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Recently a reader (Ron A.) sent me a question about what RPM's are needed to drill glass. He's considering buying a new tool and wanted some guidelines.
So, after some research, it seems that the recommended RPM varies dramatically by drill bit type and size. Here are some of the common bits that I've used:
That first one on the left is a
carbide drill bit that my local glass shop ordered for me. It is 3 sided and works best in a drill press. The recommended RPM for this drill bit is 400.
The center drill bit is also carbide, called a
spear point bit. You can often find these at Home Depot in the tool section, sometimes they are tagged as Masonary bits. The recommended RPM for this drill bit is 400-800.
Eternal Tools recommends using a 'low' speed for drilling with these burrs. These are my favorite and they work great.
Now, here comes the fun part. This is my favorite tool for drilling glass:
See the problem yet? This is a great
mini grinder by the way, I highly recommend it.
So, ironically, my favorite tool for drilling is WAAAY too fast according to the RPM guides for both the tools and the bits.
My conclusion here is: use what works for you. If the manufacturer guidelines matter to you, the flex shaft grinder or drill press would be a good option. If you're willing to live wildly and blatantly ignore guidelines, the mini grinder may be just your thing.
I was a little surprised that I have 3 different drilling options, in addition to my hand held drill. How many do you have in your studio, and which one works best for you?
