drilling tank

bobbo443 · 10-15-2005, 05:09 PM

Do you guy's have any info on drilling a tank? I figure since i'm starting the tank from scratch I want to get rid of the hang on type!

wharyat · 10-15-2005, 05:16 PM

Just search around here and on google for glass drilling. Main things, go relatively slow, make sure the glass being drilled is not tempered, lots of water for thermal control and lubrication (using a drip is how I do it). Check ebay for diamond holesaws.

http://www.northcoastmarines.com/bulkhead_fittings.htm
Here's one site I used, a few others but I can't seem to find them ATM.

mrkrinkle · 10-15-2005, 05:31 PM

Use a diamond hole saw, then make a ring around the area to be drilled with some thick foam tape to hold the coolant in the area being drilled. At the glass shop I work at we use automobile anti-freeze to keep the glass from getting too hot while drilling. Then just go slow and steady till you get all the way through.

bobbo443 · 10-15-2005, 05:56 PM

How do I find out if the bottom of the tank is tempered or should I drill the back of the tank? On more thing what size bit should I use to drill for a 1in. bulkhead?
bob

wharyat · 10-15-2005, 09:37 PM

1" bulkhead usually requires a 1-3/4" hole. Matters what brand/schedule bulkhead you use.

Contact the manufacturer of the tank to find out if it is tempered or not.

Jasontkd · 10-16-2005, 12:22 AM

I don't like the diamond hole saw. One, they are kind of expensive, and if they stick, you have a broken tank. When I have drilled i have gone and bought 2 diamond tip dremel bits, and used a dremel tool. if youdo a search for it, you will find the method i am talking about. But it is really easy.

Superman · 10-16-2005, 12:28 AM

I've drilled many tanks with diamond hole saws (somewhere in the neighborhood of about 30-40 holes) and I have never had them "stick". The fact that there is only grit on the tip of the hole saw makes it nearly impossible to make it stick, plus the use of antifreeze makes the hole being made so lubricated that it would be extremely hard to even make it stick on purpose. I think it's a bigger pain in the butt to drill glass with a dremel, why go with tedious when you can drill glass safely with a hole saw (+ a drill guide, I use wolfcraft) and be done in under ten minutes!