How Do You Drill Holes In Saltillo Tile?
According to the South Texas Saltillo Tile Connection, authentic Saltillo tile only comes from Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico and it is always made by hand. Tiles are hand-formed from the raw Saltillo clay and dried in the sun before kiln firing. The color variations in Saltillo tile are caused by the variations in the natural clay, the size of the tile and placement in the kiln. Sometimes all reddish-clay Spanish-style tiles are referred to as Saltillo tiles. Whether you are using authentic tiles from Saltillo or more common clay tiles, drilling through them is possible due to their relatively soft consistency. Choose the right size carbide bit for the size of hole you wish to make and fit it into your drill. Measure the exact dimensions of where you need a hole drilled and mark it with a pencil. Securely clamp the Saltillo tile to a safe drilling surface such as a plywood board. Place the tip of the bit on the pencil mark and use a slow drilling speed to carefully drill through the glazed
