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putting a hole in test tube??
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 6:21 am
by (weedguru)scarf
i have a cone but the thread is too big for my wooden pipe
so i want to put it with my test tube... i am worried that a drill will break it...
any other ideas to get the thread into the test tube?
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 6:28 am
by sickkid90
i dont really understand what you are trying to do? can you post a picture?
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 11:29 am
by (weedguru)scarf
i will try get one up soon... but basically
1. i have a wooden cone with a screw thread on it. (ie to screw into a seperate wooden pipe)
2. i have a lab grade test tube
3. i want to put a hole in the side/top of the test tube, so that i can screw the wooden cone piece into the top of it.
4. hopefully this will create a nice little pipe
my biggest problem is that the hole in the test tube ideally should have a screw thread... but i am worried using a drill my crack it
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:17 pm
by captainMorton
you have to use a glass drill bit, then it should be able to screw in if you made the hole the same size(almost, you want it just a little bigger.
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 2:25 am
by cdc
test tubes are paper thick even a high speed tungsten tip drill will make it shatter. I wouldnt advise using a test tube (hope u stole it from school)

but if u really want to my advise would be to knock the bottom out and put a angled cone in it.
If u did steal it from school steal a beaker and make a bong out of it instead

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:16 am
by spidermanlovesmj
you could try holding it up lengthwise (as if in use) and hold a lighter about 4 inches or so below it adjust position and flame location accordingly to where you want the hole). once it gets hot enough, stick a needle through or however thick you want the hole to be (screw, etc.) move the needle or screw around so iit doesnt stick in the hole, but so that the hole remains and you can remove it.
not sure if this works for sure but hey, give it a shot.. youve got but a test tube to lose.
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:56 am
by captainMorton
i dont think a lighter is hot enough to melt glass, im pretty sure you need a blowtorch.
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:30 am
by Vinyl
get a glass drill bit like morton said, thats probbaly your best bet. dont heat it like mj said, and if your worried about it shattering, the only thing you can do is cover the section you will be drilling with masking tape. it helps a bit to stop shattering, and in the case that it does it helps the glass from going everywhere
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:46 am
by spidermanlovesmj
wait yeah my bad about the heat sorry
i was thinking plastic
but dont use a drill, it WILL shatter
well, 90% sure, its way too thin.. i have a glas drill bit, i tried drilling a hole through a 1-2mm thick bottle and it shattered.
you wont be able to get the bit to grab the surface of the glass without it cracking.
you could try, but hey, good luck
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:56 am
by Vinyl
mightve just been you, drilling thin glass hasa bit of a knack to it. you might ahve been using the wrong bit as well, and it might not have been spinning fast nough
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:33 am
by sickkid90
spiderman, what you are saying can be done, but not with a lighter, if you have a gas stove this is what you do.... everything he just said... cept keep the test tube IN the flame youll see it gettin REd hot then do the needle thing REEEALLLLYYYY quickly, and dont try to cool the glass with water cuz it WILL shatter
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:44 am
by spidermanlovesmj
nice going sickkid90
and also vinyl.. im sooooooo high right now
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:05 pm
by (weedguru)scarf
its a high grade test tube so im not sure if the stove will even get it hot enough....
i like the idea of the angled cone though....
i must think about this carefully first! hahaha
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:07 pm
by sickkid90
i just passed post 420!!! Woowowoowowowowoooottttt ok back on topic.... (:D)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:37 pm
by Potsticker
if its a test tube, you might have a really hard time getting it red hot, its prolly treated cause usually they can withstand a lot of heat. I've been taking chemistry classes for a few years and have yet to see one turn red hot in a bunsen burner.