Drilling Acrylic Tanks........ Sweet

penguinpimp1990 · Dec 13, 2005

i was reading online that you can drill acrylic tanks? can you do this to any old acrlic tank or does it have to be a certain thickness? got any links on how to drill acrylics?

Rodders · Dec 14, 2005

If its a small holw use a drill bit. If its a big hole Id use a hole saw.

simonbrown403 · Dec 14, 2005

Just use two blocks of wood, one on both sides clamp if possible, to stop it from splintering and go slowly.

eric1514 · Dec 14, 2005

simonbrown403 said:
Just use two blocks of wood, one on both sides clamp if possible, to stop it from splintering and go slowly.

And use plenty of water on the bit and area you are drilling to keep things cool. You don't want the bit to get too hot, melt the plastic, weld itself to the tank and break something.

Eric

penguinpimp1990 · Dec 14, 2005

lol maybe ill just buy a pre dilled tank

onemisterchristian · Dec 15, 2005

I did some drilling on my "any old acrylic" and don't let the comments dissuade you. I'm not at all a hardware type person and it was super easy, i just used a wierd drill bit that's super pointy, then gets wider. I don't even know what it's called but do keep a cup of water handy for when the plexi glass gets hot. Take it slow and it's no big deal.

penguinpimp1990 · Dec 15, 2005

did the tank get any cracks in it? or any other problems

Paul_MTS · Dec 15, 2005

I'ved drilled several of my glass tanks so drilling acrylic should be about the same really.

just find the right size bit for the pipe work your using on the tank, drill it nice and slowly not applying too much pressure and add plenty of water, it's best to slow up even more towards the end so you get a nice crisp cut at the end.

onemisterchristian · Dec 16, 2005

Nope, no cracks or problems.

Rodders · Dec 16, 2005

As onemisterchristian said, the drill bits for drilling acrylic are spose to have a sharp point so they dont crack on the way out.
You can always grind a normal drill bit to a point.