How to Cut a Hole in Clay Flower Pot

Cutting holes allows water to drain from a clay flower pot.

Clay planters usually come ready-made with drainage holes to keep plant roots healthy. Don't rule out a clay cachepot -- a pot made without hole -- as a planting pot, you just need to create a drainage hole. The brittle, hard nature of clay flowerpots dulls drill bits meant for wood, plastic and metal. The heat generated by a drill bit can cause the pot to crack. Use a technique designed to reduce friction to drill a neat hole in any clay pot.

Things You'll Need

• Modeling clay
• Clean water
• Diamond drill bit
• Variable-speed drill bit

Instructions

1. Place a dam of modeling clay 1/2 inch tall around the area you need to cut the hole. Press the clay firmly on the surface of the pot to ensure a tight seal between the clay and the pot.

2. Fill the area inside the clay dam with clean water. Allow the water to soak into the pot for 15 minutes. Add water to the dam until it flows over the top of the clay.

3. Secure a diamond drill bit in a variable-speed drill bit. Align the tip of the drill bit with the spot you require the hole.

4. Pull the trigger of the drill motor until the drill bit begins to spin slowly in the water. Apply downward pressure on the drill motor until the drill bit passes through the clay pot.

5. Remove the model clay dam from the surface of the clay pot. Put the modeling clay away to save it for the next time you need to drill a hole in a clay flowerpot.

Tips & Warnings

• Soak a clay pot for 30 minutes prior to drilling to reduce the chances of pot cracking during drilling.

• Drilling slower reduces friction heat and increases your success of cutting larger diameter holes in clay flower pots.

• Wear eye protection when cutting holes in clay pots.

References

• Diamond Drill Bit and Tool: How to Use Diamond Drill Bits
• Diamondburs.com: How to Drill Glass
• Inland Crafts: How to Drill Using Diamond Tools