Diamond Drill Bit Use

 

Glass Block
Drilled to insert lights.

Frosted Wine Bottle
Drilled to insert lights.

 

Using a clay dam
lubrication technique
to drill glass block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purple LED lights with
purple wire in block
with bubbles and swirls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Drill Glass Bottle - Drill Glass Block

Drilling in glass block or bottles is basically no different than drilling in normal glass.  If you use the appropriate speed, use low drill pressure and plenty of water for lubrication, you won't have any problems.  Glass breakage with carbide bits is fairly common, but with a good diamond bit, it is extremely rare.  There are a few very important facts and tips that will helpful when drilling glass block or bottles.

There are numerous different types and styles of glass block made by many different manufacturers.  Most have some type of design or pattern, however, for drilling purposes, there are two important characteristics to be aware of.  Glass block can vary significantly as to the thickness of the glass wall and some glass block is tempered.  This information is rarely disclosed on the block itself, but should be considered when buying glass block for crafting purposes.

If you are drilling glass block that has been installed in a wall, you don't have much choice but to drill whatever is there.  However, for craft projects, it is good to be selective.  If the glass block is 3/8" thick, it will take three times as long to drill compared to block with a 1/8" thick wall.  Additionally, it will triple the drill bit wear per hole, causing the bit life to be only one-third as long.  Some glass block and bottles are tempered to increase the strength of the glass.  Tempered glass should be avoided if reasonably possible.

Experienced crafters who work with glass block and bottles learn to search for different types and styles to test.  After drilling a sample of each, it is obvious which has a thin wall and if any are tempered.  Also, crafters who are drilling lots of glass blocks or bottles, normally develop some type of "clay dam" or pan drilling method, so that it can be drilled under water to improve lubrication and extend drill bit life. 

The "clay dam" method of lubrication is very effective for drilling in glass block and is simple to use.  Under water pan drilling works best for bottles.  "Pumping" the drill is also very important since even under water, the tip of the bit will go dry after drilling about 1/8" deep.  Water lubrication techniques are discussed in more detail in the Lubrication Tips & Tricks section.

Glass block normally has a vacuum inside.  Some of the water and glass dust will always be sucked inside when the hole breaks through.  However, it is easy to rinse out the inside of the block with water as long as the dirty water inside is not allowed to dry out.  The plug from the hole will sometimes be pulled into the block - it will usually drop out easily when the inside is rinsed.  However, if too much pressure was placed on the drill as the hole breaks through, it can cause the plug to have a flair from the splintering on the rear of the hole.  Normally, you can remove the plug with a pair of needle nose pliers, but the best solution is to reduce the drill pressure when nearing the back of the glass to avoid splintering as the drill breaks through.

A Few Final Glass Light Bottles & Block Tips

A piece of wire from a regular coat hanger or a small wooden dowel work great for inserting into the hole to "push" the lights around inside the block, so that all the corners are filled with lights.

A hand drill works fine using a starting template and a clay dam - for a few glass blocks.  However, an inexpensive drill press is well worth the cost if you are making lots of blocks.  There are many very nice, inexpensive drill presses available these days and they make glass block drilling fast and easy compared to a hand drill.

The most popular diamond drill bit for glass block drilling seems to be the 1/2" size since it is about the right size for light strings.  We prefer a 5/8" sized bit because the slightly larger hole gives a little extra room when inserting the lights or when pushing them around and allows easy remove of the lights if you change your mind or need to change a bulb.

Glass blocks sometimes have a white or cream paint coating around the outside edge to give better adhesion for building mortar or caulk.  Most people remove the paint, but some just hide it under a ribbon.  If the paint is hard to remove, soaking the block in hot water usually softens the paint and allows easy removal with a common kitchen dish scratcher.

Glass blocks come in many sizes, shapes and surface textures.  The ones with a heavy surface textures tend to work best since they diffuse the light and hide the light string wires better. Our research has shown that there are at least 15 different surface textures available (there are probably far more), so a little searching can result in finding some unusual patterns that make very nice light blocks.

Most people seem to use the standard 8"x8"x3" blocks, maybe because they are easily available.  We have found that the smaller 6"x6"x3" blocks and even some of the odd shaped triangular, brick shaped and corner blocks are are also especially nice because of their unique sizes and shapes.  There are no limits to the artistic possibilities, so don't be afraid to try something different.

A hot glue gun with clear glue works very well to attach ribbons and bows, or ribbons can be tied as if you were wrapping a package.   Most people tend to start out with the multi-colored lights then quickly learn that the white and single colored lights are also beautiful.  The non-multi colored lights are especially nice for light blocks that can be used all year round.  Light strings also come with various colored wire, so experiment with the white lights with white wire or the red lights with red wire, etc to see what you like.

Finally, if you ever get a chance to try the "LED" or "Tiny Lights", give them a try - especially the big strings of 60 or 100 (it takes a few more lights because they are so small).  Yes, they cost more, but they create almost no heat and bulbs last nearly forever.  Most importantly, some LED light strings have a light function controller that gives a special random blinking pattern that blinks, twinkles and strobes, etc.  If you can find the type with the light controller, the LED strings with the special lighting affect is really worth the additional cost.  Our experience is that most people who try the LED lights with the controllers rarely go back to the standard bulb lights.