Drilling Glass

[MtuPup]

Does anyone have any pointers on drilling glass? I want to run piping in for misting, fogging, and water circulation/drainage. I just picked up some cheapy tanks at a garage sale to practice on but I'll be starting on a 55g long once I figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Svaha Storm]

I drilled a 29 gallon for a saltwater refugium ,watched this video and had no problems,only thing I can add to this is instead of just placing cardboard under your drilling area ,I duct taped across the drilling area inside the tank so I didnt have to worry about the glass plug you drill out falling and breaking the glass on the opposite side

Drilling GH

[beckdg]

nice vid... i would use a template/jig though being a carpenter. i must say the putty trick is a good one.

same site: this vid shows a template that comes with their package... it is easy to make one though... same drill bit, same size, just for wood (it should have a guide bit in the center to keep you centered)... that way you don't scratch or crack your glass if you're not tool savvy or don't have a steady hand.

have fun!

EDIT: note; welding helmet and gloves not required.

[Svaha Storm]

Yeah ,unfortunately the diamond coated bit doesn't have a center guide bit,but it really isn't that hard to do and after ya get it started it is just a matter of letting the drills weight apply the pressure needed.

[beckdg]

sorry, i didn't make that clear... i was suggesting a second bit (like the ones used for drilling doorknob holes) for wood to make a template or a jig. it would greatly reduce the chances of scratching or cracking imo.

[Goanna]

I drilled my Exo Terra and my New 29 gallon recently. I watched this video on youtube,

YouTube - Drilling an Aquarium
(Ignoring the odd sound effects and stuff while it played)

Ordered the bit from Glass-holes.com, got it 2 days later. I practiced on a 10 gallon and had no issues. I jumped right to my 29 and then to my Exo-Terra and both came out fine.

I did use a double thick layer of Duct Tape on the inside glass to hold the glass in place during punch through. If you don't have something holding against the glass when the drill is about to punch through, the weight of the drill alone will probably push it through and make chips. With the tape, the bit can finish cutting before the weight of the drill forces the glass to chip. Also as someone else mentioned it prevents the glass chip from falling to the other side of the tank and cracking it.

[MtuPup]

I finally balls'd up and bought the hole saws (oddly enough from glass-holes.com) and I guess they showed up Monday...so when I get back home from this work visit I'll be drilling out a few small tanks for practice then the 55 and 75 gals I've got waiting to be Vived out.

[Goanna]

Originally Posted by MtuPup

I finally balls'd up and bought the hole saws (oddly enough from glass-holes.com) and I guess they showed up Monday...so when I get back home from this work visit I'll be drilling out a few small tanks for practice then the 55 and 75 gals I've got waiting to be Vived out.

Just remember don't push down, let the weight of the drill do the work. Also keep the drill speeds low, and if the drill has a high and low gear set it to low so you don't have to worry about the bit spinning too fast.

Also, if you are not using a drill press, start off at an angle and with the bit spinning relatively fast, just to create a notch in the glass, and then slowly tilt the drill upright, keeping it in the notch as you do so. Remember to cut back on the speed after you make the initial notch as well.

It really surprised me how easy it was. I bought the bit with intentions of drilling just the new tank I am working on, but I wound up drilling my older Paludarium (exo-terra) to install a canister filter and now I am itching to drill my 65 gallon brackish tank .