I'm having trouble removing the stems off frag plugs. I've tried bone cutters and a dremel. Any tips on how to remove the stem? They are zoas so I'm a bit hesitant on removing the zoas and gluing them onto a new plug.
Unable to remove stem off frag plug using bone cutters and dremel
- Thread starter tbone28
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I had the same issue with bone cutters, picked up these, they seem to do pretty well.
www.bulkreefsupply.com
BRS Large Curved Blade SPS Coral Cutter
The ultimate coral cutter for large colonies of branching sps! Add this to your coral propagation kit for those mature sps colonies. These are technically called Plastic Nipper Cow Horn Jaws. We've found these to be especially useful for fragging larger colonies of branching sps like Acropora...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
I too, have used these with success. I have some purple (forget the name) frag plugs that are a PITA to cut with anything else. Wish I had purchased a band saw in the beginning.I had the same issue with bone cutters, picked up these, they seem to do pretty well.
BRS Large Curved Blade SPS Coral Cutter
The ultimate coral cutter for large colonies of branching sps! Add this to your coral propagation kit for those mature sps colonies. These are technically called Plastic Nipper Cow Horn Jaws. We've found these to be especially useful for fragging larger colonies of branching sps like Acropora...
there is one brand of frag plug, I just cannot cut. Or I have to spend so much force with both hands that it causes the frag to fly across the room.
They look similar to these, very rounded. I absolutely hate getting frags that come in with those. Really messed up a hammer having to remove it from the plug since I couldnt snip it off
They look similar to these, very rounded. I absolutely hate getting frags that come in with those. Really messed up a hammer having to remove it from the plug since I couldnt snip it off
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I use the wire cutter portion of these. . .
Crescent 9 in. Linesman Pivot Pro Pliers CCA20509 - The Home Depot
The pliers in the PivotPro line from Crescent have a unique pivot action design that requires 40% less force to cut. Unlike standard pliers that pivot on the center-bolt only, additional leverage can be applied, providing more leverage and force to the cutting edge. They have a forged steel body...
www.homedepot.com
For these you’ll want to use a frag saw to safely remove the stem. From an aquaculture standpoint these types of plugs and tiles provide a nice surface for corals to encrust and grow onto but at the cost of not being able to snap the peg off
Cutting pliers works fine on those too. My complaint with those black plugs is the little dip in the middle which is a pain when I want to remount on a normal flat plug. I have to trim the point of superglue down flat.
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I also use a old set of lineman pliers or a harbor freight combo wire stripper/cutter tool.I use the wire cutter portion of these. . .
Crescent 9 in. Linesman Pivot Pro Pliers CCA20509 - The Home Depot
The pliers in the PivotPro line from Crescent have a unique pivot action design that requires 40% less force to cut. Unlike standard pliers that pivot on the center-bolt only, additional leverage can be applied, providing more leverage and force to the cutting edge. They have a forged steel body...www.homedepot.com
Thanks Everyone for the suggestions. I'm going to start with the diamond cutting wheel as I can forsee using it for other tasks as well
This may sound unbelievable....
The diamond cut off disc didn't work. It started to heat up the plug to the point where the zoas started to melt, so I stopped. I have cutting pliers at home, didn't work. Bought the BRS cutter, no bueno. At this point, not sure what to do
The diamond cut off disc didn't work. It started to heat up the plug to the point where the zoas started to melt, so I stopped. I have cutting pliers at home, didn't work. Bought the BRS cutter, no bueno. At this point, not sure what to do
How come no one suggested to simply leave it alone?
Most of the times I either remount the frag or remove the stem, however sometimes I also take a small rock, drill a hole in it and stick it right in, or otherwise find a matching hole to glue right onto the rock work.
You don't have to remove it, sometimes it doesn't worth the effort or the risk of hurting the frag, and in other times the stem can actually be useful.
Most of the times I either remount the frag or remove the stem, however sometimes I also take a small rock, drill a hole in it and stick it right in, or otherwise find a matching hole to glue right onto the rock work.
You don't have to remove it, sometimes it doesn't worth the effort or the risk of hurting the frag, and in other times the stem can actually be useful.
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Problem is that sometimes those plugs bring in nasties like some types of algae.
I never leave them on anymore.
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