NEIKO 00823A Diamond Hole Saw, 5 Pc Diamond Drill Bit Set, 5/32–1/2-Inch Hollow Core, 1/4-Inch Shank, Glass Drill Bit, Ceramics, Tile Drill Bits, Granite, Glass Cutter for Bottles, Pots, Marble

I use these to cut holes in bottles for bird feeders and they work great. I've made a couple good ones but unfortunately the wind where we live blows so hard that they have got broke. When I make some more I will update my post.

== IntroductionMy seedlings have started to produce flowers and I wanted to transfer some of them onto ceramic cups and bowls for display purposes. After purchasing a few beautiful cups and bowls, I found that drilling holes into ceramic material wasn’t easy. It took a couple of hours to drill five holes at the bottom of three cups using masonry bits. There had to be a better and quicker way. After some online research, I found that I needed diamond drill bits. A search on Amazon for inexpensive diamond bits led me to Neiko Tools’ Diamond Grit Hole Saw Drill Bit Set.== PackagingAs seen on the included photos, packaging of the set is very simple. The bits are housed inside a styrofoam cutout. No fancy plastic case, just the bits, the styrofoam, and the external packaging that contains the name and picture of the product.I was fine with the simple packaging because it is a factor in reducing overall cost.== PerformancePrior to receipt of Neiko Tool’s diamond grit hole saw bits, I purchased an all-purpose bit from a local home improvement store that was advertised to drill holes into concrete, metal, plastic and wood. I also purchased a diamond bit set from a local budget tool store so that I could finish drilling holes on the ceramic cups and bowls I had already purchased. The all-purpose bit barely made a scratch on ceramic material. The diamond bits worked better but were fully spent after drilling three or less holes.The diamond grit hole saw bits from Neiko Tools arrived a day early. With around 20 ceramic pots, cups and bowls purchased from a flea market, I was ready to use the diamond grit bits. Armed with a driver on one hand and a bottle spray on another, I started to drill at a 45-degree angle and as the diamond bit “bit” into the ceramic surface, I slowly changed the angle to be perpendicular to the surface I was drilling into. Three sprays and a few seconds later, the hole was made. I was really impressed at how simple it was to make a hole through ceramic material. The reviews were mixed so I had my initial doubts but I was delighted with the results. Listed below are tips that I found to be helpful in my project.• Wear protective eye gear and dust mask. This is a must for your safety.• Just like any drill bits, the diamond grit hole saw from Neiko Tools will become dull with time. Time is determined by the material you’re drilling and whether you use lubrication or not.• Be patient and take your time especially if you’re new to this. Your patience will pay off with the results.• Lubricate when drilling. This will increase the life of your bit by reducing heat, dust particles and results in cleaner cuts.• Start drilling at a 45-degree angle and slowly adjust to 90 degrees as the bit starts to cut into the material.• Apply very little pressure and let the saw do the cutting.• Keep in mind that with every hole you drill, the bit becomes more dull. As the bit becomes more dull, I had to increase the pressure by just a little.• As a bit became more dull, I had to use both hands on the drill to start the bit to cut into ceramic material. Once the bit started cutting, only one hand was needed. The other hand was back with the spray bottle.• To further stretch the life of my bits, I used the smaller diamond bits from the local budget hardware store to make a smaller hole and then finalize/increase the size of the hole with Neiko Tool’s diamond bits. As of this writing, I’ve only used one bit and it’s not fully spent yet.== Pros• Inexpensive• Works as advertised== Cons• Bits wear out eventually (expected)ConclusionWhat used to be a gargantuan task of drilling holes through ceramic became a smooth and more rewarding process with Neiko Tool’s diamond grit bits. For what it does and especially the price, consider this tool as disposable once the bits become dull. Lubricate to extend the life of your bits and purchase a new set when the current ones become unusable. Alternatively, you may opt with more expensive sets for longer lifespan.Based on my results, I highly recommend this set to anyone needing to drill holes through ceramic material.

These bits worked quite well in my hands. I was able to drill six holes through porcelain tile and cement backer board in order to mount a grab bar in our shower. However, the bit is largely worn away, and I doubt that you could get many more holes out of it at this price though it was a great choice.If you haven’t drilled ceramic tile before, I would strongly encourage you to practice on a scrap piece in advance. As other users mentioned, you need to start at about a 45° angle on the perimeter of your planted hole so that you can get a starting point and then, once you’ve cut a groove into the material slowly lower the blade into the face of the tile and continue drilling. Either dip the bit into water periodically or spray water onto the hall. You’ll get a much cleaner, cut and much less dust if you keep it wet. For starting, bring your drill up to a medium speed carefully guide the edge of the bit down to the tile . If you begin at a very low speed, the drillbit will catch and skate across the tile potentially damaging the finish. (Don’t ask me how I know this).The only problem I encountered was that you end up with tile and backer board material filling the inside of the bed and you have to periodically stop to clean this out. A finishing now or possibly some stiff wire, will help to push the little Coors of tile and cement out of the end of the bed, especially if you keep it wet.

I bought this set to drill holes in marble tiles in our shower. Researching the best drill bit to use for marble diamond coated bits came up as the answer.Because these don't have a sharp point like brad point bits, these mini hole saw bits can wander if you don't start them by positioning the bit at an angle. Angling these bits helps minimize the bit wandering by allowing the edge to "grab" and make a contact point. After a divot is created you can slowly tip the bit up straight and then drill straight down and applying equal pressure.I practiced on a scrap piece of marble first. Practicing drilling a few holes is recommended to get a tight hole that's not larger than what diameter of the bit you're using. The technique takes practice. Once you practice drilling a few holes you'll get the feel of how it feel when the bit grabs your materialAs it turned out I found out I was able to use a conventional tile bit in marble and wound up using it instead of these Neiko bits. I decided to order these Neiko bits because I had good luck on a previous Neiko digital caliper.