Anybody want to help drill a tank?

[dow]

Hey, I'm going to drill my tank in the next few days... Maybe this evening. Anybody with drilling experience want to come help or offer advise or make obnoxious remarks, or help me pick up the pieces, :lol

Thanks,

P. S. The operation will probably involve something for dinner and maybe a beer or two afterward.

[dow]

Wow. Don't everybody jump on at once! :lol Well, if anybody changes their mind, I'll be home about 6:15 or so, Give me an email or PM.

[GaryP]

Dow,

Did you get a diamond drill bit?

[dow]

Dow,

Did you get a diamond drill bit?

Yep. Got one from a guy on ebay. If you're sitting around this evening with nothing to do, give me a shout, and I'll let you come over and help me make glass dust. 698-5490

[Polkster13]

Just make sure you have someone standing nearby with a plastic squirt bottle of water to spray around the hole as you are cutting. And don't forget, BOTH of you need to be wearing safety glasses. Don't want to get a stray speck of glass in your eye. Ouch!

Let us know how it turns out.

[Polkster13]

I would help, but I am on the north end of Lake Travis and it is quite a ways to Boerne from my house.

Good luck and stay safe.

[dow]

Well the holes are drilled. I made a water bath out of a large PVC coupling (used 3", but should have used 4"), with a hose barb glued in to holes on two sides. Hooked this up to the garden hose, and had a trickle running through while I drilled. It kept everything cool and flushed the glass dust away as well. If I knew where I put my digital camera (I think it's in a garage sale box as it's a real battery hog) I'd shoot some pictures. Anyway, the next step is to get the glass for the overflow box and silicone it in. That'll be next week, as we're going out of town tomorrow, and I need to get the measurements finalized for the glass.

Which would be better, do you think, just cut 1/4" plate, or have them smooth it after they cut it?

Oh yeah, I used silly putty to form a seal around the bottom of the coupling to keep water from leaking out. Worked great.

(Edited to add statement above.)

[Polkster13]

That should work. Just remember to put silicone on both sides of the glass. I run a thick bead of silicone in the joint while someone else holds the glass. Then I run the end of my finger down the silicone very slowly to "push" it into place and form a concave seal. Then use a damp paper tile and razor blade to clean off any excess that might get on the glass (if you are meticulous like me). Let stand for at least 24 hours and then water test for another 24 hours and you are set.

[tgray]

Comgratulations on the successful drilling!! You just inspired me to go ahead and try mine!!! So I guess you like the drill bit you got off E-Bay?

[dow]

Yes, It worked very well. The drill bit arrived as promised, and is the correct size. The guy was prompt with answering my questions, and the price was very fair (35.00 for the bit and 1.50 for postage). His ebay store is called oksupplies, and I guess he has every size diamond bit imaginable, from 1/8" to 4".

Here's a link to the guy's store:

OKSupplies (http://stores.ebay.com/OKSupplies)

(Edited to add link.)

[Polkster13]

Cool. I will have to check him out. Thanks for the lead.

[dow]

de nada. BTW, it was made much easier, I think, because I have a drill press. I've read about people who drill them with a hand drill, but I personally can't imagine it.

[Polkster13]

Yeah. I am thinking that with my birthday coming up, I will be getting either a drill press or a router table. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

[dow]

I got mine for Christmas. It came from Northern Tool in SA, and I paid 170.00 for it. I've been very pleased, so far. BTW, I just posted a link to that guy's ebay store about four messages up this thread. Seemed a better place for people who might read it in the future.

Drill Press (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=36681&R=3668 1)

[Polkster13]

Thanks for the link. Will definately check this out. Is there anything you don't like about this model or would do differently if you do have a "do over"?

[dow]

Overall, I'm very happy with this press, especially for the price. There was a JET brand next to the floor model of the one I bought, and they looked identical except for the paint, depth stop, chuck size, and table. The Jet was a lot higher in price. The only thing I'd like to do differently, is that I'm not satisfied with the way mine is anchored. I need to re-evaluate where and how I have it bolted down, and maybe do something a little different. Other than that, it's great.