Need help with cutting holes in glass and acrylic!

[Skaman386]

I am setting up a new 90 gallon aquarium I recently got and will be making it a reef tank sometime in the near future, whenever funds allow. However, to make my filtration system I will need to cut a hole in my wet/dry filter, as well as a ten gallon glass aquarium so they can drain into one another allowing for a sump and area for two protein skimmers.

I know that when you cut holes in glass you can use a special drimmel bit and run water over the area you are cutting so it doesn't overheat. Can anyone give me more specific directions and tell me what drimmel bit I need? Also, can I use this same technique for the acrylic wet/dry?

[barbra]

I cannot speak to the glass hole, but the one in acrylic I am familliar with:

Use a hole saw if you can. Doing large areas with a dremmel is a real pain. The tool heats up really quicly and makes a mess of the plastic. Pieces fly all over as they cool and harden, etc. With a hole saw it still melts a bit, but you can use the dremmel for clean up.

[Skaman386]

I don't really have a hole saw, so I guess I have to use a drimmel. But what is the best bit to use for acrylic?

[barbra]

For smaller holes I have started a pilot hole on the edge (anything should work) and then used the black cut-off wheels that are pretty thin, I don't know the proper name.

Home Depot sells an attachment for your drill that works up to about 1-1/2" - 2" for about $5. That's what I used. They are located next to the hole saw attachments. You can get a complete hole saw drill attachment for like $10-15.

[Skaman386]

Thanks guys. I have some acrylic I can practice on, but the glass will definately be the hardest.

Can anyone give me some rules for putting holes in glass?

[kiknchikn]

You can get a diamond coated hole saw for cutting glass pretty cheap on ebay. The one I bought came with directions on how to cut glass safey and properly for $12 (45mm), and that wasn't even the cheapest, it was just the closest to me since I wanted it quickly.

[sabodish]

ive cut a few holes in my acrylic sump and also in my acrylic skimmers...i just used a hole saw bit, went slow and everything was fine.