Drilling a teacup

[goodolpete]

My wife has a pretty, 3” diameter teacup with matching saucer that
she wants a drainage hole in. The bottom is hard, glassy and concave
when turned over. Any tips on it not ending up in pieces please?
Pete

[nickdub]

Use a really good tile drill bit - test it on a piece of ceramic which doesn't matter first

gets some damp sand, make a mound and push the cup down on that to support it at a comfortable working height

put a piece of masking tape over the place where you are drilling to help ensure the bit doesn't slip

put steady downwards pressure when drilling, don't try to force it - use water or whatever to keep the tip of the bit cool

[Snoop Puss]

If she wants to use it as a plant pot/holder, just put another suitably-sized pot with drainage hole inside. That can then be removed and any liquid that has collected in the cup can be poured out.

Nick's advice is good, but potentially still risky.

[burnie]

Tungsten tipped drill required along with a variable speed drill to slow the revs down, it's the glaze that is hard, the ceramic unless it is bone china, should be quite soft inside.

[goodolpete]

Thanks for all your very helpful replies.
I told my wife that I was going to b and q to buy a £5 drill, she said
Don’t bother, the teacup only cost a pound at a car boot sale, no use
spending more on it.
Thanks again,
Pete

[nickdub]

Thanks for all your very helpful replies.
I told my wife that I was going to b and q to buy a £5 drill, she said
Don’t bother, the teacup only cost a pound at a car boot sale, no use
spending more on it.
Thanks again,
Pete

You're very welcome - best advise your wife to only buy cups with holes already in them :-)

[Jungle Jane]

What about turning into a seed feeder by glueing it to the saucer & I don’t know how to add a bit of rope to hang it unless you weave it around the teacup?