Question on tank drilling

[sw52275]

First time drilling a tank. Put painters tape on the opposite where I was drilling to help reduce chipping. Still got a couple little chips.

These normal? Will they be a problem? The bulkhead gasket does cover them easily.

 

[GoReefin]

It will be fine. Bulk head seal is much larger than those chips.

 

[chickendirt]

I dont know why painters tape. I think your supposded to keep a flow of water where you are drilling to reduce heat and friction. It looks like you're drilling through the tape.

But I could be totally wrong. I just don't think tape is gonna do much. If anything if theres a shatter maybe reduce the mess. Even with the tape and things go well its not going to change the clean job after.

 

[Asm481]

Only way to get better is, a) luck or b) higher speed drill with less pressure in a drill press to hold it steady.
In other words what you got looks pretty good.

 

[smalltown reefer]

Way better than my first CRACK at drilling a tank... No punn intended.

 

[cilyjr]

I dont know why painters tape. I think your supposded to keep a flow of water where you are drilling to reduce heat and friction. It looks like you're drilling through the tape.

But I could be totally wrong. I just don't think tape is gonna do much. If anything if theres a shatter maybe reduce the mess. Even with the tape and things go well its not going to change the clean job after.

You put painters tape on the opposite side of the panel from the drill. The reason is when the drill gets very close to the edge of the glass. Any weight on it Can fracture a small chip. Also, the painters tape helps to keep the section of glass from the falling out and smacking one of the other panels and potentially breaking them.

Yes, you do keep a trickle of water on the side you are drilling. Heat is the enemy.

 

[GoReefin]

Drilled many tanks. Here are two ways to do it.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Your all good, Drilled many a tank, a super clean hole is difficult freehand. I always add a small bead of aquarium silicone on the inside of the bulkhead, probably not necessary with a new seal, but...

 

[cilyjr]

If you do not have a drill press or cannot get the tank to where, one can be used maybe due to size, please use a template.

Get a scrap piece of wood, some kind of one by, cut it so you can brace it against the tank somehow where you want the hole to be. Cut your hole with a hole saw slightly bigger than what you are about to drill in the wood.
Gently brace that against the tank where you want your hole to be. Drill your hole in there. This will keep the drill from chattering initially and will stop both scuffing from the diamond bit and A potential bounce that could crack the glass.

I will drill a 17/64 hole horizontally intersecting with the drill bit template hole stick a piece of airline tubing in there and allow water to simply slow drip through that so I don't have to use a squirt bottle. This allows for an even drip of cool water.