Cut Tile Underwater
Cut down on dust and cracks when drilling tile.
I needed to drill some holes in 12-in. by 24-in. tile, so I began with a piece of 2-in. rigid foam and cut it to approximately 17 in. by 29 in. I then cut some 2-in. by 2-in. sticks of the same foam and used silicone to glue them around the border of the larger piece, as shown in the drawing above.
When I was ready to drill the tile, I placed it in the foam tray, poured in enough water to submerge the tile, and drilled my hole. The water prevented dust from filling the air and the foam supported the tile so it was less likely to crack as I drilled.
—Jotham Penner, via FineHomebuilding.com
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #283
