Q&A for How to Drill Holes Through Glass

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Question

What can I use to drill a hole in glass?

Jason Phillip
Handyman
Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert based in Brooklyn, New York. He founded a homes services business, Iconic Interior Installations, in 2013, and spent over 9 years running the business. His company specialized in professionally mounting and installing objects, including mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He was rated a "Top Pro" every year from 2016-2022 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack. Jason closed Iconic Interior Installations in 2022, but continues to hone his home services expertise. He has also cultivated a career as a Machine Learning Engineer, and has been working to drive innovation in space-focused satellite technology since 2022.

Jason Phillip

Handyman

Expert Answer

A diamond drill bit will work best. Diamonds are a harder substance than glass, so they are perfect for drilling hard substances.

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Question

Do I need a special drill bit for glass?

Jason Phillip
Handyman
Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert based in Brooklyn, New York. He founded a homes services business, Iconic Interior Installations, in 2013, and spent over 9 years running the business. His company specialized in professionally mounting and installing objects, including mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He was rated a "Top Pro" every year from 2016-2022 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack. Jason closed Iconic Interior Installations in 2022, but continues to hone his home services expertise. He has also cultivated a career as a Machine Learning Engineer, and has been working to drive innovation in space-focused satellite technology since 2022.

Jason Phillip

Handyman

Expert Answer

A diamond drill bit is recommended. However, if you don't have one you can tape the inside and outside of the glass you will be drilling with packaging tape, masking tape, or painter’s tape, right over the spot you plan to drill. This will stop the glass from splintering, and it will hold the drill bit in place.

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Question

Can I use a titanium drill bit for drilling a small hole in a glass from a picture frame?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

To drill a small hole in glass, I recommend using the diamond bit rather than a titanium one.

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Question

I want to drill a hole in glass, but I'm not quite sure what type of glass it is. How do I tell if it is tempered glass or safety glass?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

To tell the difference between tempered glass and safety glass, check the corners. Tempered glass will have a marking on one of the corners.

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Question

How can you drill a hole in glass without breaking it?

Jason Phillip
Handyman
Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert based in Brooklyn, New York. He founded a homes services business, Iconic Interior Installations, in 2013, and spent over 9 years running the business. His company specialized in professionally mounting and installing objects, including mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He was rated a "Top Pro" every year from 2016-2022 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack. Jason closed Iconic Interior Installations in 2022, but continues to hone his home services expertise. He has also cultivated a career as a Machine Learning Engineer, and has been working to drive innovation in space-focused satellite technology since 2022.

Jason Phillip

Handyman

Expert Answer

The easiest way is to put a piece of tape over the area you're going to drill, use a diamond drill bit, and go really slowly.

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