Enlarging faucet hole in quartz countertops

[Macdaddy4738]

Is this something I can relatively easily DIY? Need something around 0.105" (2.6mm) roughly. I'd have thought that these faucets are pretty much standard size (and my replacement is), yet here we are.

I see no reason to return the faucet I bought and try another, because it requires a standard 1 3/8 hole which is what any faucet I replace it with is going require anyway. I contacted a countertop company that's local and they want $250. I get the impression that's the "too small to bother" price.

I'm thinking a Dremel with diamond grinding bits should work? Also purchased some diamond hand files as well. I figure if I keep the area wet, throw some painters tape down, I should be able to make it work, but this is something I've never messed with before.

 

[No fries]

When they did my counter tops, they had a variable speed grinder with a diamond hole saw. Went really quick. Did it in the house with a vacuum.

 

[No fries]

Granite not Quartz but I would expect similar results. YouTube it.

 

[justjeepin86]

I imagine it would take a while with a dremmel. I would think a diamond hole saw would be the deal. You'd need to clamp a 2x4 with the same size hole as a guide.

 

[No fries]

Installer just free handed it with no guide. But he was skilled.

 

[mbalbritton]

How thick is the counter top? 1.375 = 35mm and if you go from the top and the bottom of the counter, you can do 24mm - just shy of an inch.

BowLift | Diamond Step Chamfer Drill Bit

● Vacuum Brazed Processing, high diamond concentration provides for a faster cut rate while the high quality of the diamonds provides longer working life● The step and chamfer design can expand holes, grind and chamfer stones, and is an essential tool for installers. ● Very useful to reduce the...

bowlift.com

 

[ghost]

I would think you could use an oops arbor with a quality diamond hole saw. Knowing the cost of our counter tops I'd hire it out with a counter top person making sure they know if they break it they replacing it.

 

[Loganwayne]

the stone type color also play a factor into how easy its going to cut. but a diamond hole saw is the way to do it.

Just be careful, i had a top just start turning to dust when they cut it. some material is better than others.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Whatever you do, plan to have a really good facemask and eye protection. Silica dust is no joke.

 

[RatLabGuy]

I would think you could use an oops arbor with a quality diamond hole saw. Knowing the cost of our counter tops I'd hire it out with a counter top person making sure they know if they break it they replacing it.

this - is why the guy charges $250 to show up.

 

[ghost]

this - is why the guy charges $250 to show up.

It would cost 10x’s that to replace ours. To me it’s a no brainer.

 

[Ron]

It would cost 10x’s that to replace ours. To me it’s a no brainer.

This.

To me the math goes like this - if you don’t have everything you need you are probably going to spend at least $50 on tools and stuff - plus the time to acquire said stuff and the time to do the work. Let’s say that’s 3 hours total, even at $20/hr you are in for ~$100.

Now let’s set up a math problem.
If I offered OP a game …give me $100 and roll a 10 sided die. If 1-9 comes up I give you $250x of 10 comes up you give me $2,500. Are you playing the game?

 

[mbalbritton]

Screw all that noise. I'd buy the tool and do it myself.

Are all of you telling me you pay people to do everything for you? Don't learn a new skill for yourself? Have no faith in your own abilities? as for my time to do the job and the cost associated, I'm still going to have to spend time sourcing someone else to do it, take time off work for them to show up, stay there with them and stand there like a helpless little girl watching someone else do what I can. Fuck that. I'd roll the damn dice, and that dice is no comparison in my book. I'm in control of the tool, not leaving it to fate.

I never tore down and put back together an engine and Automatic transmission before, but I'm doing it anyway. and I've learned LOADS along the way. It might blow the fuck up first time I crank it, but I am willing to take that risk.

Put your big girl panties on boys.

 

[ghost]

Screw all that noise. I'd buy the tool and do it myself.

Are all of you telling me you pay people to do everything for you? Don't learn a new skill for yourself? Have no faith in your own abilities? as for my time to do the job and the cost associated, I'm still going to have to spend time sourcing someone else to do it, take time off work for them to show up, stay there with them and stand there like a helpless little girl watching someone else do what I can. Fuck that. I'd roll the damn dice, and that dice is no comparison in my book. I'm in control of the tool, not leaving it to fate.

I never tore down and put back together an engine and Automatic transmission before, but I'm doing it anyway. and I've learned LOADS along the way. It might blow the fuck up first time I crank it, but I am willing to take that risk.

Put your big girl panties on boys.

I hear what you are saying but I know my limits. I also know people that I'd rather pay then risk replacing a $3K counter top.

 

[Ron]

Screw all that noise. I'd buy the tool and do it myself.

Are all of you telling me you pay people to do everything for you? Don't learn a new skill for yourself? Have no faith in your own abilities? as for my time to do the job and the cost associated, I'm still going to have to spend time sourcing someone else to do it, take time off work for them to show up, stay there with them and stand there like a helpless little girl watching someone else do what I can. Fuck that. I'd roll the damn dice, and that dice is no comparison in my book. I'm in control of the tool, not leaving it to fate.

I never tore down and put back together an engine and Automatic transmission before, but I'm doing it anyway. and I've learned LOADS along the way. It might blow the fuck up first time I crank it, but I am willing to take that risk.

Put your big girl panties on boys.

I hear ya - and if you love counter top work - then I guess I get it. I dont and obviously its not a tool I need or Id already have it. So Id much rather pay the man and spend my time doing what I enjoy or doing what makes me money.

 

[CLRracer]

Screw all that noise. I'd buy the tool and do it myself.

Are all of you telling me you pay people to do everything for you? Don't learn a new skill for yourself? Have no faith in your own abilities? as for my time to do the job and the cost associated, I'm still going to have to spend time sourcing someone else to do it, take time off work for them to show up, stay there with them and stand there like a helpless little girl watching someone else do what I can. Fuck that. I'd roll the damn dice, and that dice is no comparison in my book. I'm in control of the tool, not leaving it to fate.

I never tore down and put back together an engine and Automatic transmission before, but I'm doing it anyway. and I've learned LOADS along the way. It might blow the fuck up first time I crank it, but I am willing to take that risk.

Put your big girl panties on boys.

When I rebuilt my transmission and left out a snap ring and had to tear it back down, my wife didn't say a word. When I fixed a hole in the wall and it looked like my first time doing drywall, I heard about it until we moved. Sometime the peace is worth the price

Duane

 

[jeepinmatt]

Screw all that noise. I'd buy the tool and do it myself.

Are all of you telling me you pay people to do everything for you? Don't learn a new skill for yourself? Have no faith in your own abilities? as for my time to do the job and the cost associated, I'm still going to have to spend time sourcing someone else to do it, take time off work for them to show up, stay there with them and stand there like a helpless little girl watching someone else do what I can. Fuck that. I'd roll the damn dice, and that dice is no comparison in my book. I'm in control of the tool, not leaving it to fate.

I never tore down and put back together an engine and Automatic transmission before, but I'm doing it anyway. and I've learned LOADS along the way. It might blow the fuck up first time I crank it, but I am willing to take that risk.

Put your big girl panties on boys.

Thank you sir. I thought I had navigated to PuC4x4 for a minute.

 

[mbalbritton]

When I rebuilt my transmission and left out a snap ring and had to tear it back down, my wife didn't say a word. When I fixed a hole in the wall and it looked like my first time doing drywall, I heard about it until we moved. Sometime the peace is worth the price

Duane

I didn’t have any leftover snap rings…just a bolt and some part I couldn’t recognize.

 

[kaiser715]

I'd look at it the same way I do service plans on electronics and stuff -- as long as you don't have a major screw up more than 1 out of 10 times, you are money ahead by doing the counter top, transmission, drywall patch yourself.

You have to do enough projects to absorb the risk.

 

[RatLabGuy]

I'd look at it the same way I do service plans on electronics and stuff -- as long as you don't have a major screw up more than 1 out of 10 times, you are money ahead by doing the counter top, transmission, drywall patch yourself.

You have to do enough projects to absorb the risk.

Right, so which 1 is this?
The one that goes well or the one that doesn't?

 

[kaiser715]

Right, so which 1 is this?
The one that goes well or the one that doesn't?

This one doesn't matter. Or the last one. Did more than 1 of the last 10 fail? Or more than 10 of the last 100? Or...