Drilling Glass- My First Attempt

Azriel · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 07:28 AM

Thanks guys for encouraging me to try this myself rather than having it done by a glass shop! It's definitely not as hard as I thought it would be. Now that I've said that... watch me crack the glass on my next attempt...

haha

It's funny though, when I bought this at Lowe's they said I wouldn't be able to drill holes in it because it's too thin (1/8" pane). It's always fun to prove people wrong.

Here's my first attempt, I just used a piece of scrap glass for this so I could get the hang of it. There was a lot of chipping, but I think that's okay, right? I know you can flip the glass over and drill from the other side to reduce chipping, but I don't think I'd be able to line up the holes well if I tried that.

Here's the drill bit.

The retaining ring made from plumbers putty, with water in it.

Drilled through.

Cleaned up. There are a lot of scratches because I had a hard time holding the drill in one spot at first.

The cut out part.

DemonicalEnvy · #2 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 07:39 AM

I worked at a saltwater petstore and the owner drilled ALL the holes for the bulkheads himself. He explained it was easier to start on a angle then slowly come to a horizontal. I have never drilled myself but that was what i was told and it was coming form someone who drilled over 200 tanks and cracked one tank (due to tweaking the tank when picking it up), I know Jason has a DIY thread for glass cutting but thought i would throw out the information i was given.

Azriel · #3 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemonicalEnvy

I worked at a saltwater petstore and the owner drilled ALL the holes for the bulkheads himself. He explained it was easier to start on a angle then slowly come to a horizontal. I have never drilled myself but that was what i was told and it was coming form someone who drilled over 200 tanks and cracked one tank (due to tweaking the tank when picking it up), I know Jason has a DIY thread for glass cutting but thought i would throw out the information i was given.

Yep, that's what I did. I followed Doug's (Pumilo) thread on how to drill glass.

DemonicalEnvy · #4 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 07:59 AM

It's not bad for sure. That's usually how it goes the firsts are the worst and you can only get better from there. Since the tank is one piece thats a HUGE+.

Azriel · #5 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:18 AM

Alright, so I did one more practice hole on the scrap piece of glass, and then I drilled the actual tank. I found drilling the tank was easier than the scrap pieces of glass, because the glass of the tank was about twice as thick. It seems like that would make it more tricky, but it was actually easier and it didn't chip as much. Or maybe I just got better at it from practicing! Either way...

I do have a question though. See how when the false bottom is pressed up against the glass it covers the hole? Should I cut a hole in the false bottom so it doesn't cover the hole I drilled, or is that okay like that?

Pumilo · #6 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:39 AM

Nice job! A little chipping is okay. You are right about flipping it, that would stop the chipping but harder to line it up again. I don't usually flip it. You can also minimize the chipping by going slower, especially near the end.
I assume you are putting some sort of bulkhead in there for a drainage tube, right? You'll most likely have to clearance that screen and false bottom to fit a bulkhead.

Azriel · #7 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumilo

Nice job! A little chipping is okay. You are right about flipping it, that would stop the chipping but harder to line it up again. I don't usually flip it. You can also minimize the chipping by going slower, especially near the end.
I assume you are putting some sort of bulkhead in there for a drainage tube, right? You'll most likely have to clearance that screen and false bottom to fit a bulkhead.

Thanks Doug. Yep, you helped me pick out the bulkhead from MistKing in another thread.

I'm thinking I can just cut a hole in the false bottom that matches up with the hole in the glass. Think that will work? Once I get the bulkhead I guess I'll be able to see how much I need to cut for it to fit.

Pumilo · #8 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:51 AM

That looks like real diamond drilling fluid you have there. Where did you find it? I haven't seen that at any hardware store before. I had to get mine through a window supplier, CR Laurence, and had to get a lifetime supply to get it!

Azriel · #9 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumilo

That looks like real diamond drilling fluid you have there. Where did you find it? I haven't seen that at any hardware store before. I had to get mine through a window supplier, CR Laurence, and had to get a lifetime supply to get it!

It's actually just water. As I drilled, it got clouded over with particles (from the glass, I assume?).

Pumilo · #10 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azriel

Thanks Doug. Yep, you helped me pick out the bulkhead from MistKing in another thread.

I'm thinking I can just cut a hole in the false bottom that matches up with the hole in the glass. Think that will work? Once I get the bulkhead I guess I'll be able to see how much I need to cut for it to fit.

I thought that might have been you. I'd wait until you get it in to see just how much you'll have to clearance it.