Question on drill for drilling glass

SteveO83 · May 22, 2015

Have the overflow kit ready to go for the 40b. Bought a new drill last weekend. A milwaukee m18 hammer drill. Manual says it is regular or hammer. Does anyone know if it is safe on the drill setting?

Usctom · May 22, 2015

Sounds like way to powerful of a drill.
I use a battery powered drill with lowest speed with clutch at 1.
The clutch is the key. If it gets caught or bound it won't Crack the glass. It will just stop.

SteveO83 · May 22, 2015

It has the different clutch settings too

SteveO83 · May 22, 2015

Afraid if I use my almost burnt out black and decker corded it wont make it through 1 hole let alone 2......

Usctom · May 22, 2015

I don't think you have to worry about burning out the Milwaukee. They make quality tools. Take your time. Let the drill cool down.

SteveO83 · May 22, 2015

O no. Worried about my busted up drill getting through 2 holes.

reefwiser · May 22, 2015

When drilling a hole in glass first set the drill on the drill setting and turn down the clutch on the drill to 1. Let the drill bit do the work. No pressure is needed. When you are nearly thru drilling the glass hole. The clutch will stall sometimes so take is slow and add water to finish the hole.

SteveO83 · May 22, 2015

Thanks. Hopefully Ill find time to drill it this weekend.

reefwiser · May 23, 2015

just don't put any pressure on the drill. Let the bit do the work.

143MPCo · May 23, 2015

Just an FYI, hammer drills typically have a "cam-action" or "percussion hammering mechanism" once the drill senses a predetermined amount of resistance it engages, this is NOT what you want when drilling glass, as noted above you want the smooth actions of a standard drill, low speed and lots of water to flush away glass shavings.

SteveO83 · May 23, 2015

It has settings. From the manual i believe the hammer action will be disengaged

SteveO83 · May 23, 2015

This is from the manual

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1432424189.748554.jpg

Deep_Six Corals · May 23, 2015

That drill will be fine. Corded drills are not recommended for drilling tanks because water and electrical sockets don't mix. Like everyone said before, take it slow, do not apply pressure, let the bit do the work,run water across the bit and hole for cooling. A tip I can give is start at a very very low speed and take your time to make a small indent like that,then speed it up. It will keep the bit from swirling around on the glass. Don't sweat it. Slow and steady and nothing will happen.

Daniel@R2R · May 25, 2015

Here's a link that might be helpful for this topic: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-install-an-overflow-box-and-drill-an-aquarium.90714/

Feltman · May 26, 2015

Although I'm by no means an expert another thing I've read is to make sure u have a bucket or towel on the other side as the glass slug can fall when ur through and Crack the tank on the other side, just something u don't think of and would really suck to just finish it successfully just to end up ruining ur tank

thejuggernaut · May 27, 2015

reefwiser said:
When drilling a hole in glass first set the drill on the drill setting and turn down the clutch on the drill to 1. Let the drill bit do the work. No pressure is needed. When you are nearly thru drilling the glass hole. The clutch will stall sometimes so take is slow and add water to finish the hole.

Just FYI, if you haven't drilled it yet you don't want to put it in drill mode. Use the screw mode only. My Dewalt drill (I have a hammer drill also) requires you to put it in the the screw mode to operate the clutch. If it is in drill mode, it disengages the clutch and will turn till the motor runs out of torque or your wrist gives out. If it binds up while in drill mode it could rip it out of your hands or crack the glass. Best to put it in the screw mode then turn the clutch down to a low value.

UPDATE: I just read the page you linked in the manual and it states the same thing for your model. Got to use screw mode to get the clutch to work. Other wise it says it puts out allot of torque.

thejuggernaut · May 27, 2015

Also, drill from the side you are going to have your flange and gasket on. The side you start on always has the nicest edges. It's impossible sometimes if an overflow is already installed, but is a "best practice" if you can manage it.

Omegareefer0 · May 31, 2015

thejuggernaut said:
Also, drill from the side you are going to have your flange and gasket on. The side you start on always has the nicest edges. It's impossible sometimes if an overflow is already installed, but is a "best practice" if you can manage it.

Never thought about this before, but it makes perfect sense. Wish I had thought of it before I did mine.

reefwiser · May 31, 2015

It can be hard to drill on the inside of a tank. unless it is on the bottom. Taking your time and using ample water should make a clean cut.
Trying to drill and overflow from the inside might cause you to tilt the drill in some cases making not a straight cut.

thejuggernaut · May 31, 2015

reefwiser said:
It can be hard to drill on the inside of a tank. unless it is on the bottom. Taking your time and using ample water should make a clean cut.
Trying to drill and overflow from the inside might cause you to tilt the drill in some cases making not a straight cut.

Yea,
I've never done it, but they say clamping a 1X4 to the back side of the glass will help to make a clean pass through cut.