Drilling Tanks

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CHOMPERS

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MFK Member
Apr 28, 2006
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
My drills came in from Hong Kong today :headbang2 and the box of bulkhead fittings came in yesterday
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So I had to choose between doing some homework or drilling a tank or two.

So here are some pics and the how to:

The first step is to make a jig and backing board out of some scrap wood. I cut that strip off the edge so that I could get the hole as close to the top of the tank as possible. This meant that I would need to trim the frame, but I wanted the water level way up there. (Drilling an unknown bottom is not wise.)

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Step two is to clamp the jig and backer to the tank. Here you can see why the backer is important. It distributes the stress from the clamp. It also catches the disc at the end of drilling, and minimizes punch through at the end of the operation.

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Next, I filled the jig with water. I waited for the wood to soak up water to form a natural seal. I refilled and drilling began.

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I needed a set of tank frames anyway. I am not up for the chore of replacing the glass. I have two pieces that are the right size but they are also the right size for 10g lids :D

The next attempt I was a little more gingerly at the point of punch out....And...


Success :headbang2

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Still, I had to dress the hole with a Dremmel tool...

And the final product:

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By the way, I have the luxury of doing this in my shower since I have that kitchen sprayer thing installed. It makes clean up a breaze.

Now only 19 more holes to go...
 
It was a Goodwill score. I paid five bucks for it and I got a light and a hood with it. I have other 10's so I look at it like the tank was free. So this one made for good practice.
 
How would it differ from drilling a acrylic tank???as too much of a wacko to try a glass one.
 
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