Allow the unglazed clay to soak in the water for at least one hour, leaving it there overnight for best results. To finish, use a damp rag to clean off any dust and debris form the surface of the pot. Attach the bit to your drill. Go slowly, and either keep the china cool with water or some mineral/baby oil, keeping the drill hole filled, too. Thanks. 3. Once the pot is saturated, place a piece of tape over the spot you plan to drill through to prevent the drill bit from slipping. A cordless drill with variable speed is strongly recommended. Soak the pot overnight. You shouldn't have a problem with the drill overheating if the pot has been well saturated, but if the drill bit does begin to smoke, you will need to dip the pot back into water for a few minutes to cool down the surface. Remove the drill bit and blow the dust of the area for the hole, continuing this process until a hole has been created in the pot. I did an on-line, "Using the painter's tape does help the drill from slipping. It depends on the plant, as some need more holes for better drainage. Assuming you don't want to break the whole pot, you can't reasonably expect to use a nail and hammer. This article received 15 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Do. It isn't strictly necessary, but you might also want to consider using multiple sizes to further reduce the risk of causing breaks in the clay. If you are drilling through a surface that is thicker than 1/4 inch (6.35 mm), you may want to pause and clean the debris away from the hole as you work. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. These are common in most drill bit sets, so check if you have them. Peel the tape away after drilling your initial hole. 2. Your email address will not be published. Insert a 5/32-inch carbide drill bit into a power drill. You can remedy this problem by drilling your own holes into the clay pot, but you do need to work carefully to avoid breaking it. You can find powdered clay online, or at your local ceramics or craft store. ", "It helped greatly. This helps the epoxy blend in well with your terracotta pot, creating a more seamless finish. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It would be better for you to buy a bigger one for this purpose because what I usually ended having to do was drill multiple holes in pots to … Had the part of drill sizes figured out after cracking a couple, "It is awesome article! The drill bit size and number of drill bits you'll need will vary based on the size of the hole you want to create. Is it possible to put a hole in an unglazed pot with a sharp nail and small hammer? Use a nail to make a little ding at where you want to drill the hole to prevent the bit from slipping and nicking the pot when you are drilling the hole. References Drill holes in the brick or wood for each screw. your own Pins on Pinterest I did not know how, I read and followed your, "Very interesting! ", "This was the information I was needing. Use a cordless drill with variable speed for the greatest amount of control. Ask your local farmer or plant expert for guidance. Thoroughly saturated terra cotta clay is easier to drill through. To minimize the risk of cracking the pot, it's best if you use multiple drill bits when creating holes larger than 1/4 inch (6.35 mm). The drill bit size should match the diameter of the desired hole. Ceramics are a hard material and are particularly used for tiles. A sharp standard metal drilling drill bit should work. California Do Not Sell My Info. 3 for £1.00 Be particularly slow and careful drilling holes into ceramic or terracotta pots, as the material can crack if you aren’t careful. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. The pressure you apply should be just enough to keep the drill steady. You can choose to bore a large hole in the middle of the pot or several smaller ones closer to the edges, but I’d recommend the larger hole just because it means less drilling. ", "Very helpful. It is not always necessary with soft, unglazed clay, but it can still help. It worked out perfectly! You need some type of orbital abrasive to wear through the clay. For an unglazed pot, a simple masonry bit will do. Insert the bit into the hole you started. This article has been viewed 173,902 times. If it's a water-based paint on an unglazed pot, then yes, it's going to be damaged by water. Drilling Holes in Ceramic Pot. When you are ready to drill through the clay pot, remove it from the water and allow any excess puddles of water to drip off the surface you'll be drilling through. Allow the drill to do the work of actually drilling through the pot. Move the tile-cutting bit in a slow, up and down motion along the line. I had no idea if this could be done. If I soak my painted pot, will the paint come off? ", you this, and I see the drill slipping when beginning the hole. Scoop a small spoonful of powdered clay and mix it in with the epoxy. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. ... drainage holes can be drilled in the bottom of pots using a cordless power drill. I use a diamond drill bit. A drill is a much safer option. By using our site, you agree to our. Clay pots with very thin glaze may not need any water, but applying water to the surface as you drill still won't hurt. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 173,902 times. Leave a note when you checkout. If you’re all set, cover the spots you intend to drill through with some painter’s tape. 2. These drill bits have a spear point head, which allows then to cut into hard, brittle surfaces with less pressure. Also, that abrasive will work best with water as a lubricant. A carbide drill, a diamond grinder bit, or a Dremel tool would work much better. Email will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. You might try using a center punch first to keep the bit from walking. Continue working through your various drill bit sizes in similar intervals until you reach the final desired size. It can help if you start with a smaller drill bit to make a pilot hole, and then move onto a larger drill bit for the final holes. Some clay pots don't have drainage holes in them, making it difficult to use them for outdoor plants or sensitive indoor plants. Then start with a small hole as a pilot hole for drilling a larger hole. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The smaller pot … ", "Excellent and clear step-by-step explanations, thank you. Install an anchor with a Phillips head screwdriver. One layer of tape should be enough in most cases, but multiple layers of tape will provide greater traction and are less likely to peel away during the process. Great tip! Clay is very brittle and will shatter. In this manner, you can slowly enlarge the hole while putting less strain on the clay. Multiple layers of tape will work even better than a single layer. Figure out a way to support the pot under the drill hole so the back side of the clay doesn't suddenly pop out under pressure. Place one pot upside down on the other. ", "I supposed a masonry bit could be used on a glazed poy. The use of tape is especially helpful with glazed clay surfaces, which tend to be somewhat slippery. what is the best and easiest way to drill holes in terra cotta pots, and inexpensive? Get expert advice, now. Keep the drill bit and pot surface wet with the spray bottle. Jun 6, 2014 - For everyone that ever had a pot with no hole. The terracotta flower clip is a great way to hang the flower pots without much fuss. Follow the steps here and use a drill bit bigger than the current size of the hole. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. I bought a plant kit (small terracotta pot, basil seeds, soil pellet) and I realize the pot has no hole at the bottom for drainage. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/2013/04/08/diy-bird-feeder-from-a-flower-pot/, http://www.birdsandblooms.com/backyard-projects/diy-birdhouse/clay-pot-diy-birdhouse/, http://www.naturalhandyman.com/qa/qadrilling.html, http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/06/drill-drainage-holes.html, http://gardeningonadime.com/drill-drainage-holes-ceramic-pots-planters/, просверлить отверстие в глиняном горшке, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you have a cordless, battery operated drill, you may even be able to touch the tip of the bit to water to help cool it, as well. I will spend some time this winter doing these. If you're drilling into a recessed bottom, you can pour a small amount of water over the indented portion of the pot and work with that. Can I use this technique to drill holes in the side of clay pot? search and chose this article, and man am I pleased for the great instructions. Using a drill bit of the required size, drill the pot. When drilling through a clay surface thicker than 1/4 inch (6.35 mm), consider pausing in the middle of the drilling process and brushing away any chips or other debris. I use to work in a glass shop so I’d bring in all my pots without drainage holes for 1 of the guys to drill for me. A titanium bit would be even better. If you would like holes in these pots then we can easily drill a 6mm hole in the base for you at no extra charge. You may even pause to peel the tape away as soon as you first break through the surface, but doing so is not strictly necessary. Not frostproof. To drill a drainage hole in a terra cotta clay pot, start by letting it soak in water overnight to make the clay easier to drill into. ", directions and was successful. Last Updated: August 29, 2019 Working too quickly will probably cause the clay to break. If you were to use a standard masonry drill bit, you would need to apply too much pressure to break through the hard glaze, and the pot would likely crack apart. To find out how to drill a hole in a glazed clay pot, keep reading! Drainage holes are needed in new or recycled plant pots to protect the root systems and health of the flowering plants. Struggling to get a new job? This would not work. Method One: Unglazed Terra Cotta Clay Pots, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Drill-a-Clay-Pot-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Drill-a-Clay-Pot-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Drill-a-Clay-Pot-Step-1.jpg\/aid5623970-v4-728px-Drill-a-Clay-Pot-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"