1st time driller (scared to death)

[quixand]

Exactly right.

Just don't "push". The only weight used on the hole should be from the drill itself.

All you have to remember is, you are sanding through the glass. Not cutting. It takes me about 30 mins to an hour to complete two 1 3/4" holes.

Slow and easy wins the race, it's really not as hard as some people may have you believe. My first holes were in a 10 gallon, and I didn't crack a damn thing.

 

[gspgretchen]

So people have not had to many breakages then.

 

[rick s]

Do you have a LFS nearby that would come to your house, do it for you, with the agreement that if they break the tank they would replace it free? To me, that would be worth the money spent. You could also make part of the deal that they bring another 75 gallon tank with them, just in case.

DIY'ing it could go fine, or it could turn into one of those "Gee, I wish I would have. . . threads."

 

[quixand]

I haven't had one.

So I'm about 10/10.

If you check out Youtube, and watch it done enough times, you should feel pretty damn confident in doing it yourself.

If this guy can do it bro, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ7a-xGYPB8 so can you.

 

[a1amap]

The only bad thing about the videos on Utube is they show a hole being drilled in 5-10 minutes. It should take 15-30 depending on the glass thickness. When I drilled my 75 full It took 40 for the first hole and 30 for the second. I was scared to death for that first hole. I will say after drilling my tank full I feel I can do anything. Brass pelotas. I have also drilled 10 gallon tanks and have never broken one, but don't waste your time. You will not get any real experience from that. I used a press to keep the drill straight otherwise the bit will skirt around. After the hole is started and about half way through remove the press and drill free hand. I find I can use less pressure and can "feel the glass" without the press. The press makes sure the hole is where you want it and you get a clean starting cut. If you don't have a press a piece of wood with a like size hole clamped in place will work nicely. Do not use the diamond bit to make the hole in the wood. Use a wood bit. If the hole is not the exact size as the bit, use the side of the template board to give stability.

 

[quixand]

I also found going in at a 45 degree angle to begin stopped me from sliding around the tank and scratching the hell out of it.

 

[Jeff Trout]

I just drilled my first tank the other day!It was a 180g very thick so it when smooth.I wish I would have seen this thread first.I push to hard at end and chipped it alittle bit.Nothing the bulk head dont cover.

 

[gspgretchen]

Well I chickened out. I built an HOB pvc overflow. It works like a charm so far. I did several simulated power outages ang it kept siphon. I will try to post some pics tommorow. I am sure at some point I will flood the floor, then get the balls enough to drill. I will look into an automatic shut off for the sump.

 

[hllywd]

Don't chicken out!!! This is IMO one of te easiest DIYs you can learn how to do.
I've drilled 20 - 30 holes in assorted tanks, I started on a 10 I used for a sump then a 20 frag tank for the club. I've done a couple more of them, some 29s, hexes, 65s and 90s. Never cracked one yet other than some chips on the back side hurrying.
Personally I'd be just as apt to feel comfortable drilling a 10 as a 90, its not that much different. I always check for temper using two polarized lens similar to what the previous link described. I use a trickle of water siphoning from a 1/2 gallon container through an air hose controlled by a plastic air valve, just enough to keep the saw wet. I use a 3/8 VSR Millwaukee cordless drill and an aluminum framing square as a guide. A 45mm hole in a 90 takes about 10 minutes if you're not in a hurry.

God luck! Tim

 

[DGlove904]

I drilled my 125 the other day. I was scared at first but my buddy was there to coach me along it was not that bad after the first hole it took about 10 min. each hole go slow and steady and you will be fine. Make sure you run water in the hole.

 

[gspgretchen]

Here are my HOB PVC overflow pics.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/...5630185163/a=113022066_113022066/t_=113022066

 

[funman1]

Here is my video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMctXz7GraU

 

[uncleant]

i practiced on all spare tanks and the 2 i used were ten gallon tanks and i tried to drill a hole on each side just to practice and i only had one sucessfull hole out of the 8 tries. but then took out a 55 gal whick is going to be used as my sump and drilled it no problem. the thicker the glass the better

 

[tankslave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13250972#post13250972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saveafish
Older oceanic tanks dont have tempered glass that is why it is soo darn heavy and thick.

They arnt going to use any thinner glass just because its tempered. If they do use tempered glass, its so that if it shatters, you wont be left with the large, sharp, and dangerous pieces that untempered glass produces when it breaks.

 

[funman1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13267584#post13267584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tankslave
They arnt going to use any thinner glass just because its tempered. If they do use tempered glass, its so that if it shatters, you wont be left with the large, sharp, and dangerous pieces that untempered glass produces when it breaks.

Sorry man, they use tempered in car windows (excluding front) for safety, yes....

In tanks they use it to make the tank thinner, lighter, and stronger..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_glass

That's why many tank bottoms are tempered....
Higher strength, not safety of the end user.
If safety was a concern then ALL panes would be tempered, not just the bottom...

 

[hllywd]

Temepred glass is much stronger, as such it can be thinner for a given application. Try breaking a car window with the pick end of a fire axe. About 3/4 of the first strikes I see don't mark the glass, in fact I've seen firefighters unable to break side windows of cars in extrication classes. On the other end of the spectrum I've also seen a piece of broken spark plug ceramic softly tossed at a tempered window and it shatters... go figure!

Bottom line is tanks manufacturers do lighten their finished products by using thinner stronger tempered glass.

Tim

 

[tankslave]

tempered glass is stronger but I have yet to see a tank mfg use it for anything other than the bottom panel. How many 150g tanks do you see made with anything less than 1/2" glass? It's added stregth/safety, but you're not going to make a 150g tank out of 1/4" glass just because it's tempered.

 

[hllywd]

150 is too big for 1/4" dunno if anybody has ever used tempered routinely for those sizes, obviously the panels would need to be thicker.
55s were a popular size mfgs used 1/4" tempered instead of 1/2" plate. Believe me, I had one. While trying to carry it by myself it slipped, the corner hit the garage floor and 3 panels became 1/4" x 1/4" pieces.

Tim

 

[eznet2u]

Very....attractive...I'm sorry...I meant to say distracting...

Drill it...Just take your time, keep the saw wet, and don't push.
You'll be fine.

 

[bbyatv]

I have drilled about 10 holes now and have always used a drill press. No breaks yet.

Bruce