Looking for a Glass Driller!

[macclellan]

By that, I mean someone with the tools and experience using them. I want to drill my 75g, just two holes for two 5/8" hoses. I need whatever size holes drilled for whatever size bulkheads I'd need for those hoses. So anybody who knows more than bulkheads than me, which is just about everyone, please chime in and help me get'er done!

This would be for the first week of October, so a bit in advance. I just thought I'd see if I could find someone before I went ahead and ordered the glass-hole cutters and what-not unnecessarily. Free frag and beer, wine, or whatever for your troubles!

 

[Runner]

Don (imsqueak) has the right tools, I think. I haven't seen him around in a while, though.

 

[mkenochm]

Keith and I have the tools but haven't had any luck in drilling glass successful. If you find someone to drill it but need the tools LMK.

 

[Cuda]

Remember you cant drill tempered glass

 

[macclellan]

Thanks guys & gal. I'll contact you for the drill-bit if I can't find someone else. I'd have to practice some before I drilled a real tank.

How big of a bulkhead and hole do I need for 5/8" hoses? I assume a 3/4" bulkhead would be best?

I want to drill the back, which is not tempered, so no worries there.

 

[Sikryd]

I got to drill a tank for fun at one of our frag fests.
It was so easy. I would have never thought it was so simple.
The main thing is to let the drill do the work, and apply very little to no pressure to the bit.

A. Angle it a tiny bit to "scratch" the glass to get the bit started.
B. Have water running over it the whole time to keep it cool, and remove the glass particles.
C. Go slow and let the bit do the work.
D. Keep it as perpendicular as you can to the glass.
E. If it hangs up or gets stuck, don't make a sudden movement, and let the bit/drill guide you out.

If you keep the drill Rpms in the medium range, and use fluid movement through the glass you should have a problem at all.

Practicing on a junk piece of glass that is supported is a good idea.
Good luck.

 

[TriMax]

for a 3/4 inch bulkhead, which I would purchase before to make sure, needs a 1.5 inch hole. If you use the normal bulkhead and not the schedule 80. The schedule 80 bulkhead needs a 1.625 inch hole (1 and 5/8)

 

[Hefton]

I agree with Sikrd, it is very easy to drill the holes yourself. I just drilled a couple last night in my corner bracing. I used the bit to core a hole through a 1/4" scrap piece of acrylic, and used it as a jig. The hole saw that I used does not have a pilot bit, so it tends to move all around the glass until you get it started. You can as Sikryd mentioned hold it on an angle to get it started. I didn't want to take any chances scratching the bracing , so I laid the jig on top of the glass until I cut into the glass enough to hold it steady. I also used plumbers putty to make a dam around the area I was cutting, and simply filled it with water. I drilled two holes through 1" thick glass with a cordless drill without any problems. Here is link with a video showing it done.

Drilling GH