Drilling glass question

Kaos

Kaos

"Lurker"
I've been looking at the diamond coated hole saw bits on E-bay and was wondering how do you keep the bits from moving all around (while drilling) without a pilot bit? Looking at all the auctions I don't see any w/ pilot bits. I've tried drilling wood w/ a hole saw before without a pilot and it doesn't work (I know better but I was working construction and my bit broke and the van was a long ways off). So, is there something I'm missing here? Those that have used these please speak up! :hmm5:
 
I bought a small piece of plexiglass from HD clamped it on the back of the tank, marked where I wanted the holes. Then took it off and drilled the plexi with a regular hole saw. Then clamped it back on the tank. When I drilled with the diamond hole saw the plexiglass held it in place. You could probably use wood for a template as well, but the plexi was unaffected by the water used to cool the hole saw.
Here is a link to my thread with pictures:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8021452#post8021452
 
seanb: That's a good idea. I think I'll use that when I go to drill my 20L. I already have lots of Lexan laying around. I also like your retun configuration on the 90.
 
I just finished drilling my 125 and I used a scrap of 1x6 drilled with the glass bit as my guide....worked GREAT, just clean the bit after drilling the wood.
 
actuall diamond hole saws arent the correct way to drill glass ( from the old days in CNC's :) ) but If you must go the expensive way then you will need to have the collet as close as you can get it to the sutting surface.

Best of luck
Brian
 
schlegelli: Now I'm not really sure which way to go. I have some 1x laying around that I'm considering using as a guide. I guess it will boil down to what I feel like using the day of the project.

LFS_worker: I like the user name although your probably going to get some harrassment here (j/k). What you say makes sense. It would be nice to use a CNC but that's not in my tool invetory right now. In the future I hope to have a lathe and milling machine to help w/ my other hobby (making highly accurate rifles).
 
Do you use the template just to get the hole started, then remove it and use the putty ring and water?
 
I use an L shaped pieceof plywood with the inside corner as the guide. Once started I ditch the plywood and run the hose on the hole saw where I'm cutting. Never saw the advantage of putty...

Tim
 
Putty works well if you're an apartment dweller and have to do the operation inside. Be that as it may, I think running water works best, too.

Some people don't use a guide at all but start the bit at an angle to form an arc-shaped groove which becomes the guide. I feel much more comfortable using some sort of guide.

I bought one of these and like it a lot:

Craftsman Drill Guide

It also makes it easy to drill holes in PVC for spray bars or cut holes at angles around the house.

Dan
 
I never use water as the lubricant/coolant, I use straight antifreeze. I had been drilling tanks for a long time, then I decided on a new project just to use water because it was convenient. I cracked the glass on two tanks, then went back to drilling with antifreeze and drilled about 16 holes in 12 different tanks without a hitch. I'll never go back to drilling with water.
 
Use what you want superedge88, but I can not think of any scientific reason to use antifreeze. If your referring to ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in most anti-freezes, it actually has a lower specific heat capacity (ability to absorb heat) than water. It is used in cooling systems because it raises the boiling point and lowers the freezing point of water, but water is better at absorbing heat. That is why in cars it is recommended to mix it with water, not full strength. Considering how toxic ethylene glycol is, I can't see why you would use it when drilling, unless you expect the water to reach boiling.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8119457#post8119457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DHyslop
Putty works well if you're an apartment dweller and have to do the operation inside. Be that as it may, I think running water works best, too.

Some people don't use a guide at all but start the bit at an angle to form an arc-shaped groove which becomes the guide. I feel much more comfortable using some sort of guide.

I bought one of these and like it a lot:

Craftsman Drill Guide

It also makes it easy to drill holes in PVC for spray bars or cut holes at angles around the house.

Dan
Click to expand...


Dan,

How big is the opening in the foot, will a 2 3/8" saw fit? I like the
idea, it may be worth $27 to keep the saw perpendicular to the surface for a "cleaner" hole.

I'm a fan of running water over the drain in my garage. Never saw the need for something more expensive.

Tim
 
I did everything with what I had on hand without a single problem....maybe dumb luck, whatever, it worked...had one little(very little) chip on the last hole. To sjm817...yea, got the hole started, removed the wood, made the dam, filled with water, went to town! DHyslop, I live in a house, but I don't have a garage so moving a 200lb. tank around wasn't simple either....assess, adapt, overcome!! By the way all, I kept checking the temp of the water....never got more than warm. Anyway, I saved about $100 just in glass shop costs.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8119845#post8119845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seanb
Use what you want superedge88, but I can not think of any scientific reason to use antifreeze. If your referring to ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in most anti-freezes, it actually has a lower specific heat capacity (ability to absorb heat) than water. It is used in cooling systems because it raises the boiling point and lowers the freezing point of water, but water is better at absorbing heat. That is why in cars it is recommended to mix it with water, not full strength. Considering how toxic ethylene glycol is, I can't see why you would use it when drilling, unless you expect the water to reach boiling.
Click to expand...

All I know is that I had drilled about 100 holes using antifreeze, then I try to drill two with water and they both break. Then I go on to drill 16 more with antifreeze without a hitch. I was thinking that it might have more to do with lubrication than it had to do with cooling. I don't know.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8120346#post8120346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
Dan,

How big is the opening in the foot, will a 2 3/8" saw fit? I like the
idea, it may be worth $27 to keep the saw perpendicular to the surface for a "cleaner" hole.

I'm a fan of running water over the drain in my garage. Never saw the need for something more expensive.
Click to expand...

I measured and its just a hair under 3" inside diameter. It'll fit, but you won't have much room around it to see what's going on. I usually monitor the process of the hole by looking into the edge of the glass anyway.

The chuck is only 3/8", so that might be an issue, too.

Also, I think using antifreeze is insane. It doesn't carry heat as well as water and its poison. I've only drilled 7 or 8 holes but I haven't had any breaks.

One other tip I just thought of. You tend to get a few chips when the hole saw comes through. Some people put a piece of duct tape on the bottom to mitigate this. What I've found works even better is to take a scrap piece of glass blocked right up against the bottom.

And keep your glass "donut holes." You'll find clever little uses for them, like mounting float switches :)

Dan
 
All I know is that I had drilled about 100 holes using antifreeze, then I try to drill two with water and they both break. Then I go on to drill 16 more with antifreeze without a hitch. I was thinking that it might have more to do with lubrication than it had to do with cooling. I don't know.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it is a better lubricant, I don't know. You certainly have more experience at drilling than I have. I drilled my 4 holes with water and they turned out fine.
 
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