With recent posts about drilling holes, I thought I would share my experience from this weekend. I admit that I was very skeptical about drilling holes myself, and even more skeptical about cutting them with a Rotozip tile bit. Well, I found myself in need of some holes, and I've been looking for an excuse to buy a spiral saw, so it seemed like a good match. ;D
I cut the first hole and I was amazed at how easy it was! I decided to snap some pics as I was working on the second hole, in case it might be helpful to someone else. Here goes...
I started by placing a 3/4 inch bulkhead where I wanted it positioned on the glass, and drew an outline using a Sharpie. The outline can be hard to see once the cutting begins, so after I drew the line with a thin Sharpie, I used a thicker one to make a stronger line. The original line is on the outside edge of the thick line, and I will try to cut along the outside edge (if that makes sense).
When I drilled the first hole, I used a dam made of plumber's putty to hold water to keep the bit cool. Of course, once I plunged through the glass, all the water drained out (duh). I had a small funnel nearby, so I thought I'd try using it to hold water from the underside. I started by plugging the hole in the funnel with plumber's putty.
Then I formed a ring of putty along the edge of the funnel, which I hoped would keep the funnel stuck to the underside of the glass.
I filled the funnel with water, then stuck it took the glass.
Then I built a dam on top using more putty, and filled it with water.
Ready to go...
I used a very light touch as I plunged the bit through the glass and then followed the outline of the cut. I didn't keep track of time, but I would guess it took a total of 2 to 3 minutes to complete the cut. This glass is about 3/16 thick, so I'm sure thicker glass would take longer.
It's not the prettiest hole, but will be fine for a bulkhead. The residue left by the plumbers putty cleans up easily with rubbing alcohol.
That's all there is to it! I'm sure you could get similar results using a Dremel with the same tile bit, but can't say for sure.
I hope this is helpful for someone who is as skeptical as I was. Now, go make some holes!
Tom
I cut the first hole and I was amazed at how easy it was! I decided to snap some pics as I was working on the second hole, in case it might be helpful to someone else. Here goes...
I started by placing a 3/4 inch bulkhead where I wanted it positioned on the glass, and drew an outline using a Sharpie. The outline can be hard to see once the cutting begins, so after I drew the line with a thin Sharpie, I used a thicker one to make a stronger line. The original line is on the outside edge of the thick line, and I will try to cut along the outside edge (if that makes sense).
When I drilled the first hole, I used a dam made of plumber's putty to hold water to keep the bit cool. Of course, once I plunged through the glass, all the water drained out (duh). I had a small funnel nearby, so I thought I'd try using it to hold water from the underside. I started by plugging the hole in the funnel with plumber's putty.
Then I formed a ring of putty along the edge of the funnel, which I hoped would keep the funnel stuck to the underside of the glass.
I filled the funnel with water, then stuck it took the glass.
Then I built a dam on top using more putty, and filled it with water.
Ready to go...
I used a very light touch as I plunged the bit through the glass and then followed the outline of the cut. I didn't keep track of time, but I would guess it took a total of 2 to 3 minutes to complete the cut. This glass is about 3/16 thick, so I'm sure thicker glass would take longer.
It's not the prettiest hole, but will be fine for a bulkhead. The residue left by the plumbers putty cleans up easily with rubbing alcohol.
That's all there is to it! I'm sure you could get similar results using a Dremel with the same tile bit, but can't say for sure.
I hope this is helpful for someone who is as skeptical as I was. Now, go make some holes!
Tom