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Working with glass - how easy is it to put a clean hole through glass?

Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Got a sheet of glass here, about 3.5mm thick. Can it be drilled with a standard titanium drill-bit? The hole is to be maybe 5mm in diameter, and I don't want to put any cracks in the glass. Can I use a low speed drill-press and get good results? I don't have any other glass to experiment on first, unfortunately.
 
i would suggest heating the glass using a blowtorch or something similar before attempting any work. this makes it pliable.

Please keep in mind i'm not a glassblower or in construction, but i did sleep at a holiday inn express last night 😀

 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Got a sheet of glass here, about 3.5mm thick. Can it be drilled with a standard titanium drill-bit? The hole is to be maybe 5mm in diameter, and I don't want to put any cracks in the glass. Can I use a low speed drill-press and get good results? I don't have any other glass to experiment on first, unfortunately.
Click to expand...



No. You need a diamond bit that is designed for glass and you need to use very light pressure and LOTS of water.

Heat and pressure are the enemy.
 
Originally posted by: freakflag
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Got a sheet of glass here, about 3.5mm thick. Can it be drilled with a standard titanium drill-bit? The hole is to be maybe 5mm in diameter, and I don't want to put any cracks in the glass. Can I use a low speed drill-press and get good results? I don't have any other glass to experiment on first, unfortunately.
Click to expand...



No. You need a diamond bit that is designed for glass and you need to use very light pressure and LOTS of water.

Heat and pressure are the enemy.
Click to expand...

Also, don't go directly for the fullsize hole. Drill it a couple of times increasing the size each time.
 
Then double post....
rolleye.gif
 
You can get a glass/ceramic tile bit from a hardware store. They look like a bit with no grooves just a spade at the end. You have to work very slowly with the bit(low pressure), and I think the last time I drilled glass I was going at a medium rotational speed. It takes alot of time to drill through but it works.

The hardest part about drilling glass is getting started, usualy the bit will move around a bit while trying to start to drill so its best to make a small scratch so the bit will stay in the groove. Of course I was just free handing the drill and glass so if you have the right tools IE a drill press it probaly wont be a problem.
 
Sounds like I might have to replace it with a sheet of acrylic. This is in relation to this thread and the project there - my placement of a cooling fan requires that I put the mounting screws through a sheet of glass.

First suggestion was about heating the glass - it's thoroughly stuck to a sheet of plastic, which would melt if heated much. The heat from a Dremel is enough to melt it quickly, so a torch wouldn't be a good idea. 🙂

Diamond drill bits, especially a few of them of a few sizes to do the "steps" - gradually increasing hole size...sounds expensive for a few drill bits. A sheet of acrylic, ok. Drill bits for a useless project though...nah.

So, followup question: what'd be the worst thing to happen if I would be dumb and go ahead and try my titanium drill bit? Is it worth it, or should I just try to remove the glass sheet and replace it with acrylic?
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Sounds like I might have to replace it with a sheet of acrylic. This is in relation to this thread and the project there - my placement of a cooling fan requires that I put the mounting screws through a sheet of glass.

First suggestion was about heating the glass - it's thoroughly stuck to a sheet of plastic, which would melt if heated much. The heat from a Dremel is enough to melt it quickly, so a torch wouldn't be a good idea. 🙂

Diamond drill bits, especially a few of them of a few sizes to do the "steps" - gradually increasing hole size...sounds expensive for a few drill bits. A sheet of acrylic, ok. Drill bits for a useless project though...nah.

So, followup question: what'd be the worst thing to happen if I would be dumb and go ahead and try my titanium drill bit? Is it worth it, or should I just try to remove the glass sheet and replace it with acrylic?
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You will blow it into a thousand tiny fragments, making it even harder to remove. If you aren't going to use a diamond bit, don't even bother.

BTW, they're not that expensive, and I'm sure you can find them even cheaper .
 
Originally posted by: freakflag

You will blow it into a thousand tiny fragments, making it even harder to remove. If you aren't going to use a diamond bit, don't even bother.

BTW, they're not that expensive, and I'm sure you can find them even cheaper .
Click to expand...

Ah, fun. And those prices...sheesh. I paid like $4 for a cobalt drill bit once, and thought that was a lot. 😉
I did just remember a multi-piece assortment of grinding bits I have - like 20 pieces for $5. They are diamond coated - one is a cone-shaped grinder. Any chance it'd work? If not, I see if removing the sheet is plausible.

Edit: yeah, looks like a LOT cheaper. Lowe's has bits for under $5. That might work. Link, hopefully it works.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: freakflag

You will blow it into a thousand tiny fragments, making it even harder to remove. If you aren't going to use a diamond bit, don't even bother.

BTW, they're not that expensive, and I'm sure you can find them even cheaper .
Click to expand...

Ah, fun. And those prices...sheesh. I paid like $4 for a cobalt drill bit once, and thought that was a lot. 😉
I did just remember a multi-piece assortment of grinding bits I have - like 20 pieces for $5. They are diamond coated - one is a cone-shaped grinder. Any chance it'd work? If not, I see if removing the sheet is plausible.

Edit: yeah, looks like a LOT cheaper. Lowe's has bits for under $5. That might work.
Click to expand...


$5 is a good investment if you want to do this right. Anyway, G/L with the project.
 
Originally posted by: freakflag


$5 is a good investment if you want to do this right. Anyway, G/L with the project.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and I hope that the bit will survive two holes. It had better; I'm sure I'll need a 3/16" drill bit at some point in the future.
I hope for this to be one heck of a "scanner." Top exhaust, internal lighting that's triggered by the lid opening, etc. But no, it won't scan anything anymore. Though I suppose I could integrate a small USB camera into it and set up motion detection software...hmm.
 
I don't have experience with glass, but I have done wood/steel/aluminum.

My thoughts are this: Low bit speed, and VERY light pressure.

and very sharp bit . . start REALLY REALLY slowly.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: xxAgentCowxx
how big did you want your carb again?
Click to expand...

Huh?
Click to expand...



He's under the assumption that you're actually making a bong. A carb is a small hole in the side of the bongs main chamber that, when covered with your thumb, allows you to draw smoke into the chamber and, when released, inhale all the smoke from the chamber without drawing more smoke in, thereby clearing it.
 
Originally posted by: freakflag
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: xxAgentCowxx
how big did you want your carb again?
Click to expand...

Huh?
Click to expand...



He's under the assumption that you're actually making a bong. A carb is a small hole in the side of the bongs main chamber that, when covered with your thumb, allows you to draw smoke into the chamber and, when released, inhale all the smoke from the chamber without drawing more smoke in, thereby clearing it.
Click to expand...

Spoken like a true expert 😉😀
 
Originally posted by: freakflag
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: xxAgentCowxx
how big did you want your carb again?
Click to expand...

Huh?
Click to expand...



He's under the assumption that you're actually making a bong. A carb is a small hole in the side of the bongs main chamber that, when covered with your thumb, allows you to draw smoke into the chamber and, when released, inhale all the smoke from the chamber without drawing more smoke in, thereby clearing it.
Click to expand...
We have an expert on our hands. 😉
 
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