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09-05-2006, 03:02 PM
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#1
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Slap Me Some Salt !!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 414
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What's a good tool for drilling holes in acrylic?
I'm trying to drill a 1/2" hole in the bottom of my skimmer collection cup
and can't seem to find the right tool. I practice on a piece of scrap 3/4" acrylic using a couple of brand new regular drill bits but every hole that I drilled always have small cracks on the side where the drill bit cuts through.
Is there a drill bit that will let me drill a clean hole through acrylic
Or what do you use to drill holes in acrylic?
All suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Beng
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__________________
Don't believe anything I say, I'm not speaking from experience, only second hand knowledge 
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09-05-2006, 03:13 PM
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#2
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TCMAS President
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lakeland, MN
Posts: 4,943
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a hole saw maybe?
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click on this tcmas I dare you!
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09-05-2006, 03:41 PM
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#3
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Frog-Exaggerator
Join Date: May 2006
Location: st. cloud, mn
Posts: 374
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Go really slow. The heat will melt and/or crack the acrylic. Short bursts of a fast speed works well also. Also don't push very hard, let the drill bit do the work for you.
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Well according to my calculations, the robots won't go berserk for at least 24 hours.
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09-05-2006, 03:45 PM
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#4
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Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,754
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I would try warming the acrylic first with some hot water and then drill. you may also want to keep it wet while you drill to reduce the friction.
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I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
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09-05-2006, 03:55 PM
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#5
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Slap Me Some Salt !!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 414
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Yes, heat is the problem, the initial cut of the hole is great, I get a clean cut but near the completion of the hole, the drill bit is hot and makes the acrylic brittle.
Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm going to do it slow and use ice water to cool drill bit and see if it works.
Many Thanks,
Beng
__________________
Don't believe anything I say, I'm not speaking from experience, only second hand knowledge
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09-05-2006, 04:15 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bloomington, MN
Posts: 2,488
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We use a regular hole saw. If you can, come finish from the other side.
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09-05-2006, 04:26 PM
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#7
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Roseville, MN
Posts: 735
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They make special bits for drilling acrylic holes. Where to get them I'm not sure but they are what the people who deal with lots of acrylic work use. They are special cut so they don't grab the acrylic and crack it.
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"It tastes so good when it hits your lips!"
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09-05-2006, 08:13 PM
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#8
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Shark
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bloomington, MN
Posts: 2,488
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1/2" bit wont be too cheep.
http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=161& $14.20
Sometimes seelye in Bloomington has some at the front desk (random sizes).
I have used fostner bits (sp) with a good degree of success. |
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09-05-2006, 08:25 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Burnsville, Mn
Posts: 241
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I've had good luck with a whole saw. Usually I will keep the acrylic and bit wet with plain cool water. Try finishing from the other side like REEFSTOCK said.
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09-05-2006, 09:33 PM
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#10
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: St Cloud
Posts: 1,254
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Sawsall, hammer, butane torch and some dental floss..........
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09-05-2006, 09:37 PM
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#11
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,810
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OK Mcgiver!
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Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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09-05-2006, 11:46 PM
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#12
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Slap Me Some Salt !!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 414
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Wahooo!!!
All done, perfect round hole with no chipping at all.
Wet drill bit works great, in fact it was easier than I thought.
Yeah!!! no more emptying skimmate cup.
Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions. This was something that I
was dragging my foot on for a whole week because I was real nervous
about messing up my skimmer. Now that collection cup is drilled and hook
up to a 5 gallon jug, I'm all set.
Thank you,
Beng
__________________
Don't believe anything I say, I'm not speaking from experience, only second hand knowledge
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09-06-2006, 11:21 AM
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#13
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Shark
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bloomington, MN
Posts: 2,488
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Don't forget to clean the neck some times  |
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09-06-2006, 02:42 PM
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#14
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SLASH Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: St Louis, MO
Posts: 384
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so what did you use?
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09-06-2006, 09:00 PM
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#15
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Slap Me Some Salt !!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 414
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Brand new regular drill bit, nothing special. As everyone suggested, I wet the bit first and that
really made a difference. I also taped 3 layers of masking tape on the other side to make sure
there is no chipping. My skimmer cup was from a ES 5-2.
Just checked skimmer cup this evening and no problems, man I wish I've done this a year ago.
Since I'm skimming real wet, I had to manually emtpy my collection cup pretty much every 6 hours.
Now with collection cup hookup to a empty 5 gallon jug, I can sit back and
relax and enjoy the tank.
Beng
__________________
Don't believe anything I say, I'm not speaking from experience, only second hand knowledge
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