You need a make a hole in some glass, and you don’t have a drill handy or know if you could drill a hole in the glass without breaking it. Here are some valuable tips and hacks to help making a hole in glass without using a drill:
Top Tips to make a hole in the glass without using a drill
Cutting out a circle from glass with a cutter tool
A glass cutter is a pencil-like instrument using a blade of tungsten carbide. This method can be used to cut flat glass panels, but it can be used to cut a hole in the glass. What do you need to cut a hole in glass:
- Glass Cutter – 41% OFF
- Duct Tape
- Permanent marker
- Gloves
- Compass
Making a hole in glass using an iron nail and a flame torch
If you want to make a hole in a glass bottle, this is an excellent method, and it also works with flat glass. This works on the principle of using heat which makes the glass easy to puncture. What you need to punch a hole in your glass:
Making a hole in a glass bottle with a lighter
If you want to make a hole in a glass bottle with a lighter, then you need to follow the steps:
- Cover the glass surface with duct tape where you want to make a hole in the glass bottle
- Use a lighter to start heating the spot you placed the duct tape on
- Heat it up for 3-4 minutes to make it hot
- Placing the bottle directly in ice-cold water is an alternative
- Use sandpaper to smooth the edges
Use a piece of string dipped in kerosine oil to heat the glass surface
This method is best applied on bottles and for glass that’s thicker. The basic principle behind the process is heating the local area. You will need the following items:
- Kerosene Oil
- A Cotton string (approx 8″ in length)
- A lighter
To perform this method, your first need to locate the area that needs to be holed. Next, you soak the string in kerosine oil.
To cut the bottle in half, next, you need to tie the string around the bottle and light the string. You will need to wait for a couple of minutes until the area under the string is red hot. Next, make sure you hold the bottle in your hand and give a sudden movement (almost like you are breaking a stick). You could also do this by impacting the glass with a knife.
To make a hole in the glass, you need to tie the string in a circular shape (the size should match the hole diameter) and dip this into the kerosine oil. Place the string onto the area that needs to be holed and use a lighter to ignite the kerosene dipped string. Wait for around four to five minutes, and then flick the glass using a screwdriver or a pencil.
Filing out a hole using a tapered file
A tapered file is an iron bar with parallel grooves. The tapered file can be used for almost any type of glass. This method is very effective, but it can be very time-consuming. For this method, you will need the following:
- A tape file with three sides.
- A lubricant, e.g., kerosene or turpentine.
- Safety gloves (are required because the glass could break, which would injure your hand).
The procedure is simple but also very time-consuming and does need plenty of patience.
- Wear safety gloves
- Lubricate the file
- Identify and mark the area with a marker
- Screw the file in a clockwise and also an anti-clockwise motion
- The file should puncture the glass after repeated attempts.
- Lubricate the file as and when needed.
Drilling out a hole with hands using a carbide-tipped drill bit
The carbide drill bit can scratch the glass and also help puncture it. It will work best on glass bottles, but with some practice, flat glass can also be holed, although this is not recommended:
- Duct tape (for flat glass)
- Oil
- Water
- Carbide drill bit
To puncture flat glass, you will need to cover the area around the hole (up to at least 5 inches) with duct tape. Lubricate the tip of the drill bit and grind it against the glass carefully. Try to refrain from applying excessive pressure to avoid any cracks in the glass.
Using a soldering iron to cut out a hole in the glass surface.
You could also use a soldering iron to cut a hole in the glass. First, draw out a pattern where you want to make a hole. Then next, you need to preheat your soldering iron and slowly start heating the glass still; a crack propagates in it. Once complete with the hole, punch out the hole with a pencil or a pen.
Learn more about this technique by watching this video:
https://youtu.be/Ny8OXoux-U4
How can you make a hole in a glass bottle without the use of any tools?
You can make a hole in a glass bottle without tools but it is far from straightforward, but some of the methods below will help you:
- Using a not kerosene string and nail to puncture the glass bottle
- Using a torch and duct tape
- Using a file to puncture a bottle of glass
What drill bit is the best for glass?
Diamond-coated drill bits are by far the best for glass, but carbide drill bits can also be used to drill into glass.
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