Drilling my 220 was a success!!

Superman · 03-25-2005, 05:35 PM

With the help Barry and JP (Irenicus and the colonel) Drilling the 220 was a success! Actually getting the tank off of the old stand and onto the floor ended up being the hardes part. Drilling went great with the wolfcraft drill guide that was suggested, the 2 1/2" Diamond core drill bit and my trusty cordless Milwaukee drill. Here are some pics of the 220 gallon laying on it's face with the whole drilling set up, antifreeze, and reservoir.

Jeremiah · 03-25-2005, 05:40 PM

So, do you use anti freeze to keep the bit cool?

kpax · 03-25-2005, 05:47 PM

Glad you had success!

mnreefgeek · 03-25-2005, 06:11 PM

Could H2O be substituted for the Anti-Freeze?

Soltaker · 03-25-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnreefgeek

Could H2O be substituted for the Anti-Freeze?

I did mine with straight water.

HFG · 03-25-2005, 10:14 PM

Schweeet!!!!

aka_bigred · 03-26-2005, 09:20 AM

From what I researched, I guess true cutting oil is best since it won't expand with heat from drilling like water can.

Water gets into tiny cracks in the glass while drilling, then heats up and expands. This can cause cracks to expand and lead to beakage/cracking. Granted water works, but supposedly cutting oil is safer for future reference.

Superman · 03-26-2005, 09:38 AM

That is what I had read as well, I read that cutting oil or straight anti freeze would work well enough.

the_colonel · 03-27-2005, 05:46 PM

BTW, that may be my arm in pic#1, but Superman did all the drilling. I was just holding it in place while he took the picture. No way I was going to be mannig the drill if the 220 shattered.

Loralie · 03-28-2005, 03:43 AM

Great to see sucess.....I have a 150 gallon that i am going to have drilled in the fall...maybe sooner, and i am terrified it will break. Thank god there are no fish in the tank! I may have some detailded questions for ya later.

David Grigor · 03-28-2005, 03:50 AM

I have done both ways. Water and antifreeze.

Water works fine if you use running water ( so best to do it outside in the driveway ) vs. trying to use water via the plumbers clay ****.

I somewhat prefer the running water method ( unless doing outside is not an option ) because you don't have to worry as much about the antifreeze cleanup with your break through.

I also like to put tape on the inside where the hole is going to be, that way the glass circle doesn't fall. The weight can cause extra slivers of glass and not as clean of a cut on the one side.