Most marble cuttings needed for a larger home renovation use a wet tile saw. However, for smaller circular cuts in your kitchen or bathroom, you'll need a drill bit to penetrate marble. Need an extra electrical outlet or room for a power cord? Here’s how to drill through marble safely. Types of Marble Drill Bits

Typically, spade bits are a little weaker than normal drill bits. Most often, they will bend when exposed to too much pressure. Hence, spade bits should be used with a softer marble surface, such as tumbled marble. Core bits are tipped with either diamond or carbide. Core bits have a central pilot bit that holds the bit in place while the outer sections of the bit drill through marble and granite. Core bits are commonly used to make larger holes bigger than 1/2 inch. Spade BitCarbide-tipped bits can be categorized as strong drill bits made from carbon and tungsten. These bits are commonly used for drilling tiles, masonry, concrete, and marble. If you decide to go with these, you will need water applied to the tip throughout the drilling, and they are more expensive. That said, they work like a treat and last for a very long time. For us it all comes down to the amount of drilling that you will have to do. For most home owners that will be in the kitchen, the bathroom or the utility room.

Spade bits are weaker than regular bits and could bend under too much pressure. It's best to use this bit on soft types of marble, such as tumbled marble. It’s necessary to protect yourself whenever you’re doing a DIY project. Be sure to use proper protective equipment, especially when you are operating a drill. Ear protection and goggles for your eyes will help protect against any dust or debris. Similar to normal drill bits you may use for metal or wood, the diamond-tipped bit is tipped with diamond chunks. Made for dry drilling, this bit can forge holes in the hardest types of marble in seconds. Carbide Tipped BitPorcelain tiles need a special drill bit for best results, but any of the sets we mentioned above will get the job done. Other types of tiles and hard surfaces like slate, marble and granite can be drilled through using a tungsten carbide bit, or a diamond tipped bit. Travertine offers neutral tones such as sandstone. Like limestone it is also very porous so will need regular sealing. If used in small amounts in walls it can look great but is subject to staining easily.

Once you’ve drilled all the way through the marble, slowly move the drill out of the hole and away from your surface. Before you start drilling, create a workspace that is free of people, clutter, and debris. Any clutter near your drilling surface may move once the drill is activated, which could cause your drill to slip. There are a few different drill bits for marble tile drilling. Depending on your requirement, choose the most suitable one for you. Limestone is not hugely popular as a tile though it is really good if you are trying to create a rustic look. Unfortunately limestone is very porous so will need regular sealing. It isn't a tile we would recommend. Compared to the above two types, core bits are different. For starters, they are tipped with carbide or diamond. They have a central pilot bit and outer bit. The central pilot bit holds the drill bit in place while the outer bit drills through the object. These core bits are perfect if you plan to create a hole larger than ½ inch.In that situation, complete the last few millimeters of the hole with a standard masonry drill bit. These diamond-tipped drill bits are similar to regular drill bits. They are tipped with diamond chunks and are most suitable for dry drilling. These drill bits can penetrate the hardest marble surfaces in a few seconds. Important: I’m using a 6mm diamond-tipped drill bit for this demonstration. Also, if you are drilling a finished marble tile surface, get a 6mm standard masonry drill bit as well. I’ll explain the reason in the drilling step. Tungsten carbide bits make drilling through tiles pretty easy. You do need to use these with a drill that has a slow speed so a variable speed electric drill is a must.