How to Make a Hole in a Cabochon for Jewelry

In order to create handmade designer jewelry it is often necessary to alter components such as cabochons. This article will explain, in detail, how to drill a hole in a cabochon with out causing damage.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safety Glasses
• Cabochon
• A plastic container large enough to completely submerge your cabochon
• A carbide or diamond-coated drill bit
• A Dremel or other rotary tool
• A chunk of wood, foam, clay or other support for your cabachon

1. 

   1. Fill a small plastic container with water.

2. 

   2. Place a small piece of wood in the container to support your cabochon.

3. 

   3. Completely submerge your cabochon in the water.

4. 

   4. Put a diamond-coated drill bit into your drill.

5. 

   5. Put on your safety glasses.

6. 

   6. Turn on your drill.

7. 

   7. Gently drill through the cabochon. Do not put pressure on the drill, rather, let it work through the piece naturally.

8. 

   8. Once the drill goes completely through the cabochon, remove the drill from the cabochon, pull it out of the water and turn it off.

9. 

   9. If completed properly, you should have a symmetrical hole directly through your cabochon.

Tips & Warnings

• When you are first putting the drill bit to the cabochon, begin at a slight angel so that the tip does not slide across the cabochon and leave an ugly mark.
• Keep the cabochon submerged in water during the entire drilling process, this will keep the piece from getting hot and causing irregular hole or damage to the exterior.
• Only allow the very tip of the drill bit to be submerged in water. At no instance should the base or motor be exposed to water. This could greatly damage your drill or cause injury to yourself.

[Beadbug]

on 1/7/2009 This is a great article ^5*

[JasneJ]

on 7/27/2008 Great idea.I will have to try this!