Question on drilling tanks

[Saleenfan]

First off.... is it really as hard as everyone makes it out to be??
I have access to a diamond holesaw and a drillpress (and a hose). I have drilled porcelain tile before but never actual glass.

My reason for asking is that I am considering just buying a 75 gallon tank and drilling 2 holes and making a "fly guy" overflow system rather than spending an additional 90 for a traditional over flow and loose all the area inside the tank.

[motorslave]

Its easy! I just used the bit on my cordless drill. Set the hose on low and put it right next to the spot. One thing (not huge, more cosmetic than anything) is that before the saw gets a bite it can walk a little on you scratching the glass. You can gt a piece of wood and drill a same sized hole in it and use it as a guide to prevent walking. Let the weight of the drill do the work. It will take a few minutes but its a breeze. Even on a thin glassed tank like a 10g.

[kwdelre]

yeah i agree TAKE YOUR TIME! don't be afraid to take ten minutes doing it. I would definitly not try the drill press. Use an electric or cordless drill

[Saleenfan]

Originally Posted by motorslave

Its easy! I just used the bit on my cordless drill. Set the hose on low and put it right next to the spot. One thing (not huge, more cosmetic than anything) is that before the saw gets a bite it can walk a little on you scratching the glass. You can gt a piece of wood and drill a same sized hole in it and use it as a guide to prevent walking. Let the weight of the drill do the work. It will take a few minutes but its a breeze. Even on a thin glassed tank like a 10g.

Thats what I wanted to hear!!!

O and I plan on painting the back of the tank black or a dark blue anyways so cosmetic aint to big of a deal.

[motorslave]

boy,mssed up that post!
I would use a template for the holes since it will be on a display. I drilled my sump and water change tanks (both 55s) so it was no big deal, but the walking makes it almost impossible to get the holes exactly where you want them. On a display that would drive me nuts!

[chrischris]

if your drilling from the outside put something inside like cardboard so if the piece of glass falls it doesnt break the glass inside
ps if you have kids keep them away while your doing it

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by Saleenfan

First off.... is it really as hard as everyone makes it out to be??
I have access to a diamond holesaw and a drillpress (and a hose). I have drilled porcelain tile before but never actual glass.

My reason for asking is that I am considering just buying a 75 gallon tank and drilling 2 holes and making a "fly guy" overflow system rather than spending an additional 90 for a traditional over flow and loose all the area inside the tank.

The first thing you have to find out, and it hasn't been mentioned, is to make sure the glass you want to drill isn't tempered. Drilling tempered glass isn't hard, it is impossible.

[motorslave]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

The first thing you have to find out, and it hasn't been mentioned, is to make sure the glass you want to drill isn't tempered. Drilling tempered glass isn't hard, it is impossible.

Generally on todays tanks the bottoms are tempered and the sides are not. The tank you get (if not new) may have a stamp from the manufacturer and you can call to check.

[Herrin811]

Originally Posted by motorslave

Generally on todays tanks the bottoms are tempered and the sides are not. The tank you get (if not new) may have a stamp from the manufacturer and you can call to check.

Im trying all sorts of ways to find out about mine. It's brand new, and all I can find is that the bottom is for sure tempered. But nothing about the sides....There are no labels, stamps, or anything else on any of the glass. None of the store labels had the info. I've called AGA and only got voicemail. They arent answering email, either......I want to drill mine, but if I cant find the info, I will have to do something else......

[motorslave]

What brand is it? Ask the LFS you got it from.

[know-it-all]

the first hole is the hardest

[marineduud]

Originally Posted by Herrin811

Im trying all sorts of ways to find out about mine. It's brand new, and all I can find is that the bottom is for sure tempered. But nothing about the sides....There are no labels, stamps, or anything else on any of the glass. None of the store labels had the info. I've called AGA and only got voicemail. They arent answering email, either......I want to drill mine, but if I cant find the info, I will have to do something else......

I drill tanks every day at my store and the AGA tanks have tempered on the bottom of all tanks 55gal. and larger, but the back is not. And I do use a drill press to do all my drilling its mounted to a piece of 2X6 and I tape it down to the glass after its line up and it works perfect. I also take a piece of 3in. pvc pipe that is cut about 3in. tall and put a bead of silicone on it and set it in place about an 1hr or so before I drill it to contain my coolant, and a small bucket under it to catch the plugs. Oh and AGA is going to tell you not to drill it because it will void your warranty.

[Herrin811]

Originally Posted by marineduud

I drill tanks every day at my store and the AGA tanks have tempered on the bottom of all tanks 55gal. and larger, but the back is not. And I do use a drill press to do all my drilling its mounted to a piece of 2X6 and I tape it down to the glass after its line up and it works perfect. I also take a piece of 3in. pvc pipe that is cut about 3in. tall and put a bead of silicone on it and set it in place about an 1hr or so before I drill it to contain my coolant, and a small bucket under it to catch the plugs. Oh and AGA is going to tell you not to drill it because it will void your warranty.

Not meaning to hijack this....

My tank is an AGA Geneva Series 36 gallon corner bowfront.....I did find a post on a different forum 2nite...Same tank, and he has 4 bulkheads in the sides of his....So I ordered a kit from glass-holes.com....Found the link on here somewhere....Holesaw, bulkhead, and overflow box all included

[DaveTheReefGeek]

One thing you can do to keep the drill bit from walking around is to use marker and make your drill spot visible then start drilling with the drill on a 45-55degree angle, letting the bit bite into the glass on the edge of the outline. Once it gets in about 1mm tilt the drill vertical and continue drilling. Other than that, like motoslave said; 'let the weight of the drill do the cutting'.

[VWD]

I pretty much agree with Robert and Dave, I have never used a drill press You can do it without the bit walking on you,