What type of drill bit should I buy to cut into 4 x 4 ceramic tile on the wall? Can I place the bit into a router? The hole is 10 x 10 and I need it to be 10 1/2 x 10 1/2. There is 5/8 DW w/ metal studs behind it.
One problem I have found with cutting tiles using a rotating cutter - ANY rotating cutter - is that they can leave tiny chips on the edge of the glazed surface of the tile. If you put masking tape where you will cut - before you mark the cut line makes sense - it will stop that. The chipping is on quite a small scale, so you may only notice it if you look for it, and so you might not feel you need to do it at all, but if you do, you've got a way.
As I understanding your question ,you want make a 10x10 hole in the wall that has ceramic tiles 4x4. 1- Drown a circle by a marker to show the location of the cut . 2- make hole by a carbide drill about 1 inside the circle. 3- By a router machine with diamond bit start to cut (use coolant for cooling bit during cut) . 4- keep the bit inside of the cut line till get the actual size (in case of any crack in tile).
Your best bet if your a 1st timer is to have everything layed out and know what your going to do ahead of time..Rent a wet saw to make all your cuts and have a helper / runner to do these if possible.. This will cut down on your time and rental.Straight cuts can be done on a hand cutter but may be harder for the 1 st timer especialy for the beginner w/ some porcelains..Holes can be cut by top and back cutting a square hole since some pipes will have covers.. If not you sometimes you have to split a tile and nip or cut a slot for the pipe..Stool flanges and diverter covers can be nipped sometimes so a pair of tile nippers are a good investment... To start center the tile in room and lay out.. If you end w/ 1/2 a tile or smaller recenter the tile so center line is in the middle of the tile.. Some times you have to make small adjustments in this to get a good lay out GL
I tile every day of my life, and hope you have extra tile pieces. As one answer states a diag. Grinder and a diamond blade. I go through a couple a week, but certainly you can't pull a wet saw to the wall. I'll assume not, but might you make the cuts on grout lines? Also, I'm wondering about even 5/8 drywall as a substrate for tile work? You might also use a Dremel with a proper bit for the very corners, but with care the Di. Grinder will suffice, You probably can expect cutting into the dry wall as well. Steven Wolf just my two sense I'm just purchasing a FEIN Multi tool, that I'll use exclusively for installed tile cutting, especially grout.
