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How to Drill a Hole in Agate

Agates are unique in the world of gemstones. Since they are created through the layering of microcrystals that evolve over time, creating different bands of color and patterns, each agate has a unique design. Turning agates into jewelry or using them in other projects ensures a one-of-a-kind design, making them a popular choice for crafts. While the hardness of agates can make drilling holes into them difficult, patience and the proper equipment can increase the likelihood for success. You can use either a drill press or a hand-drill so long as the drill bit itself is a diamond drill bit. Just remember that diamond drill bits require a smoother touch than regular bits and also need to be kept wet while drilling.

Things You'll Need

Piece of moldable clay, large enough to hold the agate
Bowl, just large enough to contain the agate and enough water to cover it
Water
Drill press or drill
Diamond drill bit for the size hole desired

Instructions

- 1
  Press the clay into the bowl just hard enough that it sticks. Position the agate against the clay so that the drill will go into the clay once the hole is complete. Fill the bowl with enough water to cover the agate. This will provide the water the diamond drill bit needs drill at the point of contact.
- 2
  Position the bowl in the drill press clamp. If using a drill rather than a drill press, position the bowl so that you have clear access to the agate. The entire process can take several minutes so positioning the bowl and drill in a place where neither will move is critical.
- 3
  Carefully, lower the drill and use a light pressure to begin the hole. Continue using a soft up and down approach to drilling the hole. When the bit is almost entirely through the agate, either use extreme caution to not split the agate by using too much pressure at this point or reposition the agate to complete the hole from the underside.

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