How to Drill Small Holes in Glass for Jewelry or Wind Chimes

Making glass artwork and jewelry can be a fun and rewarding experience if you know what's needed to complete your project correctly. If you need to drill holes into glass, follow this method to keep it from cracking under the pressure.

Instructions

1. Get a hand-held, high-speed rotary tool. Ideal for small crafts, these tools can be found at your local craft or hardware store. They differ from regular power drills because they are shaped to fit your hand more like a pen than a drill gun.

2. Find a drill bit that does the job. Diamond-tip bits can be found at any local art supply store. Using spade bits or twist drills can crack or damage the glass you are drilling into. Find a bit that is specially sized for the width of your glass and the size of the hole you need to create.

3. Lubricate the drill bit. Keeping a small amount of water on the tip of your diamond-tip bit at all times will keep your glass and bit from overheating.

4. Apply light to moderate pressure when drilling into glass. Increasing the pressure will heat up the bit, which can cause the glass to fracture or crack from the heat as well as cause the glass to chip on the other side of your piece.

5. Know when to speed up and when to slow down. Start drilling slowly and speed up the drilling once the hole has been drilled almost through the piece of glass. Slow down near the end to avoid cracking the glass as your drill passes through to the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are drilling a hole larger than a ¼ inch use a diamond hole saw instead of a drill bit.

• Use caution when using water near electrical equipment. Water should be kept near the tip of the drill and the piece of glass. Do not allow any water near the electrical components of the drill.