mulsco4201
New member
what is the best type of drill bit to drill a hole in acrylic tank?
drilling acrylic tank
- Thread starter mulsco4201
- Start date
You have to find just the right speed. If go to fast, you'll heat the bit so much, that the acrulic shavings will start to gel. If you go too slow eventually the same will happen. So not too fast and not too slow. You can use a small amount of water, i mean small, because too much will speed up the gelling process.
I put my bit in the freezer for a day to buy some extra seconds.
Good luck!
I put my bit in the freezer for a day to buy some extra seconds.
Good luck!
hyperfocal
New member
I suggest going to Home Depot and picking up a small piece of acrylic the same thickness as your aquarium walls and practicing on it. The acrylic will cost you around ten bucks, but the confidence you'll get from the experience will be worth a lot more. Drilling acrylic isn't hard, but it is nice to know what to expect before playing "for keeps."
Skylove0618
New member
Be careful!
Be careful!
I just drilled my sump yesterday and almost cracked it. I was setting the pilot drill for the hole saw at a really slow speed. One of the cutting edges caught and stopped the drill tight. I ended up with a couple of small cracks but well within the diameter of the hole. If I would've stiff armed it I would have ruined my sump for sure! :eek1:
Be careful!
I just drilled my sump yesterday and almost cracked it. I was setting the pilot drill for the hole saw at a really slow speed. One of the cutting edges caught and stopped the drill tight. I ended up with a couple of small cracks but well within the diameter of the hole. If I would've stiff armed it I would have ruined my sump for sure! :eek1:
Re: drilling acrylic tank
mulsco4201, take the advice of trying it on some scrap acrylic pieces first. I got it perfectly on the first time thou. Just don't press it too hard or too light when you drill, you should kindda feel it and press it down accordingly. a file would be usefull if you should have any melting
the most important part is when you're about to finish off drilling, go easy or you might crack it. it's a good idea to use a piece of wood press against underneath of the acrylic pane
mulsco4201, take the advice of trying it on some scrap acrylic pieces first. I got it perfectly on the first time thou. Just don't press it too hard or too light when you drill, you should kindda feel it and press it down accordingly. a file would be usefull if you should have any melting
the most important part is when you're about to finish off drilling, go easy or you might crack it. it's a good idea to use a piece of wood press against underneath of the acrylic pane
