PLEASE HELP>>>Drilling Acrylic

[tomstanks]

I need to drill holes and remove a piece of an acrylic tank with an overhanging lip in order to give a powerhead and a protein skimmer access. How hard is this? What is the best way to do it? Thanks for the advice.

 

[JRT]

i would use a Dremmell or something like that i would avoid drills as they tend to grab as they breakthrough and could crack the acylic.

 

[konrad05]

Unless you can another piece of acrylic of similar thickness to practice on, I would recommend just giving it to your local fish store to do it for you

 

[tomstanks]

Well the problem is that this is a set-up tank....full of live rock and fish. I can't remove anything. The thing was custom built in the 80's and now I take care of it for this guy. He wants to do a reef system and it will be beautiful but...this old tank has a 4-5 inch overhanging lip all the way around it.....so I can;'t even get a powerhead into the tank. I have NO choice but to cut a hole in the top with the fish and everytihng still in the tank.....so I am going to have to be VERY careful not to make a mistake and careful not to get any shavings in the tank.

 

[Bustacapp]

plastic also gets very hot when you drill or cut it so you will need somthing to keep it wet with while you do it which shouldnt be very hard oif the tanks is already set up

 

[benz_020]

however you do it
just go slow if you force the bit
or blade

it is more likely to crack

 

[Opcn]

Use something with small teath/threads. IME you want to melt your way throught instead of cutting because when you cut the tension can crack the plastic. I have never had any problem melting acrylic but have never been able to use a regular saw (except a circular saw or a band saw) without cracking itPersonnaly Id melt a small hole in it then use a hot wire cutter to do the final outline

 

[rick999]

if u have a dremmel then the flat cutting disks work well or better still you can get a cheap minicraft i think dimond dust cutting wheel there rubbish the "dimond" lasts about 10 seconds but it's a real thin toothless disk after so it's brill for melting plastics

 

[Aquascaper]

Two pieces of wood clamped above and below the acrylic will help stop it cracking/shattering as the wood will provide a guide for the blade.