Step-by-Step: Drilling Holes in Your Glass Tank for Bulkheads

[GS-Rock]

this is a great thread, swedish steel are you talking about using a drill or dremmel, when using either it is important to keep the heat from the drill (friction) but also the angle or the teeth or cutting edge will make the process go faster, the duck tape is a good way of preventing chipping, but you got to also take in acount to the friction and virbations will also affect if it chips or not

 

[brentstep1]

Great Thread!

 

[thumb]

Thanks for the response swedish steel, I have seen some bits from Teddy that appear to have a heavy wobble(very rare) but I think it is the diamond powder is plated on uneven and just makes it look like the bit has a wobble. Not sure but I think only a lathe can tell.
I have saved the bit with the most pronounced wobble, if anyone is willing and has the equipment I will send it to them.
These bits are very rare (1 in hundreds) and of coarse Teddy stands behind his product so I do not mean to scare anyone.
I feel that maybe none of the bits have a real wobble to speak of. They look like they are made on a lathe, is it possible to make something like this on a lathe and have it off center?I can drill a hole with a bit that seems to have a bad wobble no problem, but there are people who freak out about it and say bad things about the product, I think they are simply starting the hole too fast.
There is a guy I know of that buys thousands of bits from Teddy and no returns for wobbler's.

 

[swedish steel]

GS-Rock I agree that friction and vibration are important factors. The tanks I drilled were large enough that I left them in an upright position, placed a half moon dam under the hole area and had either my wife or daughter squirting water from a spray bottle every 2-3 seconds or so to keep the bit lubricated, and braced myself so that the bit cut true without unnecessary vibration. I was using a 14 volt Dewalt with hole saws from Lau. 48MM, 67MM and 85MM hole saws.

 

[igotsalt]

This is a wonderful thread with a lot of valuable information. I recently purchased a used 230g. It is a custom tank made by "inter-american" and shipped here from Canada. The front and back of the tank are starfire glass. The original owner had a 2" hole drilled in back right corner and ran the return line up back of outside of tank. The bottom is not tempered. I do not want to run any lines on outside of tank. I want to set tank up to be viewed from both sides as a room divider. I have seen "glass cages" on a site and they had 4 holes drilled in one cage in the center of the tank. That looks really good in the picture and it does not take up much room. I am a little bit concerned that the tank would be weak in that spot with all the holes concentrated in a such a small area.

I want to block the original single hole that is already drilled and build some type of overflow boxes in the center of the tank. I'm thinking 2 boxes spaced about 24" apart in order to get good circulation in tank. I have been watching this thread which has given me the confidence to try drilling my tank. I am a little unsure on the best location to install overflow boxes(any info on boxes would also be appreciated). Would love to hear people's experience on where they drilled their larger tanks. And any comments on what they would do different! Is there a thread or site you can refer me to?
thanks for this thread and the valuable info!

 

[Agu]

(Teddy Lau) got back to me and said that the discount would apply after I bidded on the items (Just like yoiu Said, swedish steel! Thanks. ) or that I could order from their website: www.thk.kk

Link doesn't work .............

 

[bleedingthought]

Sorry, www.thk.hk

 

[dtaranath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9754875#post9754875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by igotsalt


I want to block the original single hole that is already drilled and build some type of overflow boxes in the center of the tank. I'm thinking 2 boxes spaced about 24" apart in order to get good circulation in tank. I have been watching this thread which has given me the confidence to try drilling my tank. I am a little unsure on the best location to install overflow boxes(any info on boxes would also be appreciated). Would love to hear people's experience on where they drilled their larger tanks. And any comments on what they would do different! Is there a thread or site you can refer me to?

Here's a great thread on calfo overflow boxes:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=9764384

 

[marshman]

qick?,i order two drill bits from teddy on 4/9/07 and its been two weeks already and i havent got it yet,does anyone know how long the shipping is from hong kong to calf?

 

[bleedingthought]

I ordered mine a week ago and I'm not sure if he sends out confirmation of shipment or a tracking number or anything like that. But I do know that it takes quite a while to receive it.

 

[marshman]

does it come through the mail?

 

[bleedingthought]

The hole saws? If so, how else would they come?

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

I paid for some on April 9 2007 and got the notice from the post office that they were waiting for me at the Post Office on April 21.

 

[marshman]

guess what guys!i finely got it today,now let the drilling began
:rollface:

 

[Ziggy692]

Lau in Hong Kong can you send me a web site or e-mail addy thanks can yo sent this info to my e-mail addy i had a hard finding this thresd thanks agin.

 

[bleedingthought]

What?!

 

[dtaranath]

i could say something mean about tech support, but I won't.


You can find Lau's address if you look him up on ebay.

 

[bleedingthought]

He doesn't seem to reply often. I've sent him 3 e-mails/messages on different accounts but only received response one time.

 

[Demeter]

Got my cutter from LAU yesterday. It took 8 days to arrive. I drilled the hole today.

The hole cutter slipped a couple times, but I got it worked out.

 

[Demeter]

Sorry that pic is way too big but I wanted to get as much detail as possible in the shot.