holes-how big?

[Brewmaster1]

In my other thread (oops now i did it) I showed what not to do in drilling an aquarium. New i am wondering if I can re drill the same holes bigger.( or have them drilled) The holes now are 2 in. and if i drill them to 2.5 in. it should remove almost all of the damage.... Providing that no more happens.
The hole center line is 4 in. from the top. From the sides they are 6, 12, and 18 in. This is a 75 gallon tank. can anyone help?

 

[Brewmaster1]

no one has any opinions eh.

no advice.

 

[aquariumdebacle]

can you clamp a piece of wood on it and drill through the wood?

 

[Saltyfish]

Yes you can drill the holes bigger but you would need something to the glass for the center of the drill bit to catch on to. I suggest a 1/2 thick piece oif arylic that is 5" x 5". Also use silicone to attach the two pieces together. Let it stand 24 hours before drilling and make sure you spread the silicone on the glass so it is bigger then the 5"x5" piece. Make sur eyou are drilling DOWN and the bottom is on a stable surface.

If you dont the drill bit will walk and ruin your tank. If you try it without you will later on be drilling 3" holes to fix the second mistake.

Once you have the hole drilled again just use razor blade to take off the left over arcylic.

If you have arcylic tank already then you can get away with a piece of wood and a clamp or a friend holding the tank down on the piece of wood while you drill.

 

[roscoe]

Another option is to use a dremel. Just get the diamond grit attatchment and have at it. Just draw the outlining of the diameter you are trying to increase then just use your dremel and slowly sand your way to your outlined diameter. I've done this a couple of times with success.

 

[pat99016]

Simply insert the two inch hole saw into the two and a half inch saw and use it as the guide. Go SLOW!!!! With lots of water.

Another option is to use a dremel. Just get the diamond grit attatchment and have at it. Just draw the outlining of the diameter you are trying to increase then just use your dremel and slowly sand your way to your outlined diameter. I've done this a couple of times with success.

 

[Ragintnk]

they make a adaptor for hole saws i believe it's called an "oops" adaptor

 

[Brewmaster1]

Thanks but, I did the work two months ago when the question was asked.

 

[Saltyfish]

lol sorry I missed the date, how did it work out for you and how did you do it?

 

[Brewmaster1]

It worked out nicely, I went slow and used a hose to keep things cool. I also used a template to keep the bit from walking around on the glass. I also used a backer board to keep the chipout to a minimum. I don't know if the board did much, about the same as metal tape I guess.

Thank you though for the help.

 

[Myteemouse]

I fixed one this morning with a dremmel!!
WORKED GREAT!!!

 

[Brewmaster1]

Do you have pics?

 

[Myteemouse]

Oh sorry I filled the hole with a bulkhead already!
What I did was I hgad a hole halfway threw on one side and broken threw one the other half!
The break luckily went right with the hole saw line except for a small one inch crack about an 1/8 inch outside the hole in a semi-round shape!
So I took the dremmel and finishd the hole with a dremmel and a squirt bottle full of water then I dremmeled the hole out of round to remove the crack slowly!!!
The break actually chiped the outside of the tank for about the size of a quarter and about 1/16th deep in the tank!
So When I put bulkhead on I filled the gasket inside with sylicone and filled the chip and threads of bulkhead also with sylicone (speeling) tightend down and thats it!
The bit was well worth the 20 bucks!
Saved a almost BRAND new tank with only one small scratch (now on the back)