Hanging a shelf, towel rail or mirror in the bathroom almost always means drilling through tile. Glaze is hard and slippery, so an ordinary bit skates across it, while too much pressure or hammer mode can crack the whole tile.
With the right bit, a low speed and a few tricks, you will get a clean hole first time. A drill free of rust and stiffness, maintained with WD-40 Multi-Use, gives you the control this delicate job needs.
What you will need
- Power drill or drill driver (corded or cordless)
- Tile drill bit, diamond-coated or carbide-tipped
- Masking tape, pencil, tape measure
- Safety goggles
- Water bottle or spray bottle for cooling
- Fine sandpaper
- WD-40 Multi-Use and a microfibre cloth, with WD-40 Smart Straw handy for the chuck
Important: Before drilling, make sure there are no cables or pipes behind the tile: they often run vertically from sockets and taps. Switch off hammer mode. Always wear safety goggles.
Step 1
Mark the spot
Measure and mark the drilling point with a pencil. Avoid the tile edge and grout lines: within 1.5-2 cm of the edge the risk of chipping rises. Check there is no cable or pipe at that point, using a cable detector if needed.
Step 2
Protect the glaze with tape
Stick two strips of masking tape over the mark in a cross and mark the point again. The tape stops the bit from wandering at the start, protects the glaze from scratches and reduces the risk of cracking.
Step 3
Prepare the bit and the drill
Use only a tile bit: diamond for porcelain stoneware, carbide-tipped for standard ceramic wall tiles. A metal bit or a masonry bit on hammer setting will ruin the tile.
If the chuck is stiff or shows rust, fix it before you start. Spray a little WD-40 Multi-Use onto a cloth and wipe the metal parts, then give the chuck mechanism a short burst through the straw of WD-40 Smart Straw, turn the chuck and wipe off the excess. Wipe the cutting end of the bit clean before drilling so no lubricant gets into the hole.
Step 4
Drill slowly and keep it cool
Put on your goggles, hold the drill exactly perpendicular to the wall and start at low speed. Use light, even pressure without leaning your whole weight on it: let the bit do the work. Once through the glaze, you can increase the speed slightly.
The bit heats up, and overheating blunts it and can crack the tile. Keep the spot wet with a spray of water or pause regularly to let the bit cool. Once through the tile, switch to a normal masonry bit for the wall behind.
Step 5
Clean up and check the hole
Peel off the tape and wipe away dust and fragments with a damp cloth. Check the edge of the hole: if there are sharp burrs, smooth them gently with fine sandpaper. Now you can fit the wall plug and mount your shelf.
Tip: If you have several holes to drill, practise on a spare tile or offcut first. You will get a feel for the pressure and speed your particular tile needs.
What next
After the job, blow the dust out of the drill, wipe the housing and metal parts with WD-40 Multi-Use and store it somewhere dry. That way it will not rust in a damp garage and will be ready for your next project.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
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