Interesting tank drilling situation

eran · 04/02/2009, 06:07 PM

The new tank I bought was drilled for sch. 40 bulkheads but I ordered sch. 80. The holes drilled for the 1" returns are about 2/16" of an inch to small to fit the sch. 80 bulkheads. Who as a creative way to widen the holes???? I was thinking I saw someone use a dremel with a diamond bit to drill a hole and wonder if I could just grind it down a bit? The holes are in the external overflow with 1/2" glass. Ideas????

eran · 04/02/2009, 08:16 PM

to risky or what?????????????????????????

davewbush · 04/02/2009, 08:22 PM

If it was only off by 1/8" of an inch it would be an easier fix...

IMO I would by the sch 40. It's cheeper than breaking or cracking the tank.

asmujica · 04/02/2009, 08:23 PM

Its doable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H79uCmHoAGo

Drewbaby · 04/02/2009, 08:29 PM

Glass cracks VERY easily under stress. My mother, both of her brothers and my grandfather were all in the glass business. The best way to drill a tank would be with a wet glass bit. that is if you can come across them. you may also have some luck taking the tank to a glass shop and having them drill the tank. Ill call my grandfather tomorrow and see what advice he has.

LobsterOfJustice · 04/02/2009, 08:39 PM

Cheaper and easier to buy new bulkheads that fit. If you grind the hole bigger with a dremel bit you will have to buy the diamond bit anyway, and you almost assuredly will not end up with a perfect circle. Just get the right bulkheads, sell yours locally or return them.

eran · 04/04/2009, 12:35 AM

I have seen it done a few times with a dremel and diamond bit but only with thinner glass. I have the sch. 40 bulkheads already. I am just OCD about having 3- sch. 80 1 1/2" bulkheads next to 2- 1" sch. 40 bulkheads. anyone ever do this before. I will call a glass shop tomorrow

noahm · 04/04/2009, 01:35 AM

Go with the sch 40's people use them all the time. The only reason to use sch 80s it they are stronger if you were to pry on the connection, but the 40's are fine since its not a pressure issue. Just don't stand on the bulkhead after it's installed.

Way simpler.

reefpatrol3 · 04/04/2009, 07:33 AM

You said its in an external overflow...therefore its not under a lot of pressure and should be fairly easy to replace if needed later. I would just use the sch 40 bulkheads rather than trying to drill out a bigger hole. It would be tough to try and drill the hole just slightly bigger than it already is and keep the bit from moving around. If you want the bulkheads to look all the same just paint them. Only you will ever know they are different. No one else will prob notice.

saltkreep · 04/04/2009, 08:15 AM

Or!!!!! If you have paper work showing the hole size you requested they can fix it. That way you can have piece of mind not have to worry about doing any damage.

scaryperson27 · 04/04/2009, 08:41 AM

I understand what you are saying about sch 80. It would bother me too.

I would however, in your situation, take it into a glass shop to have it professionally cut.

atoa · 04/04/2009, 11:32 PM

I had the same problem. I realized that I had ordered the wrong hole saw. I didn't want to wait or spend more money on new hole saws. So I just made the holes, then I successfully widened them by grinding away with the hole saw. In my experience, this seemed pretty safe with 1/2" glass. The holes didn't turned out as perfect as when you just drill with the how saw but it worked.

-- Oliver

04/02/2009, 06:07 PM	#1
eran Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: mid west Posts: 397	Interesting tank drilling situation The new tank I bought was drilled for sch. 40 bulkheads but I ordered sch. 80. The holes drilled for the 1" returns are about 2/16" of an inch to small to fit the sch. 80 bulkheads. Who as a creative way to widen the holes???? I was thinking I saw someone use a dremel with a diamond bit to drill a hole and wonder if I could just grind it down a bit? The holes are in the external overflow with 1/2" glass. Ideas????

04/02/2009, 08:16 PM	#2
eran Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: mid west Posts: 397	to risky or what????????????????????????? __________________ 265gal starfire, 90 gal. sump, 70gal. frag tank, 40gal. QT tank, Vertex Alpha 300 Cone Skimmer, calcium and kalk reactors, 5- tunze 6105's, 7069 controller, Apex, 3-400watt radiums w/galaxy ballasts in lumenbright larges, 2 super actinic VHO's Current Tank Info: 265gal starfire, 90 gal. sump, 70gal. frag tank, 40gal. QT tank, Alpha 300 Cone Skimmer, Geo 618 calcium and kalk reactors, 5- tunze 6105's, 7069 controller, Apex, 3-400watt radiums w/galaxy ballasts in lumenbright larges, 2 super actinic VHO's

04/02/2009, 08:23 PM	#4
asmujica Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Monterrey, México Posts: 5,580	Its doable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H79uCmHoAGo __________________ Where has the tank gone?

04/02/2009, 08:39 PM	#6
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Cheaper and easier to buy new bulkheads that fit. If you grind the hole bigger with a dremel bit you will have to buy the diamond bit anyway, and you almost assuredly will not end up with a perfect circle. Just get the right bulkheads, sell yours locally or return them. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/04/2009, 12:35 AM	#7
eran Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: mid west Posts: 397	I have seen it done a few times with a dremel and diamond bit but only with thinner glass. I have the sch. 40 bulkheads already. I am just OCD about having 3- sch. 80 1 1/2" bulkheads next to 2- 1" sch. 40 bulkheads. anyone ever do this before. I will call a glass shop tomorrow __________________ 265gal starfire, 90 gal. sump, 70gal. frag tank, 40gal. QT tank, Vertex Alpha 300 Cone Skimmer, calcium and kalk reactors, 5- tunze 6105's, 7069 controller, Apex, 3-400watt radiums w/galaxy ballasts in lumenbright larges, 2 super actinic VHO's Current Tank Info: 265gal starfire, 90 gal. sump, 70gal. frag tank, 40gal. QT tank, Alpha 300 Cone Skimmer, Geo 618 calcium and kalk reactors, 5- tunze 6105's, 7069 controller, Apex, 3-400watt radiums w/galaxy ballasts in lumenbright larges, 2 super actinic VHO's

04/02/2009, 08:22 PM	#3
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	If it was only off by 1/8" of an inch it would be an easier fix... IMO I would by the sch 40. It's cheeper than breaking or cracking the tank.

04/02/2009, 08:29 PM	#5
Drewbaby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: FL Posts: 874	Glass cracks VERY easily under stress. My mother, both of her brothers and my grandfather were all in the glass business. The best way to drill a tank would be with a wet glass bit. that is if you can come across them. you may also have some luck taking the tank to a glass shop and having them drill the tank. Ill call my grandfather tomorrow and see what advice he has.

04/04/2009, 01:35 AM	#8
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	Go with the sch 40's people use them all the time. The only reason to use sch 80s it they are stronger if you were to pry on the connection, but the 40's are fine since its not a pressure issue. Just don't stand on the bulkhead after it's installed. Way simpler.

04/04/2009, 07:33 AM	#9
reefpatrol3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: texas Posts: 181	You said its in an external overflow...therefore its not under a lot of pressure and should be fairly easy to replace if needed later. I would just use the sch 40 bulkheads rather than trying to drill out a bigger hole. It would be tough to try and drill the hole just slightly bigger than it already is and keep the bit from moving around. If you want the bulkheads to look all the same just paint them. Only you will ever know they are different. No one else will prob notice.

04/04/2009, 08:15 AM	#10
saltkreep Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville ca Posts: 199	Or!!!!! If you have paper work showing the hole size you requested they can fix it. That way you can have piece of mind not have to worry about doing any damage.

04/04/2009, 08:41 AM	#11
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	I understand what you are saying about sch 80. It would bother me too. I would however, in your situation, take it into a glass shop to have it professionally cut.

04/04/2009, 11:32 PM	#12
atoa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NoVa Posts: 105	I had the same problem. I realized that I had ordered the wrong hole saw. I didn't want to wait or spend more money on new hole saws. So I just made the holes, then I successfully widened them by grinding away with the hole saw. In my experience, this seemed pretty safe with 1/2" glass. The holes didn't turned out as perfect as when you just drill with the how saw but it worked. -- Oliver