends totally on how thick the glass, and how big the hole.

If you need a large hole start very small with a pilot hole.

Diamond bits must have water on them at all times or you will ruin them.

I use a small cake pan 1/2 full of water, with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch flat piece of wood in it, lay my glass to be drilled on the submerged wood and use a moto tool with the drilling end under water, to drill.

A 1/4 inch piece of glass takes about 5 minutes or less.

DRILLING BEACHGLASS
by: SHOOTERGIRL

I also went out and bought diamond drill bits.

I have been folding a washcloth so it fits in the bottom of a cereal or soup bowl.

Place a piece of glass in the bottom and put enough water in to just cover the glass.

You need to keep the bit and glass wet.

I also use a variable speed drill so I can control the speed.

A nice steady slow speed works great and I am getting about 50-60 pieces of glass with each bit, which is the quantity listed for each bit.



Hole In Sea Glass
by: Satellite Beach

I bought expensive drills and broke every one of them.

Thoughts:
  • Being Patient I Think Is The Key Here.
  • Too Much Pressure Will Break The Drills.
  • You're On The Right Track
  • Don't Get Discouraged.






Good drill bit for drilling into small pieces of sea glass?

by Michael
(Maui)

I need to drill medium to small pieces of sea glass and don't know what drill or bits it is best to use.

Can someone help?


How to Drill Glass
Drill sea with glass drill bit closeup
Closeup of hole and wire

How to Drill Glass - Comments 

Need diamond drill bits and small cullet
by: Kaitlin

Hi- For drilling sea glass, especially small pieces, you need to use diamond drill bits.

These are typically very thin, so you don't crack the glass.

We got ours from a gem and rock shop that sold them individually for about $3 apiece.

The other parts you need are appropriately-sized cullets (sp. colletts)- of course, just about the smallest you can find. It helps to bring your drill bits (and drill itself) to match to the cullet size. You can find small cullets at any hardware store.

Make sure the glass you're drilling into doesn't have a crack already - that could spell disaster!

The best resource we found to help us find drilling equipment was the staff at the gem shop we stopped into.

Try searching for one where you live - they may be able to give you some good advice. Good luck!


Drill Bits for sea glass
by: Linda

I buy my drill bits from By the Bay Treasures--I had tried so many until I found them --theres are very good--also on the very small bits get a chuck( spelling ? )...They may even sell them or go to your hardware store...
Good Luck
Restless Spirit
Linda


Drilled Sea Glass Mobile

by Diane
(Hobe Sound, Florida)

Drilling Sea Glass

How to drill Glass mobile made with glass drill bit and sea glass pieces
Drilled with Glass Drill Bit

Sea glass mobile

Diane's drilled sea glass mobile got quite a few people excited about how to drill glass themselves. Her original post is found at Sea Glass Mobile.


How to Drill Glass - Comments for
Sea Glass Mobile

Click here to add your own comments
Drill glass...for sea glass jewelry
by: Anonymous

Hi All, and thanks for the comments.
I went to a local Jewelry Supply store and they had so many various sizes of Diamond Drill Bits for just a $1.00!!! Works beautifully with the sponge/water method. And no...I did not get shocked! :) It works beautifully. Its a 1.25mm bit and fits on my Dremel.

I have been finding the most amazing pieces of glass recently. An amethyst colored "butterfly wing" shaped glass, lots of perfect yellows, and pinks.

Does anyone know how to price these for sale?

There is a local jewelry maker who is interested in buying, but I don't want to undercut myself. I walk 6 miles a day to find these beauties.

Thanks.
Drilling glass
by: Susan Miller

I'm also trying to drill glass-- My dremel has a cord and I use the sponge in the dish method...and I haven't been electrocuted YET! Dremel is s'posed to have a new glass bit out this month--

Thanks for the response
by: barbara

Thanks for the tip for drilling glass. Unfortunately I don't have a cordless Dremel, and had bee dipping the glass in water every 10 seconds or so...I guess I will have to invest in a cordless. :)

Also, someone gave me an interesting suggestion this morning on Facebook...to use a dental drill bit. Will look into that also and let ya'll know how that goes. Great site by the way.

Happy Sunday.
Barbara
Drilling Sea Glass - How to Drill Glass
by: Diane

Hi Barbara,

Use a small metal pyrex dish or something sturdy that you won't cook in ever again. Get a small dish sponge and fill the dish with enough water to cover the sponge so that it's saturated. Put the beach glass to be drilled on the sponge.

Start drilling your hole on slow speed at first so that you do not crack your piece.

This method works great, it cools the glass from the hot drill bit so that it does not crack.
It also lets you see exactly where your drilling and keeps the area constantly flushed with water as you drill.

I use a diamond point Dremel 7144 or 7134, and of course a cordless Dremel drill so that you don't get electrocuted. Depending on the size of the beach glass you may want to use a larger bit. Be careful not to get your drill wet but it's OK to get the drill bit wet.

Good luck, hope this helps...

Click here to add your own comments

Drilled Sea Glass Menageries

by Ole
(Seattle)

How to drill Glass Bracelet with sea glass and glass drill bit

Sea Glass Bracelet with drilled "beads"

Ole submitted this drilled glass bracelet and stimulated a lot of interest and a few questions and responses. Read his about his drilled sea glass for bracelets.


Comments for
Sea Glass Menageries

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SEA GLASS TOOLS

For drilling and working with sea glass.

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Dremel 4000-2/30 120-Volt Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit - Corded

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