From: howardr@col.hp.com (Howard Rebel)
Date: 16 Feb 1994 01:22:26 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Drilling glass [Re: tank rack].
This article details how I cut holes in glass without
the use of commerical drill bits. It requires a
drill press and copper water pipe which can be purchased
at most hardware stores. If you are not the DIY type
skip this.
A Few Notes
-----------
You can not drill a hole in tempered glass.
You can drill a hole in untempered glass.
You can drill a hole in untempered glass and then
have it tempered.
It is more difficult to drill holes in aquariums after
construction.
I have cut holes in 3 20 gallon and 3 40 gallon tanks without
problems.
How to drill a prebuilt untempered tank
---------------------------------------
It is good pratice to glue a small square of glass
on the bottom side of the pane you are drilling.
This will produce a cleaner hole and can serve to
reinforce the glass if left in place.
This is esp important when drilling 10 gallon
tanks and it makes sense to leave the square of
glass in place to beef up the thin glass used on
small tanks.
Support the back side of the glass at the drill
location. I use a foam rubber block to push a
square of plywood under the drilling site.
Place the tank on a nonflexabile surface clamped
to the drill press.
Keep the tank from moving by placing strips of
wood on all four sides of the tank.
Drilling Holes for DIY Tank and Filter Builders
-----------------------------------------------
For those of you who want to drill holes in glass
and build your own aquarium the following may be of
interest.
Drill all holes prior to assembling aquarium. This way
if you screw up you can get another piece of glass and
start over.
Buy all glass cut to size at glass shop.
Used glass is cheaper if you can find it.
Use sandpaper to dull edges. Wear leather gloves and
work slow using a lot of care. Note that newly cut
glass is the sharpest.
Get a extra piece(s) of glass to practice on.
To drill holes:
Clamp a piece of plywood to the drill table to
support the glass. Screw strips of wood around
the glass to keep it from moving.
Place a second piece of glass under the one you are
cutting. This will result in a cleaner hole.
Form the well to hold the cutting grit and coolant.
Glue a 3/4" length of 3" PVC pipe to the glass where
you want to drill the hole. Use silicon sealant.
Make the bit. Use copper pipe fittings with one or
more notches cut into the rim (cutting edge of the
bit). Adaptors can be used to get from the bit size
to the size of your chuck.
You can also use brass tube to make bits, the notch(es)
are still required.
Now you need to create something to pull down on the drill
press feed wheel.
At first I just taped a string with a jug of water to a
arm and adjusted the table to put the arm in a horizontal
position. As the bit got shorter and the hole in the glass
got deeper the arm would move out of horizontal and the
pressure on the bit would change. This method works
but you may need to reposition the table or adjust the
quality of water in the jug.
To over come this I cut a circle from a sheet of particle
board and cut three slots in the face of the circle to pass
the arms of the drill press feed through. I then cut a slot
in the edge of the circle. This slot carries the chain
which holds the jug.
For cutting grit I use coarse rock tumbling grit. Fill the
well about half full with grit. Add lubricant to bring the
well to 3/4 full. I use water for lubricant but I have
heard that oil or antifreeze (kills cats that drink even
a little) may work better.
Fill the jug with water till the drill press will stay where
you put it (bit up/down) with the motor off.
Turn on the motor and pull down on the drill feed. Listen
to the sound the bit makes as you vary the pressure on the
feed. You will hear the grit cutting the glass when the
pressure is correct.
With the drill running add water to the jug to get the cutting
sound without you pulling down on the feed lever.
Now let the drill do its work. It will take anywhere between
a few minutes to an hour depending on how well you did
the setup.
When the drill comes through it will retain the plug of
glass it cut out. Remove this plug from the bit before
cutting additional holes.
If the hole is tapered roll up a sheet of sand paper and
ream it out.
--
Howard Rebel howardr@col.hp.com
FAX: 719-590-5701
From: Jason Madison
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: I want to put a hole in my tank
Date: 18 Jun 1995 15:55:02 GMT
I just had the same question and Ian Buckley wrote me:
Concerning your desire to drill tanks,presuming that they
are glass, you can get all the equipment from "Aquanetics Systems Inc.",
5252 Lovelock St., San Diego, CA 92110. Phone 291-8444 voice, 291-8335
fax, area code 619.
Glass drills cost 10-20 dollars, depending upon the size. You will
also also need some Drilling Compound, 1/2 lb goes a long way.
I use a drill press, and apply a slow steady pressure.DO NOT RUSH.
In the past, I have used a portable press for an electric drill, adequate,
but not as good as the drill press. If you need any more info. or help,
e-mail me,
Buck
I also heard from Carl B. Kracht:
I paid around $50 for a one inch diamond bit here in Houston. I bought it
at a glazier's supply (in the Yellow Pages, where the glass guys go to get
stuff). once you have the bit of choice, you will also need to get some
modelling clay and some antifreeze, keep the kids and pets away from the
antifreeze, they can play with the clay.
You cannot drill tempered glass, so you need to make sure this is float
glass or plate. practice on some 1/4 inch (6mm) plate first to get the hang
of it. it is best to use a drill press for glass of 1/2 inch (13mm) or
thicker. I think Stanley or Black and Decker makes a thing to hold a
portable drill upright.
to drill: pick a spot at least 4 inches from the edge of the tank in each
dimension. form a clay dam (a donut) about 6 inches in diameter around the
proposed hole. squish it down to form a water tight seal with the glass.
fill the donut with a 1/2 inch of 50% antifreeze/water solution. the drill
MUST be at right angles to the glass. using nothing but gravity or VERY
gentle pressure (for the drill press) begin drilling. the glsss dust will
be removed by the solution and keep the bit cool. DO NOT RUSH the process.
(It's even harder to cut down 1/2 inch glass to make a smaller tank.)
it takes about 2 minutes to punch through 1/2 inch glass. if you do it
right the plug that falls out (along with the drilling solution) will not
have any sharp edges. if you drill crooked or rush it, it will have big
flanges on the edge.
rinse out the antifreeze and remove the clay and wrap it in saran wrap or
foil for storage.
now you can charge all your friends to drill holes in their tanks. to plug
holes, i like to use Plumber's Goop instead of silicone and a 4-inch square
of 6mm glass, at least.
have fun
-carl
--Just thought I'd forward my mail
Jason
