drilling rocks UNDER water?

[realfish]

I've kept reef tanks on and off for nearly 25 years and not once have I drilled my rock and tied it together. Yes, I have had small pieces moved by snails and crabs, but that is it. Never a real problem.

If you are drilling for plugs, I've always just lopped off the plug piece and used the clay like two part epoxy to put them in place. Also not a problem.

 

[grouper therapy]

Let me know what you want drilled and I will take care of it . I drilled rock twice in my tank. Ignorance breeds fear.

Edit:

jamescook;782962 wrote: this may be the dumbest thing I've heard. One snag and you'll crash.
please don't try this

Please explain.

 

[jamescook]

water,glass,rock,drill...what could possibly go wrong?
please don't try to do this work inside your tank, with or w/o water.

 

[mockery]

jamescook;782987 wrote: water,glass,rock,drill...what could possibly go wrong?
please don't try to do this work inside your tank, with or w/o water.

Actually doing it with water in the tank would be better from a physics stand point. The water would keep the bit cool, and the drill would move slower in the water if it bound up.

 

[grouper therapy]

jamescook;782987 wrote: water,glass,rock,drill...what could possibly go wrong?
please don't try to do this work inside your tank, with or w/o water.

I suppose the possibilities are endless. Take away the air driven drill and replace with a powerhead and rearrange the possibilities, all the same. I suppose in inexperienced hands the drill could pose a threat but that could happen in the general vicinity of the tank on the outside.

Edit:

Mockery;782989 wrote: Actually doing it with water in the tank would be better from a physics stand point. The water would keep the bit cool, and the drill would move slower in the water if it bound up.

The binding is easily solved . One can torque the chuck around the bit so that it will spin the bit but will free spin if bound. A little common sense coupled with a little extra care taken and it can/has been done easily with a very minute level of risk.

 

[lilrobb]

I need 3/4" deep holes w a 3/8 diameter to hold plugs.
Not looking to drill through rocks - otherwise I might share James's concern...

 

[grouper therapy]

For frag plugs?

 

[falos]

Part of the reason.I like this hobbie is the un none nothing advances with out a gamble if your worried about glass breaking don't buy it its just that simple. the op asked a question in the hopes of finding a new way to go about a problem he wonted to address in his tank. The only way to progress in a hobbie is to thank out side the box. If everyone had a closed mind we would not have successful tanks as no one would of made The skimmer or thought ha if I take this halogen light and put it on my tank will my corals live and grow. But to chime in with a closed mind and call a idea stupid is just displaying ignorance to the fact. After all don't you breed fish did you invent the processes you use or take advice from those that took time to find a new way to go about a simple procedures

 

[rjrgroup]

grouper therapy;782996 wrote: inexperienced hands the drill could pose a threat

It is Rob we are talking about...hehe

 

[lilrobb]

grouper therapy;782999 wrote: For frag plugs?

Si, senor...

Edit:

rjrgroup;783005 wrote: It is Rob we are talking about...hehe

I turn ANY tool into a deadly weapon in my hands...

 

[rtackett]

I would be very concerned about the pressure put on the bottom glass

 

[rjrgroup]

LilRobb;783008 wrote:

I turn ANY tool into a deadly weapon in my hands...

We don't want to know that!!! This is a family site...jeez

 

[grouper therapy]

Let me know when you want to get together . I have to tie some things up for porpoise aquatics this week but will have some time after that.

 

[lilrobb]

rtackett;783014 wrote: I would be very concerned about the pressure put on the bottom glass

My bottomglass currently holds ~2500lbs - doubt the pressure of a drill would make much of a difference...

 

[rdnelson]

Let me know how it turns out. Would love to do it in my tank however even though I have pretty experienced hands when it comes to tools it does make me nervous. I too have just cut the stem off of plugs in orger to glue or epoxy them to the rock.

 

[jef4y]

rdnelson99;783022 wrote: I too have just cut the stem off of plugs in orger to glue or epoxy them to the rock.

Me too.. and the last time that I did, my finger was in the way when the bone-shears went through the frag plug. You haven't heard howling & profanity like that before...

And that makes me patently unqualified to attempt assisting Robb in any way. :lol2:

 

[falos]

Ora plugs are the worst good for egg grate bad for rock work

 

[rdnelson]

JeF4y;783031 wrote: Me too.. and the last time that I did, my finger was in the way when the bone-shears went through the frag plug. You haven't heard howling & profanity like that before...

And that makes me patently unqualified to attempt assisting Robb in any way. :lol2:

Wishing we had a stop motion video of that one. LOL

 

[sprinklerman500]

Sounds like you have some good help!If you was to take pictures and post threads that would be great!A lot of people are thinking the same thing"ME".I respect every thing James says but it can be done.Im thinking if you use a 1/4" extension you could also use a 1/4" swivel for any angle!Just my thoughts.