Glass-Top Box

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on August 4, 2010 at 11:11pm

I want to hear it!

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Permalink Reply by GARAGE HERMIT on August 4, 2010 at 11:15pm

Seem to remember reading about drilling glass, think you can use a drill bit for drilling ceramic tiles, but you have to make a little enclousure round the drll bit, out of plastercine, and fill it with cutting oil, or you could just google it,,

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on August 5, 2010 at 5:54am

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-accessories/1-2-half...

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Permalink Reply by Paul Stephen Eklund on August 5, 2010 at 7:03am

The trick to drilling threw glass is to keep both the bit and the glass cool. At work we have water flowing threw hollow drill bits.

If the idea of drilling becomes a problem you could just remove on of the corners. Tools you'll need. Something to scratch the glass, light oil, pliers, sand paper and a flat surface to work on. Mark where you want the cut to be. Put a line of light oil on the line. Scratch the glass in one smooth motion. Using a straight edge will help keep it straight. Don't make a second scratch or go back and forth. Don't push down to hard. About ten pounds of pressure is all it takes. Just one smooth scratch. Use the pliers to grasp the corner to be removed and pop it off in a downward motion. Sand smooth.

We do this on everything from 1/8 to 3/4 inch thick glass.

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Permalink Reply by pi_r_squared on August 5, 2010 at 9:28am

From what I've found online, it looks like copper tubing combined with water and valve grinding compound might work well for small holes. The Harbor Freight combo looks like the best deal for larger holes. It looks like home depot has a slightly larger one (1 3/8" dia) but it's $20.

There was an online site that talked about building a dam around the hole site with clay, to hold water. Sounds like a good idea for any of the bits. Might have to run to the glass place and see if they have any scrap I can play with.

Now, if someone would just buy the rest of those $8 cigars so I can have the box.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Miller on August 5, 2010 at 12:52pm

Diamond bits are the best to use to drill glass. As already stated you need to keep them cool. Using a water drip kit would be a good method. Or you could use a spray bottle, but this method requires an extra hand. Let the bit do the work never apply to much pressure.

Interesting idea I would like to hear how this turns out. What type of glass is this? The softer the glass the more resonance you should have.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Miller on August 5, 2010 at 12:56pm

I forgot to mention, make sure you use a low rpm on this for large holes especially.

Greg Miller said:

Diamond bits are the best to use to drill glass. As already stated you need to keep them cool. Using a water drip kit would be a good method. Or you could use a spray bottle, but this method requires an extra hand. Let the bit do the work never apply to much pressure.

Interesting idea I would like to hear how this turns out. What type of glass is this? The softer the glass the more resonance you should have.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on August 6, 2010 at 7:39am

I know this is a silly question, but can you build it without cutting the glass? You said just the top is glass. If its anything like the Cohibas I've worked with, you don't need to drill the top unless you're running a mag pup through or cutting a sound hole. If you're talking about drilling for a sound hole, have you thought about building a "sound port" on the side?
Some examples...

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Permalink Reply by pi_r_squared on August 6, 2010 at 11:21am

don't think it's silly at all. I might do exactly that, and I I decide to get crazy, I could have a piece of glass "water jet cut, then I could go crazy with cutouts.

Ben said:

I know this is a silly question, but can you build it without cutting the glass? You said just the top is glass. If its anything like the Cohibas I've worked with, you don't need to drill the top unless you're running a mag pup through or cutting a sound hole. If you're talking about drilling for a sound hole, have you thought about building a "sound port" on the side?
Some examples...

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Permalink Reply by Scott L on August 6, 2010 at 4:07pm

Would torching and melting the glass work? When it becomes viscous push a dowel or something through it? Just a thought. How bout a regular glass cutter?

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Permalink Reply by pi_r_squared on August 6, 2010 at 4:49pm

problem I've found, trying to heat glass, you have to heat up the whole plate equally, or the thermal stresses break it. Someone more experienced might have a way to do this, but it's beyond me.

Scott L said:

Would torching and melting the glass work? When it becomes viscous push a dowel or something through it? Just a thought. How bout a regular glass cutter?

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on August 6, 2010 at 7:25pm

I assume this is for a sound hole? For all of this rigamarrow, replace the glass with acrylic and be done with it............ Much easier to work with.
Don

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