How many people have had success drilling their tanks and how many have not?

[FloridaFishMan]

Hi,
I am trying to see what ratio of people have had success drilling their tanks and how many people have cracked their tanks in the process.
Chris

 

[FloridaFishMan]

If you could please also include the size of the tank that you drilled.

 

[joestreich]

i have a drilled a 40 gal and 10 gal. Neither cracked while drilling. However the 10 gal has cracked since that point....due to my own stupidity. You know, final adjustments to tank location after connecting the PVC.

I thought the process of drilling was pretty easy. The only advice I have would be to take your time and rinse the diamond bit regularly.

 

[Wiskey]

I have drilled a 29,50,three 10's, a 15, ect,... and the only ones i had problems with were the ones with tempered glass, OOPS. I did not know they had tempered glass when I started drilling.

Whiskey

 

[Rjp761]

Hi
a 30 and 2 10 gallon tanks all with a dremel.New bit was used everytime.
Good luck
RalphP

 

[know-it-all]

any where from a 15 tall to a 120.

the only one I've cracked was a tempered tank and a 10 gal.
(I was not aware the tank was tempered)

at first I made my own hole saw with brass tubing and diamond compound
but the drill bit is just so much easier.

 

[Andrew]

I used a dimond dremel tool to drill 2- 10 gallon tanks and both times worked.

Finished:

Drilling:

 

[FloridaFishMan]

Did you smooth out the hole with a straight bit or just the regular bit you used to cut with?

 

[Andrew]

I used the same dimond dremel bit to get it more rounder.

 

[DKKA]

You should also include Rotozip with tile cutting bit in the poll.

I drilled two holes in my 30gal cube with no problems. Easy, and fast. I also have dremel style diamond coated bits that I tried out on some scrap. The Rotozip was way easier/faster.

Dan

 

[going_reef]

I drilled a 30 gallon tank with a drill press and a diamond tipped bit. I took my time and did not have any problems.

 

[FloridaFishMan]

DK,
I have seen dremel's that spin at 35,000rpm what is the rotozip's rpms? It seems lots of people are using the diamond hole bits. How often do you have to change out the dremel/diamond hole saw bits?

 

[NoSchwag]

Use a 7$ dimond hole bit from ebay, you will be surprised how easy it goes.

I drilled 4 holes so far with mine.

 

[DKKA]

The rotozip is 30,000rpm. But I believe the rotozip has a lot more power than the rotozip. You can really feel the torque when you hit the on button.

I cut three holes with one tile cutting bit. More might have been possible, but the bit was getting a bit dull. I don't know how that compares to the diamond/dremels.

Dan

 

[Agu]

10 gallon with dremel......... worked fine.

 

[kbmdale]

I used the Dremel ADVANTAGE and a carbide cutting bit, The advantage is better that the rotozip IMO. 35000rpm. Anyway as far as how many holes on one bit, lets see I did 3 2" holes in a 120, a 10"wier on a 30, 3 1.5" holes in a piece of 3/8's glass for my overflow and about 4 holes for 3/4 bulkheads all on one bit...Very fast and easy way to cut glass.

 

[Ploppers]

I also used a cheap diamond bit from ebay. I drilled a 3" hole in a 40 gallon breeder with it. Drilling it was easy. Convincing the girlfriend I could was near impossible.

 

[FloridaFishMan]

kbmdale, how think is the glass on that 120?

I am glad to see that most people have had success with drilling their tanks. I am going to upgrade shortly and knowing that I can drill my tank is good to hear. I think I will try it when I get my new tank. I am definitly going to practice on some scrap first.

 

[Andrew]

Btw, I got a dimond dremel bits from a local hardware store ( Menards ) for $7

 

[kbmdale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6522588#post6522588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FloridaFishMan
kbmdale, how think is the glass on that 120?

I am glad to see that most people have had success with drilling their tanks. I am going to upgrade shortly and knowing that I can drill my tank is good to hear. I think I will try it when I get my new tank. I am definitly going to practice on some scrap first.

It was 3/8's thick. The trick is constant stream of water carrying away the particles and cooling the glass while you cut. Constant cooling will keep a bit sharper longer. I wouldn't even waste my money on a diomond tip dremel bit, thicker glass will eat it up before you even get going good. With the carbide cutting bit you can cut a 2" whole in about 5-7 minutes. If you have done it before 2-5.