When replacing a sink in your granite countertop, you may find it necessary to drill holes for the faucets. This happens when you replace standard drop in sink with an under-counter sink. Drilling holes in a granite countertop requires the use of special diamond-tip, cutting-hole arbor saws. Hole arbor saws use a drill bit in the center and attach to your drill like any other drill bit. Diamond-tipped bits and hole saws are available at home improvement centers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place piece of duct tape over the area where you want the hole. The duct tape is simply to mark on and helps to keep the drill bit from "walking" when you first start drilling.
2. Measure where you want your hole with a tape measure and mark the measurement on the tape. Take the measurement again to ensure that the hole is where you need it to be on the granite.
3. Insert a diamond-tip drill bit and hole-saw attachment into your drill. Attach a right-angle attachment to the drill to help steady the drill while you make the hole. It is important to keep the drill at a right angle during the drilling process. Right-angle attachments are available at home improvement centers.
4. Pour some cutting oil into a small metal container. Dip the tip of the drill bit into the cutting oil and place the tip of the bit on the center mark where you want the hole.
5. Squeeze the trigger slightly on the drill and apply gentle pressure to begin drilling the hole. Ideally you want to use the drill between 100 rpm and 200 rpm. If you do not have an rpm scale to adjust on the drill, squeeze the trigger no more than half way.
6. Stop drilling periodically and pull the bit and hole saw away from the countertop. Dip the tip of the drill in the cutting oil and begin drilling again. This keeps the heat down on the drill bit and prolongs the life of the bit.
7. Continue drilling until you have gone through the countertop.
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