It’s been a while since I posted a tutorial. I generally don’t because tutorials take time and I don’t have much time or help to make any tutorials. However, I’ve been wanting to show for a while how to make vents for terrariums. I’ve noticed that many use screen frame to do this. While it’s a nice way to go, it’s hard to glue a frame into an opening in glass. ABS plastic, sure, but not glass.

This is how I add circular vents to terrariums I build out of glass. The glass in this example is 1/8″ thick. I’m using a standard drill I got from Home Depot with a 1″ diamond drill bit off Amazon. I put very light pressure on the glass, if any. I mainly just starting drilling at a angle to get the drill going and make a divit to keep the drill bit from skidding away. Then I start rotating the head, increasing speed, and adding water when necessary as not to overheat and add lubrication.

Once the hole is drilled and cleaned, I wrap a 1″ snap grommet with no-see-um mosquito mesh and put it in the hole. I tighten the mesh around the grommet, then rip off the extra. The glass usually is sharp enough to rip the mesh, and also helps plug the hole to secure the grommet in place.

That’s pretty much it. Oh, and I drilling on mouse pads if you’re wondering. I have a box of 800 of them my work was going to toss out. They are great for drilling on, putting under tanks, and cutting glass on top of.