overflow bought on ebay cutting acrylic with a circular diamond blade?

[Dragonvale]

I bought a overflow that installs on a tank. The kit comes with a bulkheads, the overflow and a circular diamond blade to cut holes. Before purchasing I stated I wanted to cut into acrylic rather than glass so do you have a blade to sub out the diamond blade? They stated yes. So I purchased the kit and received it. There was the circular diamond blade. I sent a message asking them I made it clear I needed a acrylic blade. She then replied back that the diamond blade will cut through acrylic. Is that right? I bought a circular blade from Tap plastic and it wasn't a diamond blade. Can anyone confirm that a diamond blade is good to cut acrylic? I feel this will just melt the acrylic.

PLEASE HELP.

This was her response.

Perhaps this will help you out. Diamond hole saws are made from synthetic diamonds and the process is what they call brazing. They take the bell housing and basically weld a bead of diamond on to the edge of the bell housing. Diamonds are the hardest material on the planet I believe. Diamonds will cut glass/acrylic/tile/wood/concrete/granite and an assorted other materials due to diamonds are harder then any other material.

It's not going to matter if it's glass or acrylic. I hope that this helps you out and what your looking at is 1 dimensional and you understand the educational points I have conveyed to you.

 

[Lsufan]

Are u talking about a circular blade or a hole saw blade. If your drilling holes for bulkheads u should be using a hole saw blade. A diamond tip will work but I like to use regular wood/bi-metal hole saw blades if cutting holes in acrylic. They seem to cut it a little faster. Eighther way once u start drilling or cutting don't stop until your all the way through. If u have to stop for some reason pick the blade up off the acrylic before u stop. If u stop in the middle of the cut the acrylic will melt to your blade and get stuck to where it's hard to get off.

 

[ThisGuy12]

You can use the diamond blade it should work.

But ideally you should go to your local hardware store and pickup a wood/bi-metal FINE tooth hole saw bit, make sure you let the drill weight do its work and have some water nearby the blade heats up, heat melts acrylic.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

She is simply incorrect.

Yes its diamonds.. yes it can cut things..
Its intended purpose is for glass and other very HARD materials. (porcelain, ceramic, brick, stone)
It is not an ideal choice for acrylic at all.
It will quickly be covered with melted plastic unless you keep it completely flooded with water and even then its going to not work nearly as well as a proper toothed bit.

Its like giving a butter knife to a surgeon and having them perform open heart surgery with it..

 

[Westcoastindia]

Could you post a pic of that circular blade?
I guess it's a hole saw primarily used for cutting metal. Works like a charm on acrylics as well..
Is this what you're talking about?
If yes then go ahead drill your holes.

 

[Westcoastindia]

I have used diamond tipped hole saws used for glass to drill acrylics. They do cut acrylic, but it's a ridiculous process. Not recommended but however if you are handy with tools, you would be able to drill couple of holes nice and fine. Just start with an angle and never stop until you have finished drilling the hole. It won't create a very clean hole as metal hole saw, but it's for overflow who cares?

 

[RussWalters]

I wouldn't waste a diamond tip blade on acrylic. A normal hole saw should work fine.