Best Bit or Saw for Granite Countertops

[jmellc]

I need to enlarge a hole in a sink countertop from 3/4 to 1 1/4. What have any of you used to do this? I'm pretty sure a unibit wouldn't do it at all. I've seen a few carbide holesaws on store shelves but never used one. I wouldn't chance trying a rotary hammer bit on it, I'm sure it would crack or crumble. I saw a no bit holesaw on Youtube with a guide to hold it. Something like that may work.

 

[ptonsparky]

I don't mean to be a SA but maybe sub that part out?

 

[infinity]

Just got to a tile store. Any diamond embedded hole saw designed for tile will easily cut through granite. As noted you don't want to use a hammer drill.

 

[Fred B]

If trying to enlarge in the same center, a trick is to use the smaller hole saw in place of the pilot and the larger outside. Here is a device sold by Rack-a-tiers to do that easier: https://rack-a-tiers.com/product/the-co-pilot-hole-saw-adaptor/
In stone tile or masonry I would be using the diamond saw and low speed, can add a little water to help keep it cool. Heat is your enemy on the diamond bits.

 

[qcroanoke]

If trying to enlarge in the same center, a trick is to use the smaller hole saw in place of the pilot and the larger outside. Here is a device sold by Rack-a-tiers to do that easier: https://rack-a-tiers.com/product/the-co-pilot-hole-saw-adaptor/
In stone tile or masonry I would be using the diamond saw and low speed, can add a little water to help keep it cool. Heat is your enemy on the diamond bits.
View attachment 2574148

That!^^^^^^^

 

[ptonsparky]

If trying to enlarge in the same center, a trick is to use the smaller hole saw in place of the pilot and the larger outside. Here is a device sold by Rack-a-tiers to do that easier: https://rack-a-tiers.com/product/the-co-pilot-hole-saw-adaptor/
In stone tile or masonry I would be using the diamond saw and low speed, can add a little water to help keep it cool. Heat is your enemy on the diamond bits.
View attachment 2574148

That's nice!

 

[retirede]

If trying to enlarge in the same center, a trick is to use the smaller hole saw in place of the pilot and the larger outside. Here is a device sold by Rack-a-tiers to do that easier: https://rack-a-tiers.com/product/the-co-pilot-hole-saw-adaptor/
In stone tile or masonry I would be using the diamond saw and low speed, can add a little water to help keep it cool. Heat is your enemy on the diamond bits.
View attachment 2574148

That’s nice. I’ve always used a longer pilot bit and clamped a piece of wood to the slab, tile, etc.

 

[RCA]

If trying to enlarge in the same center, a trick is to use the smaller hole saw in place of the pilot and the larger outside. Here is a device sold by Rack-a-tiers to do that easier: https://rack-a-tiers.com/product/the-co-pilot-hole-saw-adaptor/
In stone tile or masonry I would be using the diamond saw and low speed, can add a little water to help keep it cool. Heat is your enemy on the diamond bits.
View attachment 2574148

Nice! Why didn't I think of that?

 

[LarryFine]

I've done the nested-cup trick many times.

 

[jmellc]

I don't mean to be a SA but maybe sub that part out?

Not on our budgetr.

 

[electrofelon]

A just take a piece of plywood, drill out the size I need and clamp it or have someone hold it to get the new started then off to the races ...... But the racketeers thing is slick.

 

[zbang]

add a little water to help keep it cool.

Add a lot of water to wash away the dust and keep it out of the air, you really don't want to breath the stuff.

 

[ggunn]

Add a lot of water to wash away the dust and keep it out of the air, you really don't want to breath the stuff.

I was going to say that as well; silica dust from cutting stone is a very potent carcinogen if inhaled.

 

[LarryFine]

I was going to say that as well; silica dust from cutting stone is a very potent carcinogen if inhaled.

You have to inhale to get stoned.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Diamond hole saw. Keep it flooded with water, use slow speed.

If you don't have one of those fancy hole saw jigs, get a piece of 3/4" plywood, cut a hole the size of the new hole in it, in this case 1 1/4", and set it, clamp it if you can, centered over the original hole, and put your diamond bit inside that, and it will hold it centered.

 

[jmellc]

Boss told me to try a standard 1 1/4 hole saw. It worked & better than I thought. Turns out, the countertop is some kind of composite, probably plastic & something. We wet the hole & wet the saw several times, cut slowly.