DIY Glass Drill Guilde

[Protodad]

Anyone have a suggestion for a DIY glass bit guide for a tank? I tried the cheap plastic on that suctions to the glass but it was terrible. I don’t feel like dropping $60 on an upright drill stand. My last holes came out a little tilted

I was thinking just clamping a 3/4 board with the appropriate hole size. But wanted to see what others have used.

 

[Stigigemla]

Normally i use an upright stand.
But some tanks I have to drill a whole in a standing glass sheet. In that case I first make a circle with a waterproof pen how the whole is going to be. Then I put the drill in a cordless screwdriver and ask the customer to hold a small watering can over the drill. Two fingers in 90 degree position hard pressed to the glass at the edge of the coming whole, position the drill at the fingers and start it very slow with almost no pressure. Keep the drill wet all the time from just a little water on the glass over the whole. When it starts to be a clearly visible mark from the drill increase the speed and the pressure. Lift the drill from the whole every five or ten seconds and let it clean of all glass powder. If it is possible drill the last bit of the whole from the other side of the glass. If impossible reduce the pressure on the drill for the last mm to get a clean end of the drilling. Normally one big bath towel on the floor is enough. Wash it directly after the drilling. Glass splitter in the eyes can be very dangerous even weeks after.
If the tank is less than 5 foot I raise it so the glass to drill is horizontal. I never drill a tank with water in it.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I used some clamped a couple layers of cardboard and tape it in place. Not sure if this is standard but I used some glass grinding coolant from my stained glass kit and put it in a lab rinse bottle and had my girlfriend put a stready stream on it. I think the bigger hurdle for an even cut in even/low pressure, coolant and realizing if one side of the bit is deeper. Mark a line on the bit with a sharpie at half the depth of the glass plus the depth of the guide so you can have a mark indicating if its uneven.

 

[Apotack]

Run a hole saw of similar size through a piece of wood, tape or clamp that to the glass

 

[lapin]

Drill a board or use 4 pieces of wood to make a square.

 

[WVNed]

I drill a piece of thin plywood like 3/8 with a hole saw and then cut a v shaped slot into the hole for the glass dust to flow out of carried by the water. I clamp it to the tank

 

[stefanm]

Run a hole saw of similar size through a piece of wood, tape or clamp that to the glass

Exactly what I do, cheap/free and easy!

 

[nano_ryan]

Anyone have a suggestion for a DIY glass bit guide for a tank? I tried the cheap plastic on that suctions to the glass but it was terrible. I don’t feel like dropping $60 on an upright drill stand. My last holes came out a little tilted

I was thinking just clamping a 3/4 board with the appropriate hole size. But wanted to see what others have used.

I was able to do it for under 11 Dollars. I ordered a super cheap drill bit from amazon. Then I took a peace of ply wood and drilled a hole into it. I just laid it over the glass so the hole is where I want to drill. Poured some water onto it, and drilled. Practice first before you do it with some glass, and see how fast you should drill to get good results. I started off slow, then faster as I got further into it.