7 replies to this topic

[Canadant]

Hi, I'm reaching out. I was given a small plastic aquarium about 20" long and 10 high by wide. It's great - even has a little lip at the top.

However, I'm trying to burrow into the side of this to connect some tubing and woah daddy I can't get it to bite. I'm using the duck tape and scissor trick which I've done before with fantastic results.

Any other ways to fight through? Its seems like it's a different plastic than my other outworld - the bug catcher.

Maybe fire.....

[Canadian anter]

I always use a small drill and slowly go art the sides

[kounelus]

Step drill bits are pretty good for drilling in to plastic. Sometimes you have to brace it, but I've only rarely cracked the plastic.

[FSTP]

What the heck, lol. You don't burrow a hole into plastic. You drill it. First get your venacular right. Then use a step bit like suggested. If the plastic is very thin you can brace it with a piece of wood on the opposite side. this will also help keep it from cracking when the bit bursts through the other side.

Edited by FSTP, July 15 2019 - 3:50 AM.

[Canadant]

Yeah. It's not having a frill that's the problem. To the other poster - the scissors/duct tape works great but not for this. Hmm.... I'll try and get a drill. Thanks.

[ANTdrew]

Heat up a nail over a flame and poke away. You can widen it with your scissors once you get a starter hole.

[Canadant]

Update on the 'whole'    situation: My mother is a craft junkie and has all kinds of things/drills/cutters/small tools, so I thought I'd start there (no, I don't live with my mother).

 

Tried the drill. Too weak. It would actually heat the bit to red-hot and melt the plastic slowly. I thought, yup, I can always come back to this, even though it may take several hours.

 

So her neighbor is a handyman and just so happened to be working outside of his garage at this time. I tell him the problem and he gives me a high powered hand drill. Guess what, this thing couldn't touch it. The aquarium is like indestructible. Need that special bit and he didn't have it. Last option I decided to ask my mother if she had a dremel. She did. I got through by using the sanding bits. they would just burrow through that plastic. It took a while and I tried various bits, breaking two in the process - a lot of grinding/sanding. Good news is I eyeballed the hole size and boom! Perfect fits on booth sides. Didn't even need to squeeze the hose. 

 

Bad news and new question: I got a hairline crack up one side of the outworld. Not a huge issue, but i'd like to reinforce it. I thought id try to lightly smudge some superglue down the crack - keeping it neat. Any other ideas? All help. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian

[Canadant]

I guess some clear silicon will do the trick. I guess it will be a bit more pliable. I used hot glue to secure my tubing to my former outworld and the just cracked lose. Not a problem, but..... I wonder if they sell it in a squeezable tube, so I don't need to buy the contraption and large disposer for such a small amount? 

 

Pics coming soon!! Ants going in today! Excited.