Drilling Through Faux Marble?

(PeteCresswell)

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:40:19 AM3/31/16

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Cannot be more specific because I have no clue...

But our shower is built from sheets of plastic-ish stuff that is
obviously supposed to look like marble - about 1/2" thick.

Seems pretty hard at first look, but I took a pair of el-cheapo scissors
and was able to scratch the stuff.

What are the chances I will be able to drill holes in it to install a
grab handle - without buying a special drill ?

Techniques for getting the drill started without having it walk all over
the place?
--
Pete Cresswell

dadiOH

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:56:53 AM3/31/16

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In all probability, it is polyester resin. Easy to drill/cut. Just drill a
small, shallow starter hole. Or even use a knife to dig out a small &
shallow cone.

dpb

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:58:56 AM3/31/16

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My guess as well. Treat it as if were wood, basically. Use a sharp
center punch or ice pick/awl to make the starter hole and start first
hole with small diameter bit

--

gfre...@aol.com

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Mar 31, 2016, 12:07:56 PM3/31/16

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There is enough aggregate in that matrix to dull a regular drill
pretty fast but if you are ready to chuck it when you are done, it
might last long enough for a couple holes.

Oren

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Mar 31, 2016, 12:10:13 PM3/31/16

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On Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:40:14 -0400, "(PeteCresswell)" <x...@y.Invalid>
wrote:

You could make a guide to prevent the bit walking.

Pic: <https://tinyurl.com/zrvsjjf>

DerbyDad03

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Mar 31, 2016, 12:13:57 PM3/31/16

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...but don't rap the center punch with a hammer, just use it scratch the
surface enough to remove any glaze. That will help prevent the drill bit
from walking.

I would also consider drilling very slowly and maybe even using a little
bit of lubricant. Depends on how hard the material actually is.

Do you know where the studs are?

Arthur Conan Doyle

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Mar 31, 2016, 12:36:33 PM3/31/16

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"(PeteCresswell)" <x...@y.Invalid> wrote:

>What are the chances I will be able to drill holes in it to install a
>grab handle - without buying a special drill ?

You won't need a special drill, but you will need a masonry bit. They aren't
particularly expensive.

>Techniques for getting the drill started without having it walk all over
>the place?

Put some masking tape where you want to drill, don't use excessive force, keep
the area wet with a squeeze bottle. There's plenty of Youtibe videos.

Don Y

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Mar 31, 2016, 12:58:21 PM3/31/16

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Dip the end of a soda straw into epoxy, liberally. Stick that end onto the
surface where you'd like the hole. When epoxy has cured, cut straw off.
This leaves a ring of epoxy adhering to the surface. Center drill bit in
this ring. Proceed slowly.

dadiOH

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Mar 31, 2016, 3:10:15 PM3/31/16

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I haven't seen miles of "faux marble" but none I have ever seen has any
aggregate. Color (swirled into the resin), yes; aggregate, no.

gfre...@aol.com

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Mar 31, 2016, 3:31:17 PM3/31/16

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On Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:10:08 -0400, "dadiOH" <dad...@invalid.com>
wrote:

>gfre...@aol.com wrote:

>> There is enough aggregate in that matrix to dull a regular drill
>> pretty fast but if you are ready to chuck it when you are done, it
>> might last long enough for a couple holes.
>
>I haven't seen miles of "faux marble" but none I have ever seen has any
>aggregate. Color (swirled into the resin), yes; aggregate, no.
>

I know "Cultured marble" will destroy a regular carbide saw blade. I
never drilled it. You may be thinking of something else I guess.

rbowman

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Mar 31, 2016, 9:27:03 PM3/31/16

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On 03/31/2016 01:10 PM, dadiOH wrote:
> I haven't seen miles of "faux marble" but none I have ever seen has any
> aggregate. Color (swirled into the resin), yes; aggregate, no.

'Faux marble' usually refers to a finish on a wooden surface to resemble
marble. The molded man made marble used for bathroom sinks and so forth
is essentially fine sand in a polyester matrix.

(PeteCresswell)

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Apr 3, 2016, 5:55:56 PM4/3/16

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Per (PeteCresswell):

>Cannot be more specific because I have no clue...

Dremel tool with the little burr-like bit: http://tinyurl.com/j8zfrsa

Coincidentally the right hole size too.... Went through the faux
whatever-it-was like a hot knife through butter. I stopped when it hit
the wood, and then followed up with a regular wood drill.
--
Pete Cresswell

Oren

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Apr 4, 2016, 10:21:51 AM4/4/16

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On Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:55:50 -0400, "(PeteCresswell)" <x...@y.Invalid>
wrote:

It's a good idea to use a sealant so water doesn't get behind the bar
and into the wall (iirc it was a shower). Just sayin'.