Simple glass tank drilling question...

20 20 · 07/18/2006, 04:54 AM

I know the answer is in these forums already, but I've looked, and can't find it. So, I'm going to be drilling two holes for 1" bulkheads in the side of a 16 gallon Perfecto tank. How close to the upper edge of the tank can I place the holes?

jaze36 · 07/18/2006, 05:06 AM

The same distance as the diameter of the drill bit, so if you have to drill a 1 1/2" hole no closer than 1 1/2".

Stipe · 07/18/2006, 05:44 AM

Ok since this is a drilling question, i got one,

I want to drill a certain sized hole in my sump. To do this requiredmy to take my sump to my LSF or any other glass place. Im sick of this and want to do it at hole (my dads a carenter, i can get ahold of anything i want). So what do i need to drill it. I know he has those circle drill bits for drilling big holes in wood but what could drill the glass. If i dont have it i can certinly buy it. Do i need any special machine, i got cordless drills, big drills, concrete drills etc you name it.

what do i need?

wiley0717 · 07/18/2006, 06:11 AM

Diamond bit, cordless drill (2 speed is easier to work with) and some scrap glass to practice your first couple holes.

Stipe · 07/18/2006, 06:26 AM

ok, im off down to bunnying to find a diamond bit. Thankyou

20 20 · 07/18/2006, 11:52 AM

Buy the bit off of eBay, I did. Much cheaper that way:

http://stores.ebay.com/THK-Diamond-Tools

The bits probably won't last as long as one you buy here in the States for a lot more money, but I only need to drill 1 or 2 holes, so they work fine for that. Here's the last one I bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=008

It's a 42mm bit to drill holes for a couple of 1.5" bulkheads. $9.20 to my door ($5.20 for the bit, $4.00 for shipping), came in less than a week.

20 20 · 07/18/2006, 11:54 AM

Oh, and thanks for the replies, 1.5" it is!

wiley0717 · 07/20/2006, 05:24 AM

got mine from the same place as 20 20 and pretty happy with it. You will probably only get about 10 holes out of it but even at that at a cost of about a buck a hole you are still way ahead of the game as far as equity goes!

20 20 · 07/20/2006, 11:12 AM

I only needed it for two holes, worked fine. Inexpensive way to drill your own holes, if you don't need many.

hangles · 07/20/2006, 12:27 PM

Also pick yourself up some plummers putty. you can roll this out in a snake long enough to incircle your hole to make a dam. then fill with water to keep the drill bit cool. i cut a small square of plywood 1/2 '' thick and cut a hole in it the size of your bit then press it on the putty to use as a guide and it keeps the water in also. go slow ! hope this helps!

20 20 · 07/20/2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hangles
Also pick yourself up some plummers putty. you can roll this out in a snake long enough to incircle your hole to make a dam. then fill with water to keep the drill bit cool. i cut a small square of plywood 1/2 '' thick and cut a hole in it the size of your bit then press it on the putty to use as a guide and it keeps the water in also. go slow ! hope this helps!

Dang, wish you would have posted this before I drilled mine last night. I do the plummers putty thing, but hadn't thought about the wood guide, that would have been helpful!

Stile2 · 07/20/2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jaze36
The same distance as the diameter of the drill bit, so if you have to drill a 1 1/2" hole no closer than 1 1/2".

I've drilled holes and weirs beginning and ending at the edge.

hangles · 07/20/2006, 01:10 PM

they will crack eventually if there is stress put on the tank during a move or settling on a stand thats not stable.

07/18/2006, 04:54 AM	#1
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	Simple glass tank drilling question... I know the answer is in these forums already, but I've looked, and can't find it. So, I'm going to be drilling two holes for 1" bulkheads in the side of a 16 gallon Perfecto tank. How close to the upper edge of the tank can I place the holes?

07/18/2006, 05:44 AM	#3
Stipe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 230	Ok since this is a drilling question, i got one, I want to drill a certain sized hole in my sump. To do this requiredmy to take my sump to my LSF or any other glass place. Im sick of this and want to do it at hole (my dads a carenter, i can get ahold of anything i want). So what do i need to drill it. I know he has those circle drill bits for drilling big holes in wood but what could drill the glass. If i dont have it i can certinly buy it. Do i need any special machine, i got cordless drills, big drills, concrete drills etc you name it. what do i need? __________________ Stjepan P. "Detritus is NOT a Filter media" "Detritus is NOT a substrate type" "Detritus is NOT a pet" Current Tank Info: 80gal AGA and a 1 gal hexagon nano.

07/18/2006, 06:11 AM	#4
wiley0717 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: La Grange KY Posts: 167	Diamond bit, cordless drill (2 speed is easier to work with) and some scrap glass to practice your first couple holes. __________________ Everything happens slower in a larger tank.....accept spent funds and salt consumption!!! Current Tank Info: Downgrading back to the simple life!!!

07/18/2006, 06:26 AM	#5
Stipe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 230	ok, im off down to bunnying to find a diamond bit. Thankyou __________________ Stjepan P. "Detritus is NOT a Filter media" "Detritus is NOT a substrate type" "Detritus is NOT a pet" Current Tank Info: 80gal AGA and a 1 gal hexagon nano.

07/20/2006, 05:24 AM	#8
wiley0717 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: La Grange KY Posts: 167	got mine from the same place as 20 20 and pretty happy with it. You will probably only get about 10 holes out of it but even at that at a cost of about a buck a hole you are still way ahead of the game as far as equity goes! __________________ Everything happens slower in a larger tank.....accept spent funds and salt consumption!!! Current Tank Info: Downgrading back to the simple life!!!

07/18/2006, 05:06 AM	#2
jaze36 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Gloversville, N.Y. Posts: 908	The same distance as the diameter of the drill bit, so if you have to drill a 1 1/2" hole no closer than 1 1/2".

07/18/2006, 11:52 AM	#6
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	Buy the bit off of eBay, I did. Much cheaper that way: http://stores.ebay.com/THK-Diamond-Tools The bits probably won't last as long as one you buy here in the States for a lot more money, but I only need to drill 1 or 2 holes, so they work fine for that. Here's the last one I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=008 It's a 42mm bit to drill holes for a couple of 1.5" bulkheads. $9.20 to my door ($5.20 for the bit, $4.00 for shipping), came in less than a week.

07/18/2006, 11:54 AM	#7
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	Oh, and thanks for the replies, 1.5" it is!

07/20/2006, 11:12 AM	#9
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	I only needed it for two holes, worked fine. Inexpensive way to drill your own holes, if you don't need many.

07/20/2006, 12:27 PM	#10
hangles Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: nashport ohio Posts: 948	Also pick yourself up some plummers putty. you can roll this out in a snake long enough to incircle your hole to make a dam. then fill with water to keep the drill bit cool. i cut a small square of plywood 1/2 '' thick and cut a hole in it the size of your bit then press it on the putty to use as a guide and it keeps the water in also. go slow ! hope this helps! __________________ I like fishy crackers ! Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef/ 55 gal puffer/ 20 gal fowlr/ 10 gal fowlr

07/20/2006, 01:10 PM	#13
hangles Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: nashport ohio Posts: 948	they will crack eventually if there is stress put on the tank during a move or settling on a stand thats not stable. __________________ I like fishy crackers ! Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef/ 55 gal puffer/ 20 gal fowlr/ 10 gal fowlr