How To Drill Holes Into Stones Or Glass

For making natural beads.

Posted by IntrepidMoose

About

I got bored one morning and I decided to see how I could drill a hole into a rock 1) without it breaking and blinding me, 2) relatively simply, and 3) without too many tools to have on hand. What I came up with was this rig.

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You Will Need (6 things)

  • Rotary Tool
  • Drill Press (if you have one. Otherwise, just use a pair of locking pliers)
  • Unwanted Plastic Container
  • 2 cup Water , depending
  • Stones or glass (This works for flat marbles, if you're up to that challenge)
  • Rotary Tool Diamond Tip

Steps (5 steps, 5 minutes)

  1. 1

    These are your materials (stones/glass, plastic container you don't want, rotary tool, diamond tip). Assemble!

    (Not pictured: Water)

  2. 2

    So first take your rotary tool, and get a diamond head. Diamond heads usually look like this.

  3. 3

    Put that on the drill. Now pour your water into the unwanted plastic container. Put a small rock into the container. Add water until the water level comes up just above it. Switcho on your drill and, trying to keep it level, start to drill into the stone under the water. Try to keep it straight! If you have a drill press, it's best to use that.
    In this image, I'm not holding it. For camera purposes. But really, hold it with your pliers. Please. That's a better idea than your hands

  4. 4

    CAREFUL THOUGH!
    Every few seconds or so, ease up on the drill. Pull it up off the stone or completely out of the hole you are creating. Let the water into the hole you're drilling to cool the stone off so the stone doesn't crack or destroy the diamond tip on you.
    This whole process can be repeated the exact same way with a piece of sea glass (or glass, if you prefer that) instead of a stone.

  5. 5

    And hey, look at that! Now you've got a wonderful stone with a hole in it. Make with it what you want! Enjoy!