DIY Drilling

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:04 pm

I tried a method of drilling tanks with Dremel this past weekend.
Worked nicely on the 10G I tested on. Will be doing a 40G this weekend.

rodcon00 · Post by **rodcon00** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:09 pm

What size bulkhead are you using?

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:31 pm

Ruh roh George Ghaz is experimenting again.....look out tadpole tank inbound. What devious project are you working on now oh wise one?

Rob

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:00 am

For the 10G - 1/2" bulk head. For the 40G it'll be a 3/4" bulkhead.
Maybe we can do a GWAPA workshop to demo this live...

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:36 am

and still he remains a mystery shrouded in an enigma wrapped in a puzzle about why he was drilling ....hmmmm the suspense

tomterp80 · Post by **tomterp80** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:38 am

I'm waiting to hear what Dremel accessory was deployed to do the cutting.

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:05 pm

Here's the info I followed...

What you need is a dremel type tool. Â I have a variable speed one, but only used the highest setting for this. Â You also need the dremel diamond point bits (the post uses #7134 and #7103...one is a round bit and the other is a tapered bit). Â I found a set of them at WalMart (both the round tip and the taper tip) #7150 for $5.97 total (comes 1 of each in a pack). Â You will also need a water spray bottle and towel, a sharpie marker, and the bulkhead that will go in the hole.

First, use the rubber gasket from the bulkhead and trace the inside of the hole using the sharpie. Â I did it on both sides of the glass as the working side gets wiped away. Â Next use the round tip bit (you may need a smaller collet for the dremel to hold the bit or use scotch tape on the bit to cause it to fit tight) and start grinding away a small circle inside the circle drawn with the gasket. Â I created a circular depression about 1/4" in diameter and kept grinding away. Â As glass dust (silica) accumulated on the bit, I would spray it with water. Â I ground the 1/4" hole all the way through the glass.

Next, I used the tapered bit to cut. Â It would help if you have the attachment for the dremel that allows you to rest it square on the tank, but I did it freehand. Â Start by putting the bit into the 1/4" hole and moving the dremel up and down to grind away at the glass. Â Move the dremel a little at a time towards the bulkhead gasket circle. Â Continue moving it up and down along the line and you will basically grind away the hole. Â As I indicated above, it took me 30 minutes to do the 1" hole but that was because I was cautious. Â The next time will be alot quicker. Â When you get all the way around, go easy and don't push too hard. Â Let the bit grind away the last bit of glass and a circle will fall out and all you have to do is fit the bulkhead into the hole to see if it catches anywhere then just gring away at the sides.

As to the reason for drilling...cousin is setting up a 40G reef - needs one more
hole drilled and we don't cannot haul this thing to the glass shop which is
open M-F 9-6.

No tads right now for sure.
WHEN that happens it'll probably be a tupperware rack anyway.

But now that I can drill tanks - the possibilities are endless! MUAHAHAHAH!

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:58 am

Drilled for a 3/4" bulkhead in a 40G breeder - worked beautifully!

rodcon00 · Post by **rodcon00** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:22 pm

I like the idea of using a dremel to do the drilling. I have used a drill press (set on its lowest speed) to drill out eighteen 2 and 5 gallon tanks. I had some fun with it but it took a long time because progress had to go very slowly otherwise I found the glass would crack.

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