Most people who use a cast-iron bathtub one day come up with the idea of introducing some innovations into their water procedures. Often, modifications concern the installation of a mixer directly on one of the sides of the product or the installation of hydromassage equipment.
Whatever the owners are up to, this process can lead to chipped enamel and damage to the bathtub in the absence of sufficient experience and knowledge on how to drill a cast-iron bathtub.
The drilling procedure should be carried out without haste, because the base in which the hole will be located has a high level of fragility.
Where to begin? Some features of use
You may need the following tools:
Connection of cast iron pipes. SMU (both ends of the pipe are smooth); SME (one end of the pipe is smooth, the other has a detachable connection)
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- electric drill or brace;
- drills with pobedite bits;
- grinder and metal wheels;
- marker for making marks.
There are two types of cast iron pipes:
- SMU (both ends of the pipe are smooth);
- and SME (one end of the pipe is smooth, the other has a detachable connection).
Before you start using pipes, you need to make sure that the location chosen for them does not contradict building codes. It is desirable that there are no turns or slopes. Cast iron pipes are prohibited from being processed; only pipe cutting is permitted. Today, this metal is simply irreplaceable in some types of industry, which is why cutting and drilling cast iron is so important.
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Features of cast iron
Cast iron is an iron-carbon alloy, which is characterized by low cost and good performance characteristics.
- Gray cast iron.
- Ductile iron (with graphite spherical grain).
The material is resistant to compressive loads and has good resistance to corrosion processes.
Disadvantages include significant fragility, due to which it does not tolerate shock loads well. In high-strength grades of cast iron, this disadvantage is not so obvious, but at the same time they are much less amenable to processing. Therefore, cutting and drilling of cast iron is mainly used for gray grades.
How to drill a cast iron pipe
Cast iron pipes can still be found in many houses and apartments; they are also widely used for laying various main lines. It is for this reason that sometimes it becomes necessary to cut or drill cast iron. Before drilling a cast iron pipe, you should familiarize yourself with some of the intricacies of this process.
DIY hole in a cast iron bathtub
Sooner or later, most people have the desire to improve something in the bathroom with their own hands.
Scheme of a cast iron bath.
Most often we are talking about installing hydromassage equipment or simply moving the mixer to the side.
In both the first and second cases, you will need to drill a cast-iron bathtub. If your hand is not full, complications such as chipping the enamel, the tool sliding from the desired point, or simply breaking the drill may occur. Drilling must be done slowly, because... The material you are working with is also quite fragile.
How to drill a hole in cast iron with your own hands
Situations often arise in everyday life when you have to work in extreme conditions. One of the most difficult jobs is drilling cast iron, because... it belongs to abrasive materials. There can be many reasons: from remodeling the bathtub to personal technical ideas.
Elements of a twist drill for cast iron.
Detailed instructions for drilling cast iron
Tools and materials required for work:
- ruler;
- marker;
- wooden block;
- Bulgarian;
- kerosene solution.
Auger drills for drilling cast iron.
Before drilling a hole in cast iron, you need to clearly define your goals and objectives in advance, because... you need to see the final result accurately. When drilling holes in a bathtub without prior experience, mistakes are made. The three most common are hole slipping, enamel chipping, and even drill bits breaking.
Before you start doing anything, you need to make sure that there really is cast iron in front of you. The easiest way is to try to lift the product. If it does not rise due to the enormous mass, then no error has occurred. Otherwise it's just plain steel.
The most important aspect that should not be forgotten throughout the work is the lack of haste. Even if it’s really necessary and deadlines are pressing, you need to drill cast iron at cruising speed, because... The material is not only very hard, but also very fragile, which is why you can inadvertently say goodbye to a cast iron product.
Now you can begin the preparatory work. At the very beginning of preparation, you need to set all the necessary marks on the surface using a black or red thick marker. The points are placed small so that during work the drill does not accidentally move away from the selected positions.
The drill must be made of carbide steel, and its sharpening must be impeccable. The drill should be for metal with an angle of 116-118 degrees, so as not to scratch the surface, but rather to dig into it. If this point is not taken into account, then with a very high probability the enamel will not be cut off in a careful circle, but will crack, creating cracks around itself.
If you want to play it safe, you can use a wooden block. A hole is made in it that is 2 mm larger than the drill used, so that no difficulties arise during professional activities. This block should be, if possible, 2-2.5 cm thick so that the drill does not move even if the hand shakes. When working, the block will be applied to the surface in such a way that a pre-marked point can be seen in the center. It will need to be pressed with 1 hand while the entire work process is organized with the other.
Often, beginners forget or deliberately ignore drill cooling, which is why the work process is much slower and the drill itself wears out faster. In order to avoid this, you need to use a kerosene solution. Its consumption is small enough to make the drills more expensive.
There is another way not to harm the enamel and at the same time do everything with the utmost quality - use a grinder. Instead of the usual cutting disc, you need to string a grinding disc, which will safely clear the patch of enamel, and only then carry out the steps described above. This approach not only minimizes risks, but also significantly speeds up the process. Usually an additional 2 mm to the diameter is tacked, because in this case, the result will be without flaw.
The final stage of the workflow
Types of cast iron.
Tools and materials:
- Bulgarian;
- alcohol;
- sealant.
After you have managed to drill a hole in the bathtub, you need to take up the grinder again, but this time the angle grinder is used for the correct purpose, for grinding metal surfaces. If the hole is not sanded, then sharp ends will protrude in different directions, which will not only prevent you from finishing the work process, but can also injure your skin.
The sanded surface of cast iron is immediately degreased with alcohol or any other similar solution after finishing the work process, after which a sealant must be applied. Like all metals, cast iron has an increased reaction to exposure to a humid environment, which is why protection is vitally important.
Drilling cast iron with your own hands does not require a lot of time or any serious modern equipment, because... Instead of the most modern drill, you can use an old brace, and replace the grinder with emery.
Drilling a hole
You will need:
- permanent thick marker;
- metal drill;
- drill;
- kerosene solution;
- sanding machine (optional).
The first step is to clearly mark the drilling location using a thick marker. The mark is set small so as not to move too far to the side when drilling.
Many people cannot distinguish a cast iron bathtub from others. If you don’t go into details, it is many times heavier, and if you can’t lift it up, then it’s cast iron. To properly drill a bathtub, it is important to be extremely careful, because... The enamel is quite fragile, and it is quite easy to damage it. For this reason, the drill/bracer should be held at the same angle from the very beginning of drilling until completion.
Scheme of a cast iron bathtub with hydromassage equipment.
The drill must be sharpened perfectly, and it is necessary to place a special emphasis on the drill itself, which will be exclusively for metal and with an angle of 116-118 degrees. It should just dig into the metal, but not scratch it. Insufficient sharpening can cause a crack in the enamel, as well as retract the tool and ruin the material. In order to drill a cast iron bath evenly, you can use a wooden board or a metal plate, where there will already be a finished hole of a slightly larger diameter. A small difference in diameters will not have any side effect, but will guide the drill perfectly.
Related article: How to make a slate fence with your own hands: installation options and features
Many beginners neglect to cool the drill, but using a kerosene solution can greatly help speed up the work. In addition, if the drill does not overheat during operation too often, then it will wear out more slowly, this will also allow it to drill more holes, i.e. will increase the tool life.
One of the secrets to how professionals manage to avoid damaging the enamel around the hole is to use a sander. They simply remove the enamel in the desired area and capture a diameter of 2 mm, which provides an excellent opportunity to work without risks.
Drilling cast iron pipe
When drilling gray cast iron, as a rule, there is no need to use coolants and lubricants.
What does it mean to drill?
Drilling is the process of creating holes in solid metal using a cutting tool - a drill. And now about how to drill a cast iron pipe.
Many people face this problem and don’t know how to solve it. Gray cast iron can generally be drilled easily and does not require the use of coolant or lubricant.
But pipes are different, and in some cases more force is required. To do this, you should choose a metal drill with an angle of approximately 116-118 degrees, and when there are no special tools, you should drill with the smallest size drill, then use drills with a larger diameter, gradually increasing it.
- When the drill burns, you can lubricate it with water. In order to drill through cast iron, a hand drill is also suitable, the speed of which gradually increases. Directly when drilling, the speed should be small, as well as the pressure on the drill.
- In domestic conditions, it is recommended to use drills with pobedite bits; such drills should be used at low speeds, the force should be kept vertical and the cutting bit should be cooled frequently; overheating and blackening should not be allowed;
- In industrial conditions, if it is necessary to drill a cast iron pipe, machines with working tools that have working surfaces with appropriate sharpening are usually used.
Of course, they are equipped with a supply of coolants that ensure the desired operating temperature. In addition to the question of how to drill through cast iron, you need to think about the safety of this work. The array of processed material may contain voids and other defects.
This is often related to the amount of carbon in the cast iron and other components. These defects lead to the release of large amounts of dust and fine chips. In this regard, there are general safety rules:
- equipping the work area with a ventilated hood;
- use of a respirator or cotton-gauze bandage;
- use of safety glasses with closed sides;
- work in overalls, gloves and headgear.
It is also important to remember: before drilling a pipe, you need to make sure that there is no pressure in it and the liquid that it transports!
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Instructions on how to drill a cast iron bathtub
In order to drill a cast iron bathtub you will need
a drill; - diamond drill or crown; - metal drill; — rubber nozzle with abrasive rings; - sander; - sealant or epoxy glue; - water; - conductor.
Using a marker, mark the drilling point on the enamel layer. To prevent the drill from slipping, scratch the point with an awl or the end of the drill.
To drill through the enamel layer, use a diamond drill bit. Drill very slowly, constantly cooling the drilling area with water, without allowing it to heat up. In order to cool the drilling point, extend a tube supplying water to it, being very careful, do not forget that you are holding a power tool.
After drilling through the enamel, change the drill bit to a regular one for metal. If a small hole is needed, drill a small hole first and then drill it out with thicker drill bits. Do not forget to cool the metal and drill slowly; if it heats up and “bleaching” occurs on the surface, the drill will become dull within the first millimeter, since cast iron will become harder than hardened steel.
If you need a large diameter hole, make a jig from a piece of plywood with a central hole. First, drill through the jig to remove the layer of enamel with a feather drill bit for glass or tile. Then remove the jig and drill with a regular metal drill. Please note that the holes in the conductor should be located at a distance of no more than 1 mm, then the disk will be easily removed. Bore the hole from the inside using a rubber nozzle with abrasive rings made of sandpaper.
If you have a grinder, try drilling as follows: use it to grind off the enamel along the contour, then drill along the contour with a small drill and shape the edge with the same grinder.
If, nevertheless, part of the enamel is chipped, close the edges of the hole using a decorative chrome cup of the appropriate diameter.
When you drill a hole in a cast iron bathtub, cover the surface of the exposed cast iron with sealant or epoxy glue, otherwise rust marks will begin to appear on the enamel after installing the faucet.
Despite the successes of modern housing construction, a small bathroom and a combined toilet remain a sad reality for many apartment owners. Where almost every square centimeter counts, some problems can be solved by installing a faucet on the side of the bathtub.
This fashionable novelty has many advantages. However, it also has a number of disadvantages. Let's try to understand them and the intricacies of installing faucets on the side of the bathroom.
The ability to save space is not the only advantage of devices of this type. The mixer, installed directly above the bathtub bowl, fills it with virtually no splashes, which can stain walls and other interior elements. As a result, cleaning will require less effort.
Faucet models that are mounted directly on the side usually have increased performance. Therefore, the bathtub fills faster and the level of comfort is noticeably increased. Indirectly, this solution allows you to save a little: if the bathtub fills quickly, the water in it does not have time to cool down, i.e. the cost of heating hot water will be slightly reduced.
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The same principle should be followed when choosing consumables: even more expensive, but more reliable.
Depending on the model of the mortise mixer, before installing it, you may need to purchase additional consumables: flexible hoses, eccentrics, gaskets, fasteners, etc.
You will need the following materials and tools:
- electric drill, professional or household;
- a special attachment for a drill, it is called a core cutter;
- screwdriver;
- fasteners;
- flexible hoses for supplying cold and hot water;
- adjustable wrench.
The hardware is usually sold with the faucet, but this is not always the case. The diameter of the hole cutter must match the dimensions of the device. You can do without a drill or a cutter if you buy a bathtub in which the hole for the mixer has already been made at the factory.
Instead of flexible hoses, you can use PVC water pipes. They are more difficult to install, but such structures last longer than.
Usually the mixer is installed in the middle of the side, at the end or at the corner. When choosing a location, you should remember that some of the communications, including the shower hose, must be hidden. A special space should be provided for this. Sometimes you have to install a special false panel to hide these communications behind it. It all depends on the specific situation.
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Sooner or later, most people have the desire to improve something in the bathroom with their own hands.
Scheme of a cast iron bath.
Most often we are talking about installing hydromassage equipment or simply moving the mixer to the side.
In both the first and second cases, you will need to drill a cast-iron bathtub. If your hand is not full, complications such as chipping the enamel, the tool sliding from the desired point, or simply breaking the drill may occur. Drilling must be done slowly, because... The material you are working with is also quite fragile.
Tapping into a cast iron pipe
During the operation of a dacha or country house, sometimes it becomes necessary to make a tap from the water supply or an additional drain into the sewer for the washing machine.
This issue is resolved using the “inset” method. How to insert into a cast iron pipe?
In most cases, it is possible to use a ready-made tee, the diameter of which is slightly larger. You should cut off the part of the pipe where the pipe is missing.
The pipe usually has to be cut lengthwise, a hole drilled and a pipe welded to the remaining part.
The flange is attached to the pipe along the entire perimeter by welding. It is quite difficult to do this without special skills. In this case, you can use sealant and clamps, which will allow you to make an insert into almost any pipe in the house.
How to drill a hole in a bathtub to install a faucet
In an effort to create a stylish bathroom, designers hired by the apartment owners are developing a full-fledged interior decorating project. But its documentation does not always provide for the installation of a container for taking water procedures near the wall surface. Therefore, owners must independently attach the mixer to one of the sides of the product and choose a method for performing this work, focusing on the material used to make the bathtub. The procedure, I must say, is not easy and requires at least some knowledge and skills. After reading the contents of this article, you will learn: “How to properly drill a hole in a cast-iron and acrylic bathtub for installation of a mortise mixer?”
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In addition to fast and high-quality repair of heating pipes, we provide professional installation of turnkey heating systems. On our heating page > resant.ru/otoplenie-doma < you can view and get acquainted with examples of our work. But to be more precise, it is better to check with an engineer about the cost of work and equipment.
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Water storage container
The most common way to use an old bathtub. At a summer cottage, especially if there is a vegetable garden, there is never too much water. For many crops, cold water for irrigation is not acceptable and can lead to death. Installing an old bathtub as a water tank on the sunny side is a great solution to this problem. If the container has an unsightly appearance, it can be painted green.
A few notes about work safety
In addition to the question of what can be used to drill cast iron pipes, you should not forget about ensuring safety when performing this type of work on your own. This is especially important, since cast iron may contain voids and many other defects.
Most often, existing defects are caused by carbon and other components. Any defect in a cast iron pipe leads to the appearance of a significant amount of dust during drilling. Therefore, you should follow the safety rules:
- the place where the work is carried out must be equipped with an exhaust hood;
- when carrying out work, you need to use a respirator or at least make a bandage of cotton wool and gauze;
- It is imperative to protect your eyes by using safety glasses that have closed edges on the sides;
- the work must be performed wearing special clothing, and also protect your head and hands;
- When starting work, you need to be completely sure that there is no liquid left in the pipe and there is no pressure.
Drilling process
The first hole was drilled well only at the beginning, but the self-tapping screw did not last long and halfway through it went bad. There are a lot of self-tapping screws, so we took a second one, but this time in red (the self-tapping screws were left over from the Master Flash installations on the roofs), which, surprisingly, drilled much better, and we used it to drill this and more 3
holes.
This is how we managed to drill holes in cast iron. Perhaps someone will find this information useful.
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Source: zen.yandex.ru
How to drill a hole in a cast iron bathtub
The work is performed using a drill, cutter, tape measure, marker and grinder. At the first stage, the last of the listed devices, the enamel coating is removed. Otherwise, when creating holes, its fragile layer will form cracks and chips.
Carrying out marking activities begins with applying the mixer to a suitable board that helps to bathe the container. Next, outline the places where holes need to be made. Finding the center point of each hole is made easier by using a pencil and ruler.
How to drill a hole in a cast iron bathtub The drilling procedure begins with a small drill, since it is impossible to immediately create a large hole. When performing further work, the diameter of the hole gradually increases by connecting larger drills to the drill. During metal processing, an increase in temperature is observed. Therefore, craftsmen must periodically observe pauses, during which the drill and surface cool down. Before work, the device attached to the electric drill is sharpened so that the process does not take a long time.
