Drill Hole In Glass With Grinder

Drill Hole In Glass With Grinder

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Glass Artists Newsletter - April 2012
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We are working to make our stained glass business more dynamic. It's fun to work on great projects. The most recent has been a series of 12 panels that are mostly clear panels with lots of textures for a home in Salt Lake City.

We like them so much, we plan to take many pictures so we can use the designs in a book of patterns we 're planning.

Do a search on Facebook for "Gomm Stained Glass" to join our group.

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Grandson Keyan presented grandson Landon with Eagle award at a scout ceremony, who then pinned mom and dad with parents pins.

Jeanne hung several panels at Provo Art and Frame, where we were the featured artists last month..

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Last month we showed how to use a drill bit to drill a hole in glass. If we show that, we have to show how to drill using a grinder. I'm hoping that the technique will be very valuable to other artists.
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Drill Holes In Glass

Some of the pictures have a slightly blurry quality because they were lifted right out of the video that goes with the article. You can view the video by clicking here.
I start by tracing around the jewel using a Silver Sharpie marker which doesn't come off in water as easily as a black one. The glass is wet because I've ground around it to get rid of sharp edges.

Here's the marked glass. I want to grind out the circle inside of the marker.

The grinder bit attached to the Inland grinder is a 1/8" bit.
As you grind, you want push down on the glass not sideways. Pushing sideways runs the risk of bending the thin bit which would put it out of round and cause a lot of wobbling as you grind.

I make sure to add water using a sponge on top of the bit.

A bit of pressure on the bit making sure it touches the spot where I want the hole.
I rock the glass back and forth so that different surfaces of the bit make contact with the glass. This will extend the life of the bit.

I add water to the top of the bit often to keep it cool.

When I get a good hole started on the back, I use the sponge to fill the hole so the bit stays wet longer.

In no time, the bit pops through the glass.

Then I can add the auxiliary table surface and add water to its' reservoir.

Then I grind to the inner marked ring on the glass.

I'm careful to stay within the lines.

Then I check to see how well the jewel fits. It's a little tight, so I head back to the grinder...

..and grind all around just a little bit more.

The jewel has just the right amount of wiggle room. Room for copper foil on each surface and a perfect fit.

And here is a recent panel where we ground out holes for jewels in a Yin Yang panel.

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Email: david@gommstudios.com

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