Tank drilling

[NathanH]

Bought a used tank today that has two large holes for a large Eclipse overflow but there is nothing drilled for a return. There is also a sticker on the bottom of the tank that warns it's tempered glass and not to drill. As there are already two holes in the back am I correct in assuming the back is not tempered but the other panels are?

 

[Peace River]

I have drilled many tanks and I have found that it is good to not assume anything (even if the specific panel is marked). I always use the polarize sunglasses method to confirm. Good luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

You can use hang on overflow box or drill wet (many good videos on you tube)

 

[NathanH]

You can use hang on overflow box or drill wet (many good videos on you tube)

Thanks I have the eclipse over flow, was asking about drilling a third hole for return and how to tell if the back is tempered. Will try the polarized sunglass method mentioned above tomorrow.

 

[NathanH]

I have drilled many tanks and I have found that it is good to not assume anything (even if the specific panel is marked). I always use the polarize sunglasses method to confirm. Good luck!

Cool will try this tomorrow.

 

[Peace River]

Friendly heads up in case you have never drilled a tank before, add water and go slow, and then slow down even more at the end.. It is more like grinding through the glass rather than using a hole saw in wood. Did I mentioned go slooooooow?

 

[Jedi1199]

Friendly heads up in case you have never drilled a tank before, add water and go slow, and then slow down even more at the end.. It is more like grinding through the glass rather than using a hole saw in wood. Did I mentioned go slooooooow?

Also, put masking tape on the inside of the glass to help prevent chipping. As Peace River said, you are not really drilling, you are grinding. Put a towel inside the tank under where you are drilling to catch the fine glass dust particles that will fall through the hole.

GO SSSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

[NathanH]

Friendly heads up in case you have never drilled a tank before, add water and go slow, and then slow down even more at the end.. It is more like grinding through the glass rather than using a hole saw in wood. Did I mentioned go slooooooow?

Cool I did the blue laptop screen with polarized sunglasses. The back is painted black already so I couldn't really check but from doing the sunglasses test it only seems like the bottom is tempered. The three unpainted sides didn't have the same streaks as the bottom did. Now the next question is one return line or two?

 

[RocketEngineer]

When I did my 125g I just went over the rim with my return.

 

[Gatorpa]

Friendly heads up in case you have never drilled a tank before, add water and go slow, and then slow down even more at the end.. It is more like grinding through the glass rather than using a hole saw in wood. Did I mentioned go slooooooow?

I’ve used canola rather than water, better lube..

But still go slow, hardest part is getting it to bite off the bat. Found if you start at just a bit of an angle to the glass it can get a grove going.