Which drill bit for tonga rock

lacrosseboss18 · Nov 4, 2017

Hi
Looking to make a tonga structure and was wondering which drill bit would be the best to drill for acrylic rods to connect different pieces together?

Size, length and type

Thanks

Diesel · Nov 5, 2017

Any kind of drill bit will work.
Size depends on the rod you using and how deep you drill depends on the size of rock.
Make sure you still use apoxy in the holes to make it a solid structure

SashimiTurtle · Nov 5, 2017

I'd use a masonry bit.

Diesel · Nov 5, 2017

Robin Haselden said:
I'd use a masonry bit.

Good advice but just don't use a hammer drill as you will end up with liverock rubble

Bradw18 · Nov 5, 2017

Glad I read that makes since.

Reefinny · Nov 5, 2017

You're also better off making a pilot hole with a smaller bit first

Flippers4pups · Nov 5, 2017

Using fiberglass driveway markers from the big box hardware stores work well and they are cheap.

lacrosseboss18 · Nov 5, 2017

Do I need diamond drillbit?

Thanks diesel yeah I'm gonna drill it then use the rods and glue and cement it.

Thanks mike. Yeah was was going to get a couple different ones and increase the size.

Flipper. Yeah I was debating on those but for some reason they scare me. I've seen tons of people using them. I just figure the acrylic rods are like an acrylic tank so should be fine.

Flippers4pups · Nov 5, 2017

lacrosseboss18 said:
Do I need diamond drillbit?

Thanks diesel yeah I'm gonna drill it then use the rods and glue and cement it.

Thanks mike. Yeah was was going to get a couple different ones and increase the size.

Flipper. Yeah I was debating on those but for some reason they scare me. I've seen tons of people using them. I just figure the acrylic rods are like an acrylic tank so should be fine.

I've used the fiberglass driveway makers for years. Stronger than acrylic rods, though acrylic will work. Completely inert.

In conjunction with drilling and using the rods, I've used quikrete hydraulic cement in my current build. You can get it at Lowe's or Home Depot. It's very similar to Marco cement. No effect on water chemistry.

Here's a link to a whole discussion on different cements from years ago
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=993625

lacrosseboss18 · Nov 5, 2017

Thanks!!!

Reefinny · Nov 5, 2017

It drills easier than you think. Just go slow use pilot holes with the drill bit do the work. Are you straight up titanium bits for mine I picked up a really cheap set at Harbor Freight so I wouldn't blow my good ones

Also have used both driveway spikes and acrylic rods I picked up my acrylic rods on Amazon last time relatively cheap and had no issues with them a lot easier to cut

FlyinBryan · Nov 5, 2017

I tried everything and nothing worked could for me. It could have been the weak drill though. I could just scratch the surface and then it just stopped. No matter how hard I pushed.

Steve P · Nov 5, 2017

Flippers4pups said:
I've used the fiberglass driveway makers for years. Stronger than acrylic rods, though acrylic will work. Completely inert.

You just gave me an idea! The wife has a drapery workroom and does custom shades that use a 3/8" fiberglass rod for the roller clutch. I have all these short, cut-offs laying around. Now I know what to use them on...

Flippers4pups · Nov 6, 2017

FlyinBryan said:
I tried everything and nothing worked could for me. It could have been the weak drill though. I could just scratch the surface and then it just stopped. No matter how hard I pushed.

Masonary drill bit, not a regular bit.