Drilling a clean hole through porcelain, granite, or dense tile is a job where the wrong bit fails immediately. Carbide skates across the glaze, overheats, and burns out. The MK-190 wet diamond core bit is built for exactly this work, and this is the 3/4-inch size, the one most often reached for when running a small penetration for an anchor, a supply line, or a fixture stem.
Tile setters, stone fabricators, plumbers, and remodel contractors are the ones who use these. What they want is a hole with a clean edge and no cracked tile, and they want it without spending five minutes per hole. Vacuum braze technology is what delivers that: the diamond particles are bonded directly to the drilling surface rather than held in a metal matrix that has to wear away before they cut.
Use Cases
- Drilling porcelain and ceramic tile for anchors, fixtures and supply penetrations
- Coring granite, marble and natural stone during fabrication and installation
- Making clean pass-throughs in masonry and stone on remodel and repair work
- Working on installed tile where a cracked piece means tearing out finished work
- Running from a standard corded or cordless hand drill without a dedicated coring rig
Specifications
The MK-190 drills porcelain, granite, marble, tile, stone and masonry. Vacuum braze technology creates the strongest bond between the diamond particles and the drilling surface of the bit, which cuts drilling time substantially compared with traditional metal-bond core bits. Because there is no bond that must wear away to expose fresh diamond, the particles work at peak performance from the first hole to the last. A reverse spiral thread delivers continuous water feed to the cutting surfaces, extending bit life and improving drilling speed, and a core ejector slot clears debris and plugs during repeated drilling. The bit is designed to run on any corded or battery-operated hand drill.
Technique matters as much as the bit. Run low to moderate RPM, keep water on the cutting face continuously, and use steady light pressure rather than force. Starting on a glazed surface is where most tiles crack, so begin the hole at an angle to break the glaze, then bring the bit upright once it has found its track, or use a guide. Wet-cut tools of this type routinely last several times longer than dry alternatives, and nearly all of that difference comes down to keeping the bit cool.
For continuous work, feed water from a swivel or a bottle rather than dipping the bit, and never let the cut go dry even briefly. If steam comes off the cut or the water returning from the hole is hot, stop and cool the bit. Clear the core plug through the ejector slot before it packs solid, and check that the tile is fully supported behind the drilling point so it cannot flex as the bit breaks through.
Frequently asked questions
What materials will the MK-190 core bit drill?
It drills porcelain, granite, marble, tile, stone and masonry.
Do I need a special drill to use this bit?
No. The MK-190 is designed to operate on any corded or battery-operated hand drill.
What is vacuum braze technology and why does it matter?
Vacuum brazing bonds the diamond particles directly to the drilling surface rather than holding them in a metal matrix. There is no bond to wear away, so the diamonds work at peak performance at all times and drilling time is reduced by up to half compared with traditional metal-bond core bits.
How do I keep from cracking the tile?
Use low to moderate speed, keep water on the cut, apply steady light pressure, start the hole at an angle to break the glaze before bringing the bit upright, and make sure the tile is supported behind the drilling point.
Does the bit have to be used wet?
Yes. Continuous water feed cools the diamond and flushes debris. The reverse spiral thread is designed to carry water to the cutting surfaces, and running dry will shorten bit life sharply.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized dealer for the brands we carry, with US-based product support from people who know this equipment. If you are unsure whether this part matches the machine you are servicing, contact us with the model and serial number and we will confirm the fitment before you order.
