Some clay pots do not have drainage holes, making them difficult to use for sensitive outdoor or indoor plants. You can work around this problem by drilling the clay pot yourself, but be careful not to break it.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Glazed Terra Cotta Clay
Step 1. Soak the pot overnight
Put the pot in the bucket and fill it with water. Allow the unglazed clay to soak for at least an hour, if possible overnight for best results.
- Fully submerged terra cotta clay is easier to drill. Water acts as a lubricant and cooling agent so the drill bit can more easily work its way through the pot without damaging the clay or overheating it.
- When you are ready to drill the pot, remove it from the bucket and make sure there are no pools of water on the side to be drilled.
Step 2. Use a masonry drill bit
The carbide concrete drill bit should be sufficient to penetrate the natural unglazed clay pot without much difficulty or damage.
- The size and number of drill bits required will depend on the size of the hole being drilled. If you want a simple drainage hole, choose a concrete drill bit measuring at least 1.25 cm.
- To minimize the risk of the pot cracking, it is recommended that you use multiple drill bits when making holes larger than 6.35 mm. Start with a 3.175 mm drill bit and increase the size gradually until you reach the desired hole diameter.
Step 3. Place the tape on the surface of the clay
Place at least one strip of masking tape directly on the spot you want to drill.
- Tape can prevent the drill bit from slipping when trying to penetrate the pot. This step is not mandatory for fine glazed clay, but it can help.
- Multiple layers of masking tape will work better than one coat. The friction on the drill bit will increase and help ensure the tape will stick to the pot, even when it's damp.
Step 4. Start little by little
If you are working with multiple drill bit sizes, start with 3.175 mm.
- If you're only going to use one size, attach the drill bit to the drill now.
- Use a cordless drill with a variety of speed variables to maximize control.
Step 5. Drill slowly
Bring the drill bit to the center of the point you want to drill and turn on the drill. Use the drill at the point at a slow, steady pace and keep as little pressure as possible.
- In essence, the pressure you apply is enough to keep the drill tight. Allow only the drill to work the holes in the pot.
- Working too fast or pressing too hard can crack the clay pot.
- If you're drilling through a surface thicker than 6.35mm, it's a good idea to pause and remove debris from the hole as you work. This step also helps keep the drill bit cool.
- Peel off the tape after drilling the initial hole. You can even stop removing the tape as soon as it penetrates the surface for the first time, but this step is not mandatory.
- There shouldn't be a hot drill bit problem if the pot is well wet, but the drill does start to smoke. You will need to dip the pot back into the water for a few minutes to cool the surface.
- If you have a battery-powered cordless drill, you can even touch the tip of the drill bit with water to cool it off quickly. However, DO NOT do if using a cable drill.
Step 6. Increase the size gradually
After drilling a small hole in the pot, replace the drill bit with a larger 3.175 mm. Drill into the center of the previous hole using this new drill bit.
- In this step, you can slowly enlarge the hole while reducing the load on the clay.
- Work as before, with light pressure and slowly.
- Continue working through different sizes of drill bits at similar intervals until you reach the desired finish.
Step 7. Clean
Use a damp cloth to remove dust and debris from the surface of the pot.
- Check the pot to make sure there are no cracks or nicks inside.
- This step ends the process.
Method 2 of 2: Drilling Glazed Clay Pots
Step 1. Use a glass and tile drill bit
Glazed clay pots are more difficult to drill than unglazed pots, but can be done using glass and tile drill bits.
- This drill bit has a cutting edge head, which allows it to penetrate hard and brittle surfaces with minimal pressure. If you use a concrete drill bit, the pressure applied is too great to penetrate the hard glaze, and the pot is more likely to crack.
- The size of the drill bit must match the desired hole diameter. If you want to make standard drainage for a medium-sized pot, a 1 inch (2.5 cm) drill bit should suffice.
- This is not mandatory, but you should consider using several sizes to reduce the risk of breaking the clay. Start with a 3.175 mm drill bit and increase the size gradually until you reach the desired diameter.
Step 2. Stick the tape on the pot
Apply 1-4 strips of masking tape directly to the point to be drilled.
- Masking tape will be especially helpful on glazed clay surfaces, which tend to be a bit slippery. This tape provides sufficient friction against the surface to help prevent the drill bit from slipping as it begins to drill.
- One layer of masking tape should be sufficient, but several layers will provide more friction and are less likely to come off during the drilling process.
Step 3. Select a small drill bit
If you decide to use several sizes of drill bits, start with a 3.175 mm drill bit.
- On the other hand, if you decide to use only one drill bit, simply attach it to the drill bit.
- It is highly recommended to use a cordless drill with various speed levels. A cordless drill provides more control when drilling and is safer to use near water than a wired drill.
Step 4. Keep the pot wet
Moisten the surface to be drilled through water. Try to keep the surface wet throughout the entire drilling procedure.
- If you are drilling into a recessed base, feel free to pour some water over the part and work.
- When you drill a flat surface, it's a good idea to keep the pot wet with hose or tap water.
- Water acts as a lubricant, allowing the drill bit to work through the clay with great ease and minimal pressure. Water also acts as a cooling agent, which will prevent the drill from overheating.
- A clay pot with a very thin glaze doesn't need a lot of water, but there's nothing wrong with wetting the surface with water.
Step 5. Work slowly
Position the drill bit at the point where you want to make a hole and turn on the drill. Use very light pressure and work at a slow, even pace.
- You press only to solidify the drill. Let the drill work itself to punch holes in the pot and don't press too hard because you want to speed up the punching. This is especially important when you are almost through the back of the pot, where the clay is weaker.
- If you work too fast, the clay may break.
- When drilling in clay thicker than 6.35 mm, consider pausing in the middle of drilling and removing all dust and other debris. This will help prevent the drill and bit from overheating.
- Once the drill bit has penetrated the surface of the pot, you can stop drilling and peel off the tape. However, if you don't want to stop, at least remove the tape after drilling the first hole.
Step 6. Increase the drill bit size as needed
After you have drilled the small holes in the pot, replace the drill bit with a larger 3.175 mm. Use this drill bit to drill into the hole you just made.
- Center the drill bit in the center of the hole as it is drilled. This is a safe way to slowly enlarge the hole.
- As before, drill slowly and with minimal pressure.
- Work the rest of the drill bit in this pattern, adding 3.175 mm at a time, until you reach the final desired size.
Step 7. Clean the pot
Wipe off all dust and debris with a damp cloth, then inspect the area around the hole. Make sure there are no internal cracks, nicks, or other signs of damage.
