|
02/22/2015, 02:11 PM | #1 |
Drug Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 2,958
|
Cutting a slot for an overflow in back of glass tank?
I just bought an awesome half-cylinder tank called the Marineland Half-Moon 30g. It is 27" long by 14" wide by 28" tall and made out of nice thick glass. I would like to cut a slot approximately 12" long by 1/4" tall to allow water to overflow into a glass sump-like compartment that I would build onto the back of the aquarium.
So what's the best way to go about cutting this slot? And how close to the top of the tank could I reasonably put it? (It's frameless on the top). I have a dremel tool, but would be willing to buy whatever I would need to do this, and have successfully cut several glass holes with diamond tipped bits in the past several years. |
02/22/2015, 02:47 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 7,408
|
I am interested to see if this is even possible.
__________________
Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~ |
02/22/2015, 07:35 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
Pife,
Such things are done prior to any other fabrication being done. That way you only lose raw materials, not a finished product. The best method, for longevity of the glass, is using a Techni. That is not something that folks will have in their garage, nor are they likely to buy one for notching a tank. CNC waterjet @ $100,000 +++. With enough time, it can be done by hand, but the results are dismal at best, and still need professional finishing, to insure stress fracturing is very minimal, or not present at all. It is best to refer such things to professional glass fabrication shops for assessment as to practicality, particularly when dealing with a finished product.
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
02/22/2015, 08:14 PM | #4 |
Moved On
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 152
|
Take it too a glass shop, and see what they can do for you!
|
02/23/2015, 08:21 AM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wheatland, NY
Posts: 2,585
|
I've wondered about this as well. How deep do you want to make the cut? wherever it is will determine the height of water in your display. I would try a drill press with your diamond hole saw to make the beginning and end of the slot. The corners should be round to reduce stress. As for the center I'm not sure that hand tools will work very well, but slow, careful work with diamond cutting blade on a small angle grinder might work. Post pics if you do it!
|
02/23/2015, 08:48 AM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstateny
Posts: 2,504
|
I'd do it with a circular saw and a diamond blade with plenty of water. I would drill small relief holes at the beginning and end of the cut. The saw is then left with the depth lock open and is allowed to slowly enter the cut, plunging, then is locked down right at full penetration, so not to wonder or bind. You will have to decide if cutting the trim away is a structural risk worth taking. Another way of doing this is with diamond dremmel type tool: again with plenty of water, working wet and slowly you can etch your way through working the entire cut little by little through the glass.
This is the do it your self section; it seems people have missed that point. Like any do it yourself project things sometimes go wrong. If you are not comfortable working with tools please don't attempt doing things like this. $10k glass cutting tools have not been around as long as glass which people started cutting very thick peices of into intricate shapes long before UNCLE was born. Maybe research how glass was cut in a mid evil or gothic cathedral. I'm sure there are other ways than the ones I described.
__________________
Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef Last edited by mr.maroonsalty; 02/23/2015 at 08:53 AM. |
02/23/2015, 09:17 AM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstateny
Posts: 2,504
|
The first time I saw a circular saw used was on the late Greg Scheimer's tank. Anyone who remembers Greg's advice about drilling might know how he felt about drilling holes in tanks below where one would be comfortable losing all the water to when it leaks. Greg's tank was moved in 5 peices and reassembled. I believe Peter was using the bottom for the rear overflow and cutting a similar slot as the op; the bottom was tempered! Panels were moved and another new one ordered, but the cut was performed the same way. Peter is a high end trim carpenter and very good with tools.
__________________
Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef |
02/23/2015, 09:35 AM | #8 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wheatland, NY
Posts: 2,585
|
|
02/23/2015, 10:34 AM | #9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Oswego, Ny
Posts: 610
|
if someone does this I REALLY WANT A VIDEO... i just dont see it ending well honestly..
__________________
Support your local Reef Club! Upstate Ny - Lake Ontario Reef Society Current: 40B- Fish, Water, Rocks, Sand, Pumps, Heaters, Skimmer, Coral 93C build coming soon |
02/23/2015, 10:58 AM | #10 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wheatland, NY
Posts: 2,585
|
Quote:
With the right blade, water cooling, and a straight guide, cutting thick glass is simple. That being said, I would do some practice first. |
|
02/23/2015, 11:12 AM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstateny
Posts: 2,504
|
It was in the Hudson Valley. I've done it several times with my slide saw, but that was in fabrication mode with smaller panes.
__________________
Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef |
02/23/2015, 11:29 AM | #12 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstateny
Posts: 2,504
|
I had things a wee bit off; the bottom blew when drilling. The cutting is all the same, and starts around page 4-6:
http://hvreef.org/yabb/index.php?topic=11406.80
__________________
Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef |
02/23/2015, 12:57 PM | #13 | |
Grizzled & Cynical
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 17,319
|
Quote:
__________________
Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs |
|
02/23/2015, 02:10 PM | #14 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Columbus
Posts: 1,911
|
Instead of something so difficult why not just drill a series of holes to do the same function.
__________________
Lindsey ( That's Mr. Smith to you ) . Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder with 20 gallon sump./Apex, AI Sol Blue, In Sump Skimmer, Geo Calcium Reactor, WP-25 Wave Pump, Tunze Nano ATO, Carbon/GFO Reactors |
02/23/2015, 02:43 PM | #15 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Clive, IA
Posts: 692
|
Or would it be possible to install an internal overflow box connected to an external box via a couple bulkheads? That would provide you with something with a higher chance of success and would likely be more structurally sound.
|
02/23/2015, 02:57 PM | #16 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Denver, PA
Posts: 425
|
I've cut a 1" wide x 9" long slot on the short side of my 40 Breeder. External box installed with silicone. I'll post a few pics with a OP request.
|
02/23/2015, 03:30 PM | #17 | |||
Drug Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 2,958
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
|||
02/23/2015, 03:37 PM | #18 |
Drug Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 2,958
|
What do you guys think of one of these attached to my dremel:
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-EZ545-2...0XHBCPH8JBKCWS |
02/23/2015, 03:47 PM | #19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Clive, IA
Posts: 692
|
I've used it for my sump and it worked pretty well. Takes time obviously, but it worked. If you want nice pretty cuts you'll need to really take your time.
|
02/23/2015, 08:13 PM | #20 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 94
|
Why dont you just disassemble the tank, cut the top inch off the back glass and reassemble attaching your external overflow to the back?
|
02/24/2015, 04:04 PM | #21 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Denver, PA
Posts: 425
|
|
02/24/2015, 07:37 PM | #22 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Lancaster, CA
Posts: 290
|
It can be done. This is 8" long by 1" deep. One of these on each side of a 48" tank. I did this with a dremel.
|
02/24/2015, 10:56 PM | #23 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AWOL
Posts: 12,013
|
It can be done. That does not mean you should be doing it by hand. I addressed that in my original post.
__________________
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef |
02/25/2015, 08:50 AM | #24 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wheatland, NY
Posts: 2,585
|
Hawk, apparently you SHOULD have used a $100,000 water jet machine.
Last edited by Willistein; 02/25/2015 at 09:04 AM. |
02/25/2015, 10:13 AM | #25 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 2,727
|
Quote:
It would be bad enough to loose a new tank when cutting but it would be much worse to loose the tank when full of water inside your house!
__________________
John DT 120G. mixed reef w/ lots of automation + assorted FW and SW tanks. |
|
|
|