Drilling thru live rock

[Julius]

Can i use a hole saw to drill thru live rock? I wouldlike to create some nice aquascaping by connecting rocks with pvc pipe or something like thta. Id like to create arch ways. Do i need a masonary bit?

 

[Anonymous]

How big of a hole do you need to drill?

I have used masonary bits to drill rock before. I've never used a hole saw.

The key is to drill slow and realize that the live rock may suddenly break apart despite your best efforts.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

One of the nicest setups I've ever seen was where a guy used a masonry bit and fiberglass rods to do an arch out of rock. I've never tried that but then again I don't play well with powertools

 

[Anonymous]

I think Lawdawg is referring to this guy.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I think Lawdawg is referring to this guy.

Louey

I forgot about that was you dear one, couldn't remember who it was

 

[Anonymous]

:wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Most live rock are pretty soft, and you can use any steel blade to cut it. I used anything from a bamboo chipstick to flat blade screw driver to an old drill bit to drill hole on live rock.

For large opening, hole saw many not work too well due to the depth of cut, and how it remove the debris. A type of bit (I forget the name) that consist of a flat blade that scrap the material off with a pilot point in the middle may work better.

 

[Anonymous]

You're thinking of a Forstner bit there ck.

 

[Anonymous]

I think he is talking about a spade bit.

 

[Anonymous]

In my exp live rock will dull the wood bits very quickly.

 

[Anonymous]

It is the spade bit. Hole saw and forstner is good for drilling a neat, straigh hole, but for live rock, you don't really need it. Spade bit is a lot cheaper too.

Yeah, the rock will dull it quickly, that's why I use old, clean bit for these kind of work.

 

[Anonymous]

I think he is talking about a spade bit.

Oh yeah. What exactly is the difference between these and the Forstners? They both look like they do the same thing to me. :?

 

[Anonymous]

If you used both on wood, you will notice that the Forstner give a better quality hole than the spade. It also remove the chips better.

 

[Anonymous]

Forstners actually dig into the wood and act like (if you will) a circular planer.

The spades "sand"/"scrape"/"rub" the wood away.

 

[Christeon]

Masonry bit and a hammerdrill.

 

[Anonymous]

Forstners actually dig into the wood and act like (if you will) a circular planer.

The spades "sand"/"scrape"/"rub" the wood away.

Got it. "Dig" vs. "Sand/scrape/rub."

Now I just need to find the thesaurus you use to explain to me how those are different.

 

[Anonymous]

You know how to spell thesaurous, and you can't understand four letter words like "dig" and "rub"? :? :wink:

 

[bleedingthought]

You know how to spell thesaurous, and you can't understand four letter words like "dig" and "rub"? :? :wink:

4 letters? 8O