here

Thanks so very much! I look forward to using them soon.

Barb

Pagan

I want to see your tools...I bet that there is quite a variety...lol.

Barb, spend a little more money (maybe) and get the Bosch set - it's the bee's knees.

I got them on Amazon but couldn't find that link, but here's what I'm talking about.\

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.4-piece-glass-and-tile-drill-bit-set.1000656732.html

Ach. I hate those. For a one-inch hole which I prefer, I can only make it work with a drill press. The diamond tip hole bits grind better and does so just from the weight of my hand drill. Both will "walk" without a steady arm but that's what knees are for. Ish.

Rina, you might have just succeeded at the improbable: getting me to stop procrastinating the task of putting my plant tools in one place! I'll get right on it this weekend lol

Pagan

I mean all tools you own, not only plant ones.

I ordered the set you linked last night Pagan. I hope it will work with a power drill. I think I will need to use oil. Any special kind of oil on the item to drill? I plan to make holes in some of my pottery, I am a potter, and have lots of cups and small bowls that I can use for my c&s with holes put into them. From now on I will make my own pots and put the holes in them before I fire them. Thanks for the help.

Barb

Used both types of bits with water cooling only. Terracotta is easy, I soak them and they are, most of the times, wet enough to drill thru without having to spray further.

If it's glazed, you might find it easier to scratch an 'x' into your targeted surface and scribe it before you start drilling. Agree with the water - it's the only thing to use. If it were a metal pot I'd recommend oil, but with ceramic water is fine.

Thanks for all the tips. I will be drilling into fired clay, no glaze on the bottom of the pots. But they are not absorbant, since they are high fired. Containers are glazed inside and out, with no glaze on the bottoms, which are just high fired clay. I will tape the bottom and drill from there. Since it will be a new job for me, I will do the first one on a piece I can spare if it cracks.

Pagan, it is never too late to learn pottery. I have been at it for 22 yrs. I make pottery for use in the tropical fish hobby, but now I can use my many pieces for my growing c&s collection, with appropriate gritty mix now. If my hole drilling works, I will report back with some pics of my success. Thanks again

Barb

Even if it cracks it can be used! I have 'mended' cracked pot by drilling few holes and putting a wire thru it ...looked like a laced-up corset...and there are some other ways to do it :)

Rina, there is an idea I never thought of!!

Wouldn't throw away a nice, handmade bowl or pot, right? Make sure you post photos! Would like to see some of your creations...

Drill bit update: I ordered the 10 piece set, for only $5 more, and it arrived today. Just made the first hole and the bit worked perfectly, I am pleased. Water worked fine, no oil needed. Now I only have about 50 more holes to make, maybe more. Thanks again Pagan! I will show some of the pottery with new holes when I get them done. No need to ever use a hole-less pot,

Barb

Looking forward to see the containers!

Pagan

Had a glimpse of your workshop on another thread...like it!

Going back to Pagan's comment about not being able to find the pots she wants, has anyone ever seen any square terra cotta pots? Like 3"-4" square? The traditional round kind are easy to find but the only square ones I've seen online have stupid little characters on the outside which in my opinion detract from the beauty of the plant. Never seen them in the store.

Thanks, Tyler

Congratulations, Barb! Now, no pot, bowl, mug or cup is safe!

Tyler, I even tried those square pots with embossed bug designs. They're a waste of money. They crack after one to two years. As every succulent grower eventually finds out, our time scales are counted in years and even decades, not the weeks or months product developers seem to think.

I couldn't find square ceramic or terra cota pots either. I've had to resort to square soup bowls. They tend to be shallow but for my purposes, that's what I want anyway.

I'll post a photo later. Right now I'm thumbing this on my phone while sitting in my haw house, to see if it's likely to collapse in this blizzard. Seems stable. I can now say I've built a roof!