How to drill a whole in glass

Hi all
My life would be much easier if I would have a whole in the upper corner of my tank. Can one drill a whole into a exsisting tank, is it advisible and if so how???
Please just answer with yes sure if YOU have success full done it:bigsmile::blink1::bigsmile:

 

can be done and doesnt seem that hard, tank should be empty obviously.
check out youtube, there is loads of how to video`s on this subject that shows you step by step.

 

yes and no
i tried and failed .managed to drill 5 small holes and stuffed up the last one,I used glass bit ,had putty around the the drill bit filled with water contiusly when i almost thru the glass side applied to much presure and crack....but I later read the trick is to place a wet board or polyfoam under glass with tape and apply no pressure at all until small hole is formed and then repeat process from the inside.
Now Id rather take it to a tank builder..

 

Hi SA yes on Youtube it looks easy but do they show you the failure ??
Don't know it looks scary

 

Would get a professional in to do it.

 

morning donny, would you know somebody?

 

Nope sorry, but i would speak to Zaf ... he had someone that was gonna take my big tank apart for me sure he would have a contact .

 

Most tank builders don't like to drill a tank they did not build, there is always the possability of the tank cracking. All the luck with finding some1 for the drill.

 

it's not that bad ,take some clay make a little dam around the place you want to drill fill it with paraffin and start to drill DO NOT APPLY Pressure, let the weight of the drill do the job to drill 10mm it must take you 20min

 

Why would you add paraffin? The process is the same as when cutting granite, slowly drill the hole with a constant flow of water to keep the heat down and from cracking the glass. As Ben said do not apply pressure and let the weight of the drill do the job.

Make sure you use the correct tools and settings on your drill, for logical reasons please do not use the "hammer" effect setting on your drill...has seen so many people making that mistake.

 

HI Ruanm it's a trick we Learned a long time ago in the Eng business ,it lubricate and cools, some times if we need to drill or cut hard materials we use paraffin for cutting solvent.

 

Will the circular movement of the drill not cause the paraffin to be thrown out the little clay boundary.

 

the oil in paraffin sticks to the drill But keep you rpm slow

 

Hi Guys
i might try it but to throw another spanner in the works i have to do it on a vertical panel.:amazed: I 'm so far to say if the glass cracks its still early enough to empty out the tank completly. will let most of the water out take the fish out and give it a bash. I will use a cordless drill and hire the bit. need a 25-30mm whole. Any more tips I'll need all the help I can get:bigsmile:
I will, when I'm ready, film the whole thing so you will see how its done, or not done:bigsmile:

 

why do you need to drill the hole?

Personally I would not attempt this as the risk of cracking the glass is just to much. It can be done if you follow all the advice and I know of a few people that have done it successfully...1st time...

Perhaps call some of your local glass shops and ask them if they could do this for you. Cost is usually around R65 for a 50mm hole at the glass shops here in joburg. I dont know about hiring these bits and to buy it from builders can be more expensive than getting someone to drill it for you...

Good luck!

 

Hi Dolphine
the local guys here are pretty useless sorry to say.
I wonna do away with pipes to get the water to the sump. A breather whole will not work because the sump has to small a volume in comparison to the tank .
Thanks for the luck though:blink1:

 

Hi Guido
Stupid Question, why do you have to drill vertical, why can't you empty the tank completely and lay it on its side and then drill?
I don't know what size tank you are trying to drill that is why I am asking because I drilled on a 1.2m tank and I laid it on its side and it all went great till I got impatient and applied some pressure and cracked the glass....

 

Hi Gareth
:bigsmile:no stupid question at all. Same size tank, just got the interior done and added sand and clay. If I had to empty out the whole tank I had to throw the clay away wash the sand all over, and with traces of clay not a nice work. and redo everything:evil:. sometimes i'm my worst enemy, stuborn, impatient,lazy!!
Will see, it's not done jet

 

I drilled 2x25mm holes in my tank in position.

I used a lot of water for cooling and an old cordless drill to make sure I did not go too fast.I dipped the bit into water a few times a minute.
It took a while ,but I had no problems.
Patience is a virtue.