Drilling Glass 101

[Smoking Buddah]

Ok, for all you bong makers out there, here are some guidelines to fallow when using glass (ex: Vases, tubes, lightbulbs).

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS USE SAFTY PROTECTION WHEN DRILLING AND/OR CUTTING GLASS!!!!!!

1.) Make sure you have a cup of water near by incase the glass gets hot (the bit will most defanantly be hot!!!)

2.) You can use a regular drill bit, but be EXTREMELY careful and go slow or the glass will shatter. It is RECOMENDED you use a tile/glass drill bit (diamond tiped) to ensure the glass will not shatter.

3.) Be sure you wash and dry the glass piece thuroughly before use. I usually wash and dry the piece 3 times just to be sure no glass dust remains.

4.) When drilling be sure you select a place that is even. By this I mean make sure the glass is exactly (or as close as possible) the same thickness for the width of the drill bit and about 2mm around. This is to reduce the risk of chipping and/or breaking.

4.) When selecting the type of glass, avoid beer/liquor bottles. These kinds of glass have color additives that may be heat sensitive and most likely will become black or yellow when exposed to the heat conducted by the bit and also when in use by using a lighter or a torch. Try and use glass with a greenish tint when looked at an angle (or on the edges).

That is about it. I like going to "Wal-Mart" or "The Container Store" and selecting vases and other glass bottles (clear, with the above rules applied). If you have anything you want to add, feel free to post here!

[EuropeanVW]

Uhhh, you forgot the most important thing.

When drilling, to avoid breaking the glass, fill the bottle/vase/whatever with sand. That'll stop it from shattering.

Also, use a small drill bit to start, and gradually get bigger.

[WesleePipes85]

could you just like have a bucket of water, put the glass in the water, and drill it while in the water? It would never get heated that way, if the water is cold.

[Schrananapuss]

eh........... ive done this enough to get by... however the sand one is completely new to me but sounds completely sound.... thanks for the pimp info dude, much appricieated ill use it when i make this antique vase into a bong on the 20th nect month gota make a new one for 420 DUH

[hippie john]

Originally posted by EuropeanVW
Uhhh, you forgot the most important thing.

When drilling, to avoid breaking the glass, fill the bottle/vase/whatever with sand. That'll stop it from shattering.

Also, use a small drill bit to start, and gradually get bigger.

i find it easier to just use the full size bit straight off,,,, the drill likes to grab into the glass when its in a predrilled hole....



and yes, if youve got a diamond or carbide bit, drilling it in a bucket of water will work, just dont get any water on the drill itself (drill bit is ok, but not in the drill itself)..

[hummercash]

this lady ive done some computer work for has a 2 foot tall smirnoff bottle in her office... i so wanna take it and turn it into a bong. the mouthpiece has like a 2" diameter. i guess i could figure out a way to make a cap for the mouthpiece and make the bong w/ the stem going through the lid and a hose coming out of it. that would involve no drilling of the glass.
next time i do some computer work ill see if she'll give me that instead of money.


.//chris

[GroTrees]

steal beakers from school u can get crazy parafonailia, so far ive stolen a triple beam balance two mini bongs 1 larger bong (by bong i mean beakers that are the exact shape of a bong theyre really cool) 1 large 1000 ml beaker, small conical beaker and smaller round beaker, mortor and pestle, 6 glass eyedroppers (used as chillums) a thermometer for my plants, and a glass container with rubber stopper

[jahwork328]

I once wandered around home depot looking for one of those diamond tipped drill bits, I even asked around for it, but they just stared at me like I was crazy..

Eric

[UglyInfidel]

if you do use like a beaker or something for a bong, what would you use for a bowlpiece? I'm thinking about trying this, but i need suggestions for a good bowlpiece...

[grass roots]

using a dremel is 10x better than a regular drill and bit... dremels spin at much higher rpms than a conventional drill, and thus cut through glass/anything much easier...

[cs_shoota]

i had the perfect shaped glass for a bong, anyone here ever hear about voss water, its expensive... supposedley comes from under some glaciers in norway... heres the website http://www.vosswater.com/voss.html ..hope that worked... well its had the perfect sized mouthpiece under the cap, and i was going to cut off the bottom then add a chamber, then seal it off with something... but i dropped it and broke it... FUCK... ill get another one... but that just pissed me off

[grass roots]

haha, water from under a glacier, huh?

something tells me water from under a glacier wouldnt be that good tasting, or atleast i would suspect it wouldnt :/

[bob_barker]

Originally Posted by GroTrees

steal beakers from school u can get crazy parafonailia, so far ive stolen a triple beam balance two mini bongs 1 larger bong (by bong i mean beakers that are the exact shape of a bong theyre really cool) 1 large 1000 ml beaker, small conical beaker and smaller round beaker, mortor and pestle, 6 glass eyedroppers (used as chillums) a thermometer for my plants, and a glass container with rubber stopper

Wow, you musts have one interesting bong by now...by the way, stealing from your high school mabey isnt such a good idea.....lol.....funny tho...

[mooglekexin]

Originally Posted by WesleePipes85

could you just like have a bucket of water, put the glass in the water, and drill it while in the water? It would never get heated that way, if the water is cold.

i am not sure, but i dont think this would work, ever put a dish in the mocrowave then straight in cold water? it shatters, the gril bit will get hot so if the glass does too i assume it would shetter

[chiefdubleblunt]

Originally Posted by cs_shoota

i had the perfect shaped glass for a bong, anyone here ever hear about voss water, its expensive... supposedley comes from under some glaciers in norway... heres the website http://www.vosswater.com/voss.html ..hope that worked... well its had the perfect sized mouthpiece under the cap, and i was going to cut off the bottom then add a chamber, then seal it off with something... but i dropped it and broke it... FUCK... ill get another one... but that just pissed me off

sounds like that shit outta the waterboy........lol.........at my school they have this one big ass beaker thing........its about 2 feet high and the base is around 2 feet............dont know how i would get it out though.............