G'day! You're at the pointy end of your bathroom or kitchen reno. The new tile drill bit are up, they've cost you a motza, and they look absolutely schmick. Now comes the hard part... you need to hang that new towel rail, fit off the toilet roll holder, or install a power point.

You grab your drill, and you freeze. The thought of drilling into that shiny, new, hard-as-nails tile is fair dinkum terrifying. One slip, one wobble, or just the wrong bit, and... CRACK! You've just knackered a $50 tile and ruined your whole day. It's a proper 'squeaky bum' moment, mate.

Why Your Standard Drill Bit is a Recipe for Disaster

Righto, first things first. Put that standard black HSS drill bit down. That's for timber and metal, and it won't even scratch the surface of a modern tile. And definitely don't even think about using your masonry bit. A masonry bit is a "hammer" bit – it's designed to pulverise brick. If you use that on a brittle tile, it will shatter it into a million pieces.

To get through tile, you need a specialist. You need a proper tile drill bit.

Choosing Your Weapon: The Two Main Types of Tile Drill Bit

There are two main types of tile drill bit you'll find in Australia, and you need to choose the right one for your job.

1. Tungsten Carbide Tipped (TCT) / Spear-Head Bits

These are the most common ones you'll see. They have a very sharp, arrow-shaped or 'spear-head' tip made of tungsten carbide.

• Best for: Softer ceramic wall tiles, like your classic white subway tiles or standard glazed wall tiles.
• How they work: The sharp, pointy tip is a ripper for stopping the drill from "wandering" or slipping on the shiny tile surface, allowing you to start a clean hole.

2. Diamond Tipped / Diamond Hole Saws

This is the heavy artillery, mate. These bits don't have a sharp point. Instead, their cutting edge is coated or embedded with industrial diamond grit.

• Best for: This is the only choice for drilling into hard porcelain tiles, dense floor tiles, stone (like granite or marble), or glass.
• How they work: A diamond bit doesn't "cut" – it grinds its way through the material. It's a slower process, but it's the only one that will get through these super-tough surfaces without cracking them.

The Golden Rules: How to Drill Tile Without Mucking It Up

Got the right bit? Good. Now, the technique is everything.

• Rule 1: NO HAMMER DRILL! I'll say it again. Find the hammer function symbol on your drill and turn it OFF. You want to drill, not pulverise.
• Rule 2: SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE. Speed is your worst enemy. It builds up friction and heat, and heat is what cracks tiles and knackers your drill bit. Use a slow, steady speed on your drill.
• Rule 3: TAPE IT UP. Stick a bit of masking tape on the tile where you want to drill. It gives the tile drill bit tip something to bite into and stops it from slipping and skidding all over the shiny surface.
• Rule 4: KEEP IT COOL, MATE (USE WATER). If you're using a diamond drill bit, it must be kept cool. Heat will destroy the diamond coating. Have a spray bottle of water handy and give the hole a good squirt every 10-15 seconds. It keeps the dust down and, most importantly, keeps the bit from overheating.

When to Call a Licensed Professional

Look, drilling a 6mm hole for a towel rail is a classic DIY job if you take your time and follow the rules. But what if you need to drill a massive 90mm hole for a downlight, or cut a perfect square for a new power point right in the middle of your new splashback?

That's where the pros take over. Drilling large, precise holes in expensive, brittle tiles – especially for 240V electrical fittings – is a high-stakes job. A licensed electrician has the right gear (like professional-grade diamond hole saws and guides) and the know-how to do it right.

They also know that the fitting they put in that hole has to be just as high-quality and, crucially, IP-rated (weatherproof) for a wet area like a bathroom. This is why a pro will source their gear from a trusted electrical wholesaler. They need to know the downlights and switches they're installing are 100% compliant.

As one of Australia's most comprehensive electrical wholesaler and supplier networks, Schnap Electric Products stocks the lot for the professional installer. From the specialist diamond hole saws that tradies need for the perfect cut, to the IP-rated, bathroom-safe LED downlights, exhaust fans, and power points that get installed into those holes. For a job that's safe, compliant, and looks schmick from start to finish, the pros rely on quality gear from a supplier like Schnap Electric.