# How to make a hole in a clay pot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2018, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552 "2018-05-04T04:39:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/1 "2018-05-04T04:39:41Z")
I’d like to add a _small_ hole to the side of a cheapie clay pot, but not shatter the whole thing. If I tap a nail into it, would that work? (Doesn’t have to be cleanly edged, as long as the pot doesn’t smash into shards…) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/2 "2018-05-04T04:47:00Z")
A small drill bit? That way material is excavated as opposed to a nail which forces the material out of its way, stressing the whole thing. But if it’s a cheapie, go ahead and try a nail and just buy another if it shatters. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/3 "2018-05-04T04:59:23Z")
Yes. Drill bit. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/4 "2018-05-04T05:12:24Z")
Finger doom of poke. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/5 "2018-05-04T05:41:15Z")
Soak the pot in water for several hours. It will soften the clay. Use a slow speed on the drill. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/6 "2018-05-04T11:04:14Z")
If you don’t have a drill, you could buy one of [those plastic cases of small screwdrivers](http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/tool_tips/screwdriver_set_small.jpg) (often found in $1.00 stores) and slowly “drill” it by hand with one of those. (A flat head would work best.) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/8 "2018-05-04T11:32:03Z")
Reported ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/9 "2018-05-04T12:16:42Z")
Is it a glazed pot, or an unglazed terracotta flower pot? The former you need a diamond drill bit, patience, and luck. The latter you may have success by using the soak and slow drill. A nail is sure to shatter the pot. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/10 "2018-05-04T13:12:37Z")
Soak it in water a few hours, use a masonry bit, and tape over the spot you’re going to drill. Start with the the 1/8" bit and go up incrementally until the hole is as big as you want it. Drill slowly, don’t push; let the drill do the work. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/11 "2018-05-04T13:49:01Z")
Diamond impregnated bits in small sizes are not too expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/12 "2018-05-05T08:06:19Z")
A masonry drill bit. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/13 "2018-05-06T14:23:19Z")
If a cheapie small clay pot size is needed it’s far easier just to buy one with a drainage hole in the bottom than to mess with a drill. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/14 "2018-05-06T16:31:43Z")
OP was asking about putting a hole in the side of a pot, not the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/15 "2018-05-06T20:47:03Z")
some sticky tape over the area to stop the bit slipping then use a small drill bit for metal on a very slow speed and carefully gouge a small hole through, then step up the bit to a masonry bit but still keep the speed low (no hammer action!). That’s what I always do for glazed tiles and I never get cracking. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-hole-in-a-clay-pot/813552/16 "2018-05-06T22:13:21Z")
If it’s a cheapie pot, just buy a new one with a hole where you want it. Less stress in the long run.