If you are considering your method of drilling holes one bit of kit pops up which is the holesaw clamp.

The clamp uses a suction device which removes air causing the clamp to stick to the tile.

For a long while now we have known about the issue of clamps either dropping off the tile causing damage to floor tiles, or whatever is below - or not even clamping at all.

In this 2m 40s video we demonstrate that a suction based clamp that works on most tiles can leave you unstuck if you try to use it on other tiles.



The 365Drills PORSADRILL "Anti-Slip" Guide Plate works on ALL tiles

Of couse as the manufacturer of these devices you might be suspicious of our intentions here but what we are doing is pointing out to tilers that there is a real issue whereby clamps CAN drop off a tile OR it will not even grip the tile.

The short video clearly shows the difference between a suction based clamp and a pressure based anti-slip guide plate when gripping tiles so that a user can drill a hole into a porcelain tile. On the clamp there are some tiles that it will not grip. This is because of the tile pattern. The tile has small pits in the design which lets air into the suction cup therefore preventing a seal. In contrast the PORSADRILL anti-slip guide plate does not need a fully air tight seal to be able to grip the tile. The 365Drills guide plate will grip ANY tile unlike guides that rely on suction. ...



The 365Drills PORSADRILL anti-slip guide plate

GRIPS ALL TILES

I rarely use the suction part of mine to stick it on. I just use it to hold the drill bit in the right place. IT doesnt slide acros the tiles and the rubber cup means it doesnt vibrate or slip. In short they do work they just dont stick

I guess if you have a clamp (already own one) and are aware of its limitations and can get round them that is useful.

Something we wanted to highlight to anyone considering a purchase is there are some limitations to using them. As mentioned above you
cant rely on them 100% to grip all tiles. And we would suggest tilers be ill advised to remove hands from the clamp.

Other areas which can be problematic is the unit is fairly heavy and clunky. For example if you wanted to reach high to put holes in for a window blind


Its a bit clunky and cumbersome to hold at top window height.



They can weigh quite a bit (this one is 771grams) so not exactly light


Can be a bit unflexible and restrictive in corners or hard to reach places.


In contrast the 365Drills PORSADRILL anti-slip guide plate is very flexible and versatile
Can be used in all sorts of awkward hard to reach places.


And weighs a skinny 31grams making it cheaper to produce, cheaper to buy and easier to use.

Also having preset holes elimates the need to adjust the jaws every time you want to change hole sizes.


Having preset holes elimiates constant size adjustments during the day.

I'm not saying at 771grams the clamp is so heavy your petrol costs lugging it about will soar! - That would be silly....
But at 771g (some weigh more) its a weighty bit of kit to lump about and use and it does have its limitations.

Nice lippage Rich..?



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Heres a closeup !



The tiler of this room made quite a few schoolboy errors (wasnt me that tiled it!) which if you look hard enough at pop out!

In fact here's another chance for me to get that Christmas Present out.... Video Bloggie Camera !

Is that your room Rich..?..

Is that your room Rich..?..

Yes its the downstairs bathroom / shower room. It also contains the washing machine.



I always work from home on Friday so its sort of my "office loo"