Drilling glass...

[Djasak]

I was given a 75 gallon tank in really good shape...I want to put a shadow overflow on it which means I gotta drill. Anybody have some tips before I do it? I know I need a diamond bit and to use water to keep the blade cool but I'm just curious if anybody knows of ways to make it as smooth and easy as possible.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Do a search on YouTube.

 

[mfinn]

First do a google search on tempered glass tanks to determine if you will be able to drill it.

 

[Reefer of Oz]

If you can fashion a template out of acrylic or even wood that helps. Clamp it down with another piece on the opposite side to protec glass an catch the plug. It does not take excessive amounts of water to cool and lubricate the bit. Just pour and wipe periodically. Use little pressure, let the bit do the work. Slow down speed and pressure at the very end of the cut to reduce chip out. Keeping the bit straight is important as well. The template helps for that also. Good luck! As long as it’s not a tempered panel you will be just fine. Keep the hole 1.5x the diameter away from the edge and other holes if you can, reduces potential weakness.

 

[samnaz]

You want to keep the drill bit cool, I built a dam out of plumbers putty around the hole and filled it with water.

Watch a few videos on YouTube and you’ll be good to go.

But make sure it’s not tempered glass first.

 

[ReefHomieJon]

I put the diamond bit where I wanted to drill the hole, then put a lot of plumbers putty around it to build a dam to keep the water inside as I drilled it, and also to keep the bit in the same spot so it wouldn’t run around on the glass. Then take it slow in steady. Should take like 3-5 minutes to make it all the one they. DO NOT push down hard while it is drilling, otherwise once the glass gets thin from drilling it’ll probably crack/splinter/chip/not make a clean hole

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I suggest getting a scrap piece of glass and using that to make one or more practice holes. If you think you got the hang of it, that same piece of scrap is not a great template to hold the bit steady for drilling your tank.

As already mentioned, I highly suggest using a backer of glass, wood, acrylic, etc to help prevent the glass from blowing out as the bit breaks through.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I suggest getting a scrap piece of glass and using that to make one or more practice holes. If you think you got the hang of it, that same piece of scrap is not a great template to hold the bit steady for drilling your tank.

Proof reading fail.. That should say the piece of scrap IS a great template to hold the bit for drilling the tank....

 

[Lizbeli]

Everyones got you covered. One thing I did too was put a towel inside the tank so when the piece was cut out, it wouldn’t fall onto the other panel and crack my tank. I only heard of this happening a few times. But better safe than sorry.

Just go slow and let the weight of the drill do the work. Towards the end take some weight off for a clean edge.