Drilling alabaster

[abknight@zzzzzz]

Hi Hap,

I just drilled about 15 7/8" wholes in an array of candle
holders my wife and I made for presents.  I used a diamond
core bit on a drill press at very slow speed as Don
recommends, with water, though not center fed.  The hole
core drill set-up is expensive and if a regular drill bit
works that sounds good.  The one thing I can tell you is
keep touching your bit to see if it is getting hot, for if
it is heat the will crack your piece.  If you use water
stop at the first sign of steam.  I didn't want that bit
to be even warm to the touch after I cracked a
candleholder, and cooked several others.  When "cooked"
the alabaster we were using clouded up and whitened, and,
of course, expanded momentarily.

Bill