Drilling Trigger Sump

Fishyfish22 · Dec 23, 2020

I have a Trigger CR44, but I'm looking to plumb an external return pump into it

has anyone had any luck or success drilling a hole for the return pump to go?
if not, are there any ways that people are running external return pumps that don't involve drilling a hole, where priming the pump isn't an issue?

virtual reality · Dec 23, 2020

Go ahead and do it. Just take your time and drill. Drill one small pilot hole, then go with the hole size you need. It's easy.

theMeat · Dec 23, 2020

Easy
Go slow and spraying with water keeps the acrylic cool. If you go too fast the acrylic gets hot and will grab/bind the bit. When done take a piece of sandpaper and sand off the burrs

a4edwin · Dec 23, 2020

What’s the reason for wanting to run an external pump? I saw somebody was selling a drilled trigger sump on another forum.https://youtu.be/gMoDnFEcNuM should be the same no?

Pistondog · Dec 23, 2020

I've drilled using a wood hole saw, some recommend diamond bits.
With wood hole saw, ease the saw into the acrylic after the pilot breaks thru, or the saw will grab.

fishguy242 · Dec 23, 2020

hi,if you have acrylic available,drill a practicehole first,2nd do not stop once started will melt to hole saw

theMeat · Dec 23, 2020

Pistondog said:
I've drilled using a wood hole saw, some recommend diamond bits.
With wood hole saw, ease the saw into the acrylic after the pilot breaks thru, or the saw will grab.

Yup, fine tooth wood blade is the way to go. Diamond as you would use fir glass or tile no workie.

garbled · Dec 23, 2020

I drilled my trigger ruby with just a regular ol hole saw for wood. Came out just fine. When I got close to the end of the drill, I slowed down and was super careful not to break through with force.

theMeat · Dec 23, 2020

garbled said:
I drilled my trigger ruby with just a regular ol hole saw for wood. Came out just fine. When I got close to the end of the drill, I slowed down and was super careful not to break through with force.

Good idea to drill through most of the way from one side, then switch to the other side

garbled · Dec 24, 2020

If you have a clamp that will allow it (Ie, you own a robust clamp collection) you could clamp a piece of wood on the back of the hole, and when you break through, you break through into wood and won't damage the acrylic. However, you will need a pretty exotic clamp to get around the rim. I have one, but I'm weird.

Fishyfish22 · Dec 24, 2020

garbled said:
If you have a clamp that will allow it (Ie, you own a robust clamp collection) you could clamp a piece of wood on the back of the hole, and when you break through, you break through into wood and won't damage the acrylic. However, you will need a pretty exotic clamp to get around the rim. I have one, but I'm weird.

Do you have a pic of what the clamp looks like?

fishguy242 · Dec 24, 2020

hi,just go ahead and drill it ,steady pressure ,be done in a minute,worst case scenario ,a crack,can be welded also in minutes

full now

garbled · Dec 24, 2020

Basically like this. You can get them from Harbor Freight.

You are looking for a deep throat clamp. I have one that's like 11". You need this to get around the rim. You don't need alot of force, just enough that the wood is held in place. You should also use some rubber or wood pads or something on the non-wood side so you don't mar the acrylic or cause a crack when tightening.