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Alright, here's the skinny... I recently bought a house built in 1946. The bathroom (read shower/tub) was already finished in a fun green tile. I wanted to install one of those curved shower rods for extra space, only thing is though, under the tile is what seems to be metal. I've tried regular drill bits, tiny drill bits for a starter hole, I got a fancy titanium bit just for metal, I cried, I threw things, the list goes on. Nothing makes much of an impact on this stuff, and I haven't been able to make one hole yet. Anyone have any suggestions or been through this senario?
Sometimes metal is used in a wall to prevent you from drilling into the plumbing or wiring, but even a regular bit would make a hole eventually. Are any metal shavings coming out at all? Some expanded metal lath is really hard to drill..
Bad-Dog drill bits are carbide tipped and will drill through any metal. They have a website.
I have used them when nothing except a grinding wheel would work. They have a lifetime replacement policy - turnaround is as fast as the usps can be. I sent back a broken bit and had the replacement in 3 days.
They even replaced the quick-connect driver because I complained - did not send the old one back -- all free!
Claypa, yes something does come out but not like traditional shavings. its more like a grey dust. it looks like metal through the hole but we're talking a 1/4" viewing space.
Bubba, thanks I'll try them. sounds like a good co.
Claypa, it sounds hollow when I bang my head against it in frustration. It would also be the wall the faucet and shower run through. If it was masonry would a ceramic bit do anything to it?
is it the original tile? in most of the older homes whenever they put up the tile they put a backerboard behind the tile that was made of wire mesh that was then covered in a "mud" base. that could be why you are having such a hard time. i have torn out several bathrooms that had that and it was awful! so i feel for you. if you ever can get a hole in it you might need to make sure that you use anchors for the screws.
