Can you Drill Tempered Glass?

roktsintst · 09/08/2009, 09:20 AM

Hi. I have drilled a glass tank for a bulkhead before, but i can't remember if it was tempered or not? I just bought a new 90 gallon tank that has a tempered sticker on it and i was wondering if i can drill it? i have the diamond tip hole saw to do it???

tom obrecht · 09/08/2009, 09:22 AM

No you CAN NOT drill tempered glass...it will explode!

roktsintst · 09/08/2009, 09:30 AM

DAMN! I think i remember that the bottom of the last tank i drilled was tempered and the sides were not! There are stickers on the sides and bottom of this tank so maybe they just put extras as it is the same manufacturer...

kretzkiller · 09/08/2009, 09:49 AM

typically the sides are no tempered and the bottom is. Just check with the manufacturer to make sure.

nyvp · 09/08/2009, 11:25 AM

some manf. drill the holes then temper them if that what you were asking

SnowManSnow · 09/08/2009, 01:43 PM

can it be done.. .yes...

can YOU do it.. no (no offence)

Zestay · 09/08/2009, 04:39 PM

NO . dont try. if your tank is tempered where you dont want it. get a new tank or dont drill.

SnowManSnow · 09/08/2009, 04:52 PM

+1

BeanAnimal · 09/08/2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SnowManSnow
can it be done.. .yes...

can YOU do it.. no (no offence)

No, it can not be done, under any circumstances, no matter who or what is doing the drilling, etching or cutting.

If you want a hole, it must be placed there before tempering, or the temper must be removed from the panel be heating it to nearly its melting point and allowing it to cool and transform back to its anealed stated.

Lo0seR · 09/08/2009, 06:06 PM

EDIT

kaine806 · 09/11/2013, 11:00 PM

I have heard of people having luck using a high pressure water jet to cut holes in tempered glass. but for what it would cost to have a company try it.
you could probably just buy a new tank that is reef ready.

http://www.ttgwebsite.com/waterjet.php

this company claims the can cut it. but they charge $195.00 per hole.

so i would be over $400 after it was done. and I know wear I live I paid $249 for my 90g reef ready.

so if i where you i would sell that tank and just buy a reef ready tank. or go with a overflow.

as far as drilling tempered glass. it cannot be done with drill bit's. it will shatter ever time.

sirreal63 · 09/12/2013, 07:04 AM

That is not correct Kaine, you can never cut tempered glass, and neither can TTG, as they point out in the first section under Tempered Glass.
http://www.ttgwebsite.com/tempered.php

09/08/2009, 09:20 AM	#1
roktsintst Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cental Cali Posts: 2,384	Can you Drill Tempered Glass? Hi. I have drilled a glass tank for a bulkhead before, but i can't remember if it was tempered or not? I just bought a new 90 gallon tank that has a tempered sticker on it and i was wondering if i can drill it? i have the diamond tip hole saw to do it??? __________________ --- Ryan --- Current Tank Info: 300 AGE Starfire SPS Reef75g frag tank lit w/ T5's Deltec 902ACIII4 400 Radium's4-160 vho'sGEO 818 CA RXReefTek Kalk RXDart Return on manifold to a wavy sea57 watt uvHammerHead w/ OceansMotion

09/08/2009, 09:22 AM	#2
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	No you CAN NOT drill tempered glass...it will explode! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

09/08/2009, 09:30 AM	#3
roktsintst Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cental Cali Posts: 2,384	DAMN! I think i remember that the bottom of the last tank i drilled was tempered and the sides were not! There are stickers on the sides and bottom of this tank so maybe they just put extras as it is the same manufacturer... __________________ --- Ryan --- Current Tank Info: 300 AGE Starfire SPS Reef75g frag tank lit w/ T5's Deltec 902ACIII4 400 Radium's4-160 vho'sGEO 818 CA RXReefTek Kalk RXDart Return on manifold to a wavy sea57 watt uvHammerHead w/ OceansMotion

09/08/2009, 01:43 PM	#6
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	can it be done.. .yes... can YOU do it.. no (no offence) __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

09/08/2009, 04:52 PM	#8
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	+1 __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

09/08/2009, 09:49 AM	#4
kretzkiller Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: KC Posts: 599	typically the sides are no tempered and the bottom is. Just check with the manufacturer to make sure.

09/08/2009, 11:25 AM	#5
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	some manf. drill the holes then temper them if that what you were asking

09/08/2009, 04:39 PM	#7
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	NO . dont try. if your tank is tempered where you dont want it. get a new tank or dont drill.

09/08/2009, 06:06 PM	#10
Lo0seR Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: La Mesa, Ca. Posts: 443	EDIT __________________ Here's to the losers, bless them all... Mr.F.S Current Tank Info: 240 LeeMar Euro FlatPolished Last edited by Lo0seR; 09/08/2009 at 06:37 PM.

09/11/2013, 11:00 PM	#11
kaine806 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 2	I have heard of people having luck using a high pressure water jet to cut holes in tempered glass. but for what it would cost to have a company try it. you could probably just buy a new tank that is reef ready. http://www.ttgwebsite.com/waterjet.php this company claims the can cut it. but they charge $195.00 per hole. so i would be over $400 after it was done. and I know wear I live I paid $249 for my 90g reef ready. so if i where you i would sell that tank and just buy a reef ready tank. or go with a overflow. as far as drilling tempered glass. it cannot be done with drill bit's. it will shatter ever time.

09/12/2013, 07:04 AM	#12
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	That is not correct Kaine, you can never cut tempered glass, and neither can TTG, as they point out in the first section under Tempered Glass. http://www.ttgwebsite.com/tempered.php __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.