Is BRS highly overpriced or is this a different product

[JCTReefer]

• V-Groove Base – Secures a wide variety of round and odd-shaped work-pieces up to 3 in. diameter

 

[Bulk Reef Supply Verified Sponsor]

I’m looking to drill my 150 gallon tank and am considering doing it myself. BRS recommend using a drill press attachment. They have one for sale on their site for $54.99.

Drill Press Attachment for Hand Drills

Why does BRS recommend this? If you have never drilled glass before it can be a bit daunting. To make it easier we highly recommend a drill press to keep your drill from jumping around and allowing you to have nice smooth control of the drill bit. These presses will work for many other...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I took a look on Amazon and found what I believe is the same product for about $30.





Could somebody confirm that these are the same product?
Much appreciated,
David

Hi @DavidJTawil,
Thanks for the question. From what I can tell by Amazon's description, these do appear to be the same item. A couple of things to note. When it comes to power tools and power tool accessories, we're simply not able to compete with retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc on price. We don't sell a whole lot of these, so we don't get the bulk pricing that the major retailers likely get. This is mainly offered as a convenience item to help reefers with their project. At the end of the day, our pricing is based on what we buy the product for + a little bit of profit.

 

[BZOFIQ]

(Remember when T5 bulbs were shown to last much longer than the prevailing wisdom?)

@Greybeard

Did I miss something?

 

[BZOFIQ]

I did use this to drill more than a dozen holes successfully. I also lent it out to friends when they needed it and it works great!

https://amzn.to/3lTdsVt

One word of advice. Remove the springs from the unit so that you don't have to fight against them as you apply mild downward pressure. I use a battery-operated drill, slow and steady wins the race!

Get it.

 

[dantimdad]

Unless it's a dedicated portable core drill press (VERY expensive), I have found that they just don't do any better than a template and holding the drill in your hand.

I have drilled hundreds of tanks and only broken two and shouldn't have attempted either to begin with.

 

[Bulk Reef Supply Verified Sponsor]

Did I miss something?

I believe he's referring to this BRStv Investigates video HERE.

 

[DavidJTawil]

Hi @DavidJTawil,
Thanks for the question. From what I can tell by Amazon's description, these do appear to be the same item. A couple of things to note. When it comes to power tools and power tool accessories, we're simply not able to compete with retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc on price. We don't sell a whole lot of these, so we don't get the bulk pricing that the major retailers likely get. This is mainly offered as a convenience item to help reefers with their project. At the end of the day, our pricing is based on what we buy the product for + a little bit of profit.

Thanks for confirming that their the same product. I understand that you guys simply don’t get the product mass of power tool equipment to offer the best price. I appreciate the convenience that BRS offers to their customers and to the reefing hobby in general.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I believe he's referring to this BRStv Investigates video HERE.

Exactly what I need. Thanks!

Was too lazy to start lookin'

 

[DavidJTawil]

I believe he's referring to this BRStv Investigates video HERE.

BRSTV is the best thing that happened to this hobby.

 

[JCTReefer]

Unless it's a dedicated portable core drill press (VERY expensive), I have found that they just don't do any better than a template and holding the drill in your hand.

I have drilled hundreds of tanks and only broken two and shouldn't have attempted either to begin with.

Well, since you’ve drilled hundreds, may I pick your brain a bit?
When I drill the new tank I’ll be using a template plus a guide. The guide is just to keep things level. My garage floor has a slope to it. I made some custom templates for the custom Modular Marine over flow. The templates had to be within 3mm to conceal the water line when pumps are off. Now my question is since you’ve drilled many tanks is. Would you drill from both sides? I know that is the right way to do it, but alignment is critical when doing it this way. I did make two templates. One for the outside and one for the inside as the templates are different heights due to the tank frame. The holes do line up though when placing both the outside and inside templates on the glass at the same time. Some glass manufacturers drill from both sides at the same time. But that’s with a dedicated machine to do that. Also would you recommend taping the backside and using a backer board of some sort? Clamped to the glass to help with chipping? Water or Oil based lubricant. Last tank I drilled with sunflower oil I believe. I had very little chipping. Just let the drill do the work with very little pressure. Water seems to be the most popular, but I wonder if one would give you a better cut. I see vegetable oil as an aquarium safe option also.

 

[Greybeard]

I believe he's referring to this BRStv Investigates video HERE.

Yup. Too lazy to go look for it

Thanx!

 

[BZOFIQ]

Well, since you’ve drilled hundreds, may I pick your brain a bit?
When I drill the new tank I’ll be using a template plus a guide. The guide is just to keep things level. My garage floor has a slope to it. I made some custom templates for the custom Modular Marine over flow. The templates had to be within 3mm to conceal the water line when pumps are off. Now my question is since you’ve drilled many tanks is. Would you drill from both sides? I know that is the right way to do it, but alignment is critical when doing it this way. I did make two templates. One for the outside and one for the inside as the templates are different heights due to the tank frame. The holes do line up though when placing both the outside and inside templates on the glass at the same time. Some glass manufacturers drill from both sides at the same time. But that’s with a dedicated machine to do that. Also would you recommend taping the backside and using a backer board of some sort? Clamped to the glass to help with chipping? Water or Oil based lubricant. Last tank I drilled with sunflower oil I believe. I had very little chipping. Just let the drill do the work with very little pressure. Water seems to be the most popular, but I wonder if one would give you a better cut. I see vegetable oil as an aquarium safe option also.

Drill from one side, duct tape on the underside or better yet, clamp a piece of ply on the underside so that you don't have any chipouts at the end. Apply less pressure on the bit when you start getting through. It's not hard.

You must have slow water flow in the area at all time or build a small dam to hold the water in. Usually, my wife holds the hose on bare trickle so the area is always wet and cooled.

 

[BZOFIQ]

duplicate.

 

[dantimdad]

Well, since you’ve drilled hundreds, may I pick your brain a bit?
When I drill the new tank I’ll be using a template plus a guide. The guide is just to keep things level. My garage floor has a slope to it. I made some custom templates for the custom Modular Marine over flow. The templates had to be within 3mm to conceal the water line when pumps are off. Now my question is since you’ve drilled many tanks is. Would you drill from both sides? I know that is the right way to do it, but alignment is critical when doing it this way. I did make two templates. One for the outside and one for the inside as the templates are different heights due to the tank frame. The holes do line up though when placing both the outside and inside templates on the glass at the same time. Some glass manufacturers drill from both sides at the same time. But that’s with a dedicated machine to do that. Also would you recommend taping the backside and using a backer board of some sort? Clamped to the glass to help with chipping? Water or Oil based lubricant. Last tank I drilled with sunflower oil I believe. I had very little chipping. Just let the drill do the work with very little pressure. Water seems to be the most popular, but I wonder if one would give you a better cut. I see vegetable oil as an aquarium safe option also.

Plain water is all you need and definitely don't drill from both sides. It's almost impossible to line up and has a greater risk of catching and breaking the glass.

 

[JCTReefer]

Plain water is all you need and definitely don't drill from both sides. It's almost impossible to line up and has a greater risk of catching and breaking the glass.

I don’t think I’m brave enough to drill from both sides anyways. Just for the reasons above. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I believe he's referring to this BRStv Investigates video HERE.

Off topic: Great video, confirmed what I've been doing all these years.

Thanks, will use this video to show friends whenever this argument come up.

 

[dantimdad]

I don’t think I’m brave enough to drill from both sides anyways. Just for the reasons above. Thanks for the feedback.

TBH, if I was drilling before building a tank, I would drill from both sides because it would be easier to line up and it is a less rough cutout.

 

[kwramsey2]

I’ve done it multiple times and never used a guide. Make a little square to fit your bit out of some ply, clamp it down and good to go. Lot cheaper that way anyway. Haha

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Hi @DavidJTawil,
Thanks for the question. From what I can tell by Amazon's description, these do appear to be the same item. A couple of things to note. When it comes to power tools and power tool accessories, we're simply not able to compete with retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc on price. We don't sell a whole lot of these, so we don't get the bulk pricing that the major retailers likely get. This is mainly offered as a convenience item to help reefers with their project. At the end of the day, our pricing is based on what we buy the product for + a little bit of profit.

When we use to run gas stations there were times large grocery stores would run sales and sell name brand soda (Coke and Pepsi products) for cheaper than what our WHOLESALE cost. Meaning it was cheaper for us as a store to buy the soda from a local grocery store than directly from Coke or Pepsi. Sometimes customers would complain about the price, and when we showed them our cost they realized our profit margin was very low on those products. Just some food for thought there (pun intended)...Happy reefing.

 

[DavidJTawil]

Anybody recommend a particular diamond drill bit? Also, I plan on drilling the tank indoors and can’t have water going all over the place. Any recommendations?