What type of drill bit would you use to make drainage holes?

Tami Clark
by Tami Clark
Are there other methods for drainage without drilling holes?
Antique porcelain or ceramic pitcher that would make a lovely planter.
  21 answers
  • Allison Allison on Feb 25, 2016
    I would use pebbles, and find a small pot with a hole in the bottom to fit inside the pitcher. please don't plant directly in this lovely old piece. preserve it and pass it down.
  • Rebekka Rebekka on Feb 25, 2016
    If this is a true antique, I wouldn't use it for a planter! However, if it is just vintage and not valuable, I would go to the local hardware store and ask what bit to use. I would guess the same bit you would use to go through tile.
  • Cj Avery Cj Avery on Feb 26, 2016
    It looks like a antique, should have a stamp on bottom write it down than Google it, if it is antique you will ruin the value of it. Use the pebbles maybe like someone suggested in bottom of pot than smaller pot inside that for plant. If you find out it is not of value than get a glass drill bit. You will have to seal the edges of the hole because the ceramic, porcelain, or clay will be exposed so you must seal edges eventually it will dissolve the bottom of the pitcher.
  • JUNE JUNE on Feb 26, 2016
    you will need a diamond tiipped drill bit, any lowe's/home depot has them. You should practice on glass wine/soda bottles first!! It is alittle tricky...too much force can shatter it!
  • JUNE JUNE on Feb 26, 2016
    Also, I use pebbles from $tree, and sand in a lot of my pots that don't have drainage...
    • Tami Clark Tami Clark on Feb 26, 2016
      @JUNE I guess I need help deciding what type of plants to put in it then!then
  • Phyllis Holmes Phyllis Holmes on Feb 26, 2016
    I use some gravel or pebbles and try not to overwater any plants.
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Feb 26, 2016
    A ceramic bit..........ask at your home improvement store, they should have it.
  • Sherry H. Sherry H. on Feb 26, 2016
    I was told to use a tera cotta bit one time and it worked just fine on tera cotta. This bit might work. Take it to Home Depot and ask a expert. Thats where we went. Good Luck
  • Sherry H. Sherry H. on Feb 26, 2016
    I now remember Home Depot sold me a Masonry bit for a tera cotta clock I was making It was one of the first things I tried to do. It worked out great and is 15 years old.
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Feb 26, 2016
    why in the world wold you want to mess up a beautiful old pitcher? sell it and buy something else for the flowers
    • See 1 previous
    • DORLIS DORLIS on Feb 26, 2016
      @Tami Clark I had one I used for philodandron , just put in a n inch or 2 of pea gravel to keep roots from rotting. I changed the soil out every other year. plant finally died when did not get it in before a freeze.
  • LD LD on Feb 26, 2016
    Here are a couple of links that address other options for using that teapot for a planter. http://pistilsnursery.com/how-to-plant-in-a-pot-without-drainage-holes/; http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-pot-holes-41917.html
  • Zhanna Zhanna on Feb 26, 2016
    Please don't take the chance of cracking or breaking this wonderful pitcher! Why not line the whole thing with a circle of thick plastic cut large enough to go up the sides to protect the interior from staining, then place larger stones in the bottom, cover them with landscaping cloth, and then add the soil for the plant? The cloth would keep the soil out of the stones, but excess water would filter through.
  • JUNE JUNE on Feb 26, 2016
    This pitcher looks like English Ivy!!
    • See 1 previous
    • Msi1170121 Msi1170121 on Feb 26, 2016
      That's a plant. One of the needlepoint ivies would be nice as well...they have smaller leaves and come in green and variagated types. If you elect to not drill holes as Zhanna suggests , along with the stones for drainage include some bits of chacoal (where you get potting soil should have some in a bag...not bbq briquetts) to keep the water from souring (keep it sweet). You might want to have someone who knows about porcelain look at it to make sure you're not defacing a fine collectable ( an antique shop that deals in such items would probably help you).
  • Cj Avery Cj Avery on Feb 26, 2016
    They should have ceramic paint at most hardware stores to seal it.
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Feb 26, 2016
    @Tami Clark If you plan to use it as a planter outdoors you definitely need a drain hole or it might crack during winter freezes. Check in the tile area of your local Home Depot or Lowes & pick up a diamond coated hole bit in the size you want. When you drill it, go slowly, & have a trickle of water flowing over the bit & vase as you drill, or have someone spritizing it with a spray bottle. Some bits come with a small reservoir that will stick to your piece to help keep your bit centered & to hold water as you drill, & can be helpful but not particularly necessary. There is a photo of the type bit & a reservoir in this post I made decorating my chandelier for Christmas. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/christmas/christmas-chandelier-11659441
  • Lorraine Walles Lorraine Walles on Feb 27, 2016
    A diamond drill bit available from eBay very cheaply
  • Genevasturdivant Genevasturdivant on Mar 01, 2016
    Diamond bit,,,do not press hard, let the bit do the work, less chance of cracking
  • Shelley Kelley Shelley Kelley on Jun 22, 2016
    Diamond bit, also it needs lubrication with water slowly streaming while drilling because it will get hot and could crack. You start out with a tiny dent using the bit and then a fine stream of cool water as you drill into it. Obviously you only stream the water where the bit and glass meet not the whole bit or drill. You have to be careful, water and electric don't mix. You could also take it to a local ceramic studio to have them do it for a small fee.
  • M. M.. M. M.. on Jun 22, 2016
    try scratching through the glaze a bit with a sharp tool, then drill very, very slowly with a fine masonry bit (hardware store for stone, brick, terracotta, etc.) . Go slowly, and either keep the china cool with water or some mineral/baby oil, keeping the drill hole filled, too.
  • Warren Carlisle Warren Carlisle on Jun 22, 2016
    Yes, get a drill bit with diamond chips imbedded in the cutting end. One way to keep the drilling process cool is to build a miniature dike around the drilling area with modeling clay or something similar that will hold water and be easy to remove when the hole has been drilled. Hope this helps.
  • Cj Avery Cj Avery on Jun 23, 2016
    Just go into a hardware store and ask what they would advise to drill glass that it is either ceramic or porcelain.