bullkhead drilling Q

[brc0488]

Ok so if i have a 1" bulk head i need to use a hole drill that is
1 3/4" to drill the hole is that right???

[mhhauser321]

To make sure you get the right size try this
I would take the rubber gasket, and then mark the inner diameter on the glass of the tank. Then, cut to the outer edge of the marks that you made. The hole should be the perfect size for you to slip in the bulkhead.

[loves saltwater]

You should check it first some bulkheads vary in size.My 1" bulkheads required a 45MM coring bit.

[brc0488]

k yea hauser im gonna kinda do that i think...i think im just gonna drill a piece of plywood and see if it fits that...that should do it...now i just need to get a diamond coated hole saw

[rayman45]

45 mm

[ocndyver]

EBAY FOR THE DIAMOND HOLE SAW

[brc0488]

exactly what i was thinking dyver

[brc0488]

rayman isn't 1 3/4" like 44.45 millimeters? will it not mater if its 6 tenths of a millimeter off?

[rayman45]

lol i just know 45 mm, because i got one off e-bay from a guy in asia.... cost like 10$ shipped and got here in a week...

if you want i can find the guys user name...

[rayman45]

and i was told to get a 44mm drill.... couldent find one.. so i got the 45 mm ... lol... doesnt matter if its that little off...

and drilling is VERY VERY HARD
i was drilling a small holding tank for my fw system and cracked the whole side... i just put a whole tube of silcone over it...
just take your time.... dont ruck like i did lol..

[lakee911]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9181179#post9181179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rayman45
and i was told to get a 44mm drill.... couldent find one.. so i got the 45 mm ... lol... doesnt matter if its that little off...

and drilling is VERY VERY HARD
i was drilling a small holding tank for my fw system and cracked the whole side... i just put a whole tube of silcone over it...
just take your time.... dont ruck like i did lol..

I think the hard part is the pressure you put on the drill. Little silicone or whole tube, I wouldn't want a cracked tank in my house when it gives way! Disaster waiting to happen. Probably wouldn't look very good either.

You need some lube (water) and no pressure. Let the bit do the work. There is about 57 good threads on here regarding drilling glass--all methods. Do some searching (get a membership $25 to enable it) on it.

Jason

[rayman45]

i wasent part of this forum... and its only a 10 gal tank.. for my 75 i had a locla pet store drill it

[hllywd]

http://richontools.com/catalog/i174.html


$6.30 shipped... tough to beat. I'm down to about $.63 / hole with this one (and no signs of being worn out)...:D

Tim:cool:

[hllywd]

BTW 45mm is generally the right size hole for a 1" sch 40 bulkhead. From what people say there are some oddballs out there though... best to have the bulkhead in hand before you buy the hole saw. Drilling is simple, nothing tough about it. At first it is a little counter intuitive but you get over it after a couple successful holes.

Tim:D

[brc0488]

yea i'm a little nervous i dont care about the sump becasue it's old and i can always replace it easily its the filter i just built outta a ten gallon tank...I'm to lazy to have to re do it again....even though it took like 10 minutes once i had all the acrylic cut..but i'm just gonna order a 45 mm and hope for the best

[hllywd]

Low speed, 100rpm or so, lots of H2O, and little more than the weight of the drill. Also use some kind of guide to start with. I use the inside corner of a framing square spaced off the glass about 1/4". Once the groove is set no more guide needed. Works best if you rock the drill slightly as you go.

Tim

[lakee911]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9183788#post9183788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
From what people say there are some oddballs out there though...

Oddball people or oddball bulkheads? :lol:

[hllywd]

Yes:D

Tim:cool:

[brc0488]

hlly i'm a little confused when u say use a guide...how did you use a corner as a guide?

[brc0488]

hlly thanks so much for the link to the drill bit! cant beat $6.50 shipped!

[mflamb]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=962136&perpage=25&pagenumber=6
Scroll down a little bit to see the guide.
Mike

[hllywd]

The problem is these hole saws don't have a pilot bit like regular hole saws so you need some kind of guide to keep them from skating before the saw makes it's groove in the glass. A piece of plywood with a slightly larger hole than the saw works great. I've found it's just as easy to have the hole saw ride in the corner of a framing square at the right location to start the hole and it's always handy (at least in my garage). I always have some cabinet door cushions around and use those to space the square up so the diamond coating doesn't wear on the square.
I hope that makes more sense than it sounds to me it does...:eek2:

Tim:cool: