Re: [Killietalk] Drilling 10 gallon tanks: some are tempered glass !

["Richard Pierce" <Dr_Plankton at att_net>]

Thanks Richard, Dennis and Ken for the replies and tips.  I have since
drilled a couple of more 5-1/2's without any problems (All-Glass brand). So
it was definitely the tank and not the bit or setup.  I am using the
standard grade 1-1/8" drill bit from JEHMCO with the setup similar to Lee
Harper's shown in the Nov/Dec 2004 JAKA. It works well with that one
exception!  Perhaps the Perfecto tanks sold under their own label are plate
glass while the tanks sold under the Top-Fin label are tempered.  The
Top-Fin tanks at Petsmart are a few bucks cheaper than the All-Glass brand
tanks at the LFS.

Rich Pierce





-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org]On
Behalf Of Ken Simolo
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 12:27 PM
To: killifish discussion list
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] Drilling 10 gallon tanks: some are tempered
glass !


I have drilled over 30 ten gallon tanks with no problems (and over
100 tanks of other sizes).  Most were Perfecto although some were
used tanks of unknown origin.  Since these are all of thin glass, I
support them from the underside when drilling and use a good diamond
drill bit.  When I used a cheap diamond-coated drill bit, I would
start breaking tanks after 4 or so tanks drilled.  Since I started
using a good drill bit (diamond impregnated epoxy? core bit,
purchased through Jim Robinson), I have not broken any.

By the way, the bottoms of lots of tanks are tempered glass!

Ken



>I believe that all the cheap 10 gallon tanks are tempered. I think you
>can tell by the weight, as tempered glass is much thinner and therefore
>lighter. Smaller tanks are less likely to be tempered because the
>thinnest grade of regular glass is strong enough. I've heard of a lot of
>success drilling 2 1/2 and 5 gallons, but a lot of problems drilling 10's.
>
>Dennis
Join the AKA at http://aka.org/modules/tinycontent0/index.php?id=9
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk


Join the AKA at http://aka.org/modules/tinycontent0/index.php?id=9
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk