How to Drill a Tank -Yes You CAN Do it!

[50seven]

Where did you find diamond hole saws with pilot bits? I've yet to ever come across any.

I've gotten mine from my local flooring tile supply shop, and from an awesome store up here in Canada called Princess Auto. They do mail order too, not sure about international shipping...

http://www.princessauto.com/

For some reason, all of the diamond hole saws that I have ever bought came with a pilot, but the pilot is a standard percussion type concrete bit. Which is fine if you're cutting through some types of tile, but useless for glass and most other hard surfaces.

Glass bit is from Home Depot.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Just FYI, I've honestly never used oil or heard of anyone using it, so I cannot comment, really. I find water plenty effective, especially, if you dam it around the bit, so I never considered anything else. Yes, oil is used to lubricate when you are drilling/machining metal, but for brittle materials like glass or tile I have only ever heard of water.

And I agree that we need to take the fear out of this whole process!

 

[rogermccray]

ok, cause I am looking at buying a 300DD tank, and I'll need to drill a few holes in the back, but because the tank costs over $1,000 I am nervous.

If i were you I would go buy a 10 gallon tank and drill that about 50 times before drilling the $1,000 tank...

 

[50seven]

Just FYI, I've honestly never used oil or heard of anyone using it, so I cannot comment, really. I find water plenty effective, especially, if you dam it around the bit, so I never considered anything else. Yes, oil is used to lubricate when you are drilling/machining metal, but for brittle materials like glass or tile I have only ever heard of water.

And I agree that we need to take the fear out of this whole process!

I didn't mean to argue about it! I don't think it's that important, especially as a lot of people will be concerned for contaminating their tank.

Where I'm coming from is as a general contractor I've drilled holes in a lot of hard surfaces, usually with water as a cooling agent, but sometimes even dry. Granite, marble, porcelain, slate, etc. are all quite soft and easy to drill through, but glass tile and ceramic are much harder and require a lot of care to drill through. When I used oil for the first time I noticed the whole drilling went easier, so I thought I'd share that with the community...

If i were you I would go buy a 10 gallon tank and drill that about 50 times before drilling the $1,000 tank...

or just get a scrap of thick glass from your local hardware store.

 

[Esardog]

ok, cause I am looking at buying a 300DD tank, and I'll need to drill a few holes in the back, but because the tank costs over $1,000 I am nervous.

I was where you are just a few days ago -- drilled my 300dd this past weekend without any problems-- after the first hole you get past the nerves.

Eddie

 

[2Quills]

Haven't seen anyone mention the rotary tool method yet. It's extremely tedious on larger (thicker glass) tanks but there is virtually no threat of cracking your tank with this method. It works very well on much smaller (thinner glass) tanks. Both methods are very easy, but yes you do need to be a lot more careful with a drill on smaller tanks. But I've seen beginners with virtually very little hobby or power tool experience for that matter drill 20g tanks and pull it off without a hitch.

 

[50seven]

Thanks for the tip and the photos! Never tried it that way, but it sounds like a good idea for smaller tanks with thinner glass.

 

[Amb]

Seeing this has finally given me the confidence to drill my 20L, so I want to say thanks for the excellent instructions and pictures!

 

[Todd_Sails]

50Seven,

You drilled the bottom of your tank? I thought those were often tempered, obviously, yours wasn't. On my 125 long, the bottom has a 'so not drill, tempered glass' sticker on it. I think the sides are not tempered however.

Also, can anyone post their 'how to' on drilling the side of an up and running tank?

Nice post btw

 

[50seven]

50Seven,

You drilled the bottom of your tank? I thought those were often tempered, obviously, yours wasn't. On my 125 long, the bottom has a 'so not drill, tempered glass' sticker on it. I think the sides are not tempered however.

Also, can anyone post their 'how to' on drilling the side of an up and running tank?

Nice post btw

Yeah, thankfully it was not tempered, as I really wanted the bulkheads on the bottom so the tank can go flush against the wall.

Don't try drilling through tempered glass, regardless of how slow you go, it will explode.

If I ever do drill a running tank, I'll be sure to do the step-by-step w/ photos and all! My suggestion would be to lower the water level enough to not get your drill wet; and use some putty to help keep the glass shavings out of the water. I imagine that they won't do damage to your tank if they do fall in, but might want to avoid it. (And DON"T use oil to lube the drill, LOL! )

 

[Todd_Sails]

50seven,

Points well taken. I"ve seen a DIY thread about drilling a tank w/ water in it.

They used putty and plastic on the inside, etc.

Again, your post is great!

 

[LargeAngels]

I can't even count how many holes I've drilled. I've always used the putty/water method and my drill bit does not have a pilot drill. The thicker the glass the easier it seemed.

If I was ever to try another lubricant it might be corn or olive oil. But I really like the cooling capacity of water and never had an issue.

 

[Todd_Sails]

How else can I tell if my sides of my 125 long, built in 2005, are tempered or not?

I bought it off CL.

the bottom had a sticker stating 'Tempered Glass- Do not drill'

but I've been told the sides are probably not tempered?

 

[Raggamuffin]

I have drilled more than a few holes, I used the water and putty dam method (and if you dont have plumbers putty steal your kids play dough, it just makes a mess!) and making a jig is simplicity itself. Grab a piece of cardbord, use the drill bit you will use on the glass and cut a hole in it, it sticks to the putty trapping the water inside

 

[yubunski]

Once you get over the initial fear drilling the holes is really not a big deal. Used the putty and water method and went through the 40 br in no time.

 

[aleonn]

Lots of great info here!

 

[Daemonfly]

Haven't seen anyone mention the rotary tool method yet. It's extremely tedious on larger (thicker glass) tanks but there is virtually no threat of cracking your tank with this method. It works very well on much smaller (thinner glass) tanks. Both methods are very easy, but yes you do need to be a lot more careful with a drill on smaller tanks. But I've seen beginners with virtually very little hobby or power tool experience for that matter drill 20g tanks and pull it off without a hitch.

I still use the regular hole saws for round holes(personal pref.), but the diamond bits in a rotary tool (esp. with router base attachment) work great if you want to cut out a weir for external overflow box.