antifreeze for drilling tanks?

foshizzle · #1 04/12/2007, 11:02 PM

Had a friend recommend this the other day... I'm using an eBay hole saw to drill an Oceanic 58.

He swears by the ethyleneglycol but I'm wondering if the heat absorption properties are worth the risk of toxicity over plain old water?

eznet2u · #2 04/12/2007, 11:51 PM

I have cut 6 holes so far, a friend has cut about 40. We both used water.

I see no advantage to using antifreeze, and several things that could go wrong.

Just use water...Make a tall dam with putty, clay or a paper cup use about 3/4" of water and take your time.

Good luck.

PS. DON'T PUSH ON THE DRILL!!!

RichConley · #3 04/13/2007, 12:23 AM

WATER has much better heat absorbtion properties than antifreeze. They put antifreeze in cars not because it works better, but because it doesnt freeze.

Abengochea · #4 04/13/2007, 12:37 AM

just use water by either making a damn or just keep the hose running

hllywd · #5 04/13/2007, 08:29 AM

Water all the way.
Sorry but your friend is leading you astray on this one. Then again if the AF is cheaper, safer and easier to clean up than regular H2O go for it you'll achieve the same results.

Tim

hllywd · #6 04/13/2007, 08:32 AM

BTW, I use a running hose outside and inside a piece of airline tube with a valve siphoning from a water jug. It doesn't take much but if I can do it outside I then use the hose to rinse the tank when I'm done. Clean up is a breeze!

Tim

jerryreefrigger · #7 04/13/2007, 10:45 AM

I have pre-cut holes in a peice of scrap acrylic that I place on the glass. I weigh it down with a brick. I fill the hole with water. That gets me started. Once I have a groove cut, I remove the acrylic peice and just keep spraying it with a spray bottle of water. I keep the rpms around 200. Works fine if you take your time.

hllywd · #8 04/13/2007, 10:53 AM

I agree the spray bottle would be enough water but I'm not coordinated enough to spray and drill at the same time...

Tim

coralnut99 · #9 04/13/2007, 11:16 AM

I used antifreeze with the first couple of holes i drilled too. After actually giving it some thought, I realized exactly what Rich said about antifreeze. Dozens of holes later, I can't recommend using antifreeze for any reason over water. I used to use my kids silly putty to build a dam when they were younger.

Inflames · #10 04/13/2007, 11:47 AM

I think your friend was drinking antifreeze.

adnup · #11 04/13/2007, 04:47 PM

I use water(hose) with a jig(plywood) to stop the drill from moving. Its worked great on 6 or so tanks so far...

salty3 · #12 04/13/2007, 04:50 PM

I just drilled a 10 gal frag tank, I used water inside a dam of plumbers putty. Worked like a charm.

1badbrd · #13 04/13/2007, 05:08 PM

have a friend add cool water as you are driling and it will be fine.

But antifreeze is water soluble so washing it off is okay too, but i would wash it well

dngspot · #14 04/13/2007, 08:00 PM

I use water. Depending on the job, if the tank is on the stand I then use a spray bottle. I would rather use the dam method if possible.

At one time in my life, I worked for a sub contractor for General Dynamics. I cut little round circles for missile sights. They where cut from glass and most of them where about 3/8 inch diameter. We used a small jet of constant running water.

vdubfiend · #15 04/13/2007, 08:35 PM

there is no reason to use antifreeze...
none at all :P

rgaskins · #16 04/13/2007, 10:18 PM

I use a garden hose also, if you can't get a hose where you are drilling get you some plumbers putty and roll out into say 3/4 inch strips....Then make a circle around where you want to drill....It works great...

NanoReefWanabe · #17 04/13/2007, 10:25 PM

water will be fine...i didnt use a dam of any sort...i just either put a pile of water on the glass, provided it is level the water will sit there, usually i just spray it with a spray bottle though...

xrunner1234 · #18 04/13/2007, 10:53 PM

I guess if you're drilling in freezing weather antifreeze would be better.

tkeracer619 · #19 04/13/2007, 11:22 PM

Funny thing about it is that pure anti-freeze has horrible cooling properties. It doesn't even protect against freezing if not mixed properly...

I would never ever use it for a cutting lubricant....... why the heck would one suggest it as one....

Its very toxic to animals and rinsing it off onto the driveway is irresponsible to the environment and any animal that drinks the run off water.

I watched a beloved rottweiler puppy die via anti-freeze poisoning. Just for thought, they puss out of their eyes for the short remainder of their life. Its what happens when people ignore the intended use of a product. Which i'm pretty sure is against the law. I know if my neighbor was out using anti-freeze as a lube I would call the police since I have pets and so do my other neighbors + the bunnies and deer that hang out in the front yard.

RichConley · #20 04/14/2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tkeracer619
Funny thing about it is that pure anti-freeze has horrible cooling properties. It doesn't even protect against freezing if not mixed properly...

I would never ever use it for a cutting lubricant....... why the heck would one suggest it as one....

Its very toxic to animals and rinsing it off onto the driveway is irresponsible to the environment and any animal that drinks the run off water.

I watched a beloved rottweiler puppy die via anti-freeze poisoning. Just for thought, they puss out of their eyes for the short remainder of their life. Its what happens when people ignore the intended use of a product. Which i'm pretty sure is against the law. I know if my neighbor was out using anti-freeze as a lube I would call the police since I have pets and so do my other neighbors + the bunnies and deer that hang out in the front yard.

Just as a note, if one of your animals drinks antifreeze, get it drunk, and take it to the vet.

creslin2 · #21 04/14/2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
WATER has much better heat absorbtion properties than antifreeze. They put antifreeze in cars not because it works better, but because it doesnt freeze.

Agreed, antifreeze does not have any special cooling properties (over straight water), but it does have an elevated boiling point when mixed properly as well as freezing point depression. You may notice that the bottle of Prestone in your garage says "Engine Coolant/Antifreeze"

In this application, it is much better just to flush with cool water, rather than try to drill all the way with one puddle and try to keep the one puddle cool enough to drill well.

Daemonfly · #22 04/14/2007, 08:37 AM

I just use either the garden hose running on low, or for nano tanks, a small under-bed bin with a small powerhead circulating the water.

Joshua1023 · #23 04/14/2007, 09:10 AM

4 yr old w/ a spray bottle full of RO/DI

hllywd · #24 04/14/2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joshua1023
4 yr old w/ a spray bottle full of RO/DI

Probably the best idea I've seen.... no reason for RO though. The four year old helping

Tim

Brandan · #25 04/14/2007, 02:16 PM

For what it is worth, like everyone said, what does cool better than anti-freeze. Anti-freeze is also made to be a lubricant as well and coolant, so if anything, he was using it to lubracate, not cool better. Also Dexcool, which is standard on all 98' up GM cars, is bio-degradable, and is legal to dump down your drain in your home. . . I'm not saying that it is safe, for your pets to dump it in the driveway, but it is legal to dump it in a drain. Also, if anyone on here has ever tasted Antifreeze, they know EXACTLY why animals like it.

Water- 15
Anti-freeze- 0

H2O FTW!!!