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07-16-2004, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Skimmer and Reactor
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: East Atlanta Village
Posts: 1,657
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Help cutting eggcrate
Hey, all! I got some eggcrate to cover the top of my tank since I would like to have some protection from fish jumping out or up and touching the halides. I bought a large piece that needs to be cut smaller. I've tried using a hacksaw but it's not working very well. Has anyone here had luck with other tools that will not break big pieces of the eggcrate off?
Unfortunately the HD I went to to get this stuff had just remodeled and thrown a bunch of eggcrate away. The sheets are $10 each, so I could have gotten a bunch of it for free if I had gone a week ago. Bummer!
Thanks in advance...
Melissa
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07-16-2004, 09:23 AM
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#2
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,098
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Melissa I have had the best luck using a pair of diagonal pliers. handy for fragging SPS corals as well 
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When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
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07-16-2004, 09:45 AM
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#3
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That Biker Looking Guy
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bremerton Wa
Posts: 2,446
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Work slow................... that will be the key like was said above pliers or even a pair of wire cutters will work just go at it s................l...............o..............w
HTH
Jeff
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Body By Nautilus; Brain By Mattel.
If Walking Is So Good For You, Then Why Does My Mailman Look Like Jabba The Hut?
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07-16-2004, 10:37 AM
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#4
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Look deeply into my eyes
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 11,157
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I'm lucky enuf to have a bandsaw to use in cutting eggcrate, works super,,,
mebbe a coping saw, or a fine blade in a hack saw might work,,
I've used a Dremel power tool b4, with a saw type blade in it..
From what i remember on using cutting type pliers etc., like was said b4 you gotta watch using those, ez to bust it where you don't want to.
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Jeff
ieSpell-Use it/learn it/live it.If you think you don't need it, you do!
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07-16-2004, 10:41 AM
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#5
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Master of Perplexity
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: panama city beach FL
Posts: 3,431
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I've tried all sorts of things, from saws to Dremels, and found that for me diagonal cutting pliers worked the best.
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07-16-2004, 10:53 AM
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#6
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Golden Shellback
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Rising Sun, MD
Posts: 1,282
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I use wire cutters to cut it to size and a Dremel to grind off the little piece that sticks out.
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You know, come to think of it, I'm not afraid of ants. I never was. It's just when they all come running out of a lady's pants like that... yech, creepy. And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, ooh ooh ooh, the sky is the limit! - The Tick
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07-16-2004, 11:04 AM
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#7
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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A dremel is good if you get the big fiberglass wheel (maybe 2" around). Also, there is a bigger flexible wheel you can put on a rotozip if you have the saw attachment that cuts and grinds.
A pair of diagonal pliers will work though but geez it is going to be a chore.
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Perry 
BCRS Plankowner
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07-16-2004, 05:55 PM
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#8
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squid
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Southern US
Posts: 6
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I've also just used heavy duty wire cutters. Works pretty well.
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07-16-2004, 07:29 PM
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#9
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,882
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Yep, diagonal pliars are quick and clean. And no sawdust to mess with.
Oddjob welcome to TRT.
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07-16-2004, 07:33 PM
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#10
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
Posts: 71
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I concur. I've used the wire cutters to snip through each segement.. one at a time. Works great. Very fast too. haha I just got a sheet from HD also. I think the price went up from what i remembered.
Jerry
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07-16-2004, 11:58 PM
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#11
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Plankton
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 32
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I'll mention the obvious- Use a table saw with an acrylic blade if you have one handy. Cuts though it like butter.
A band saw works well too.
If I don't have those tools handy I use the diagonal cutters as mentioned above, or a fine toothed saw like a "Shark" saw (Used for flush-cutting wood plugs to the surface, without scarfing up the surface wood.)
Zeph
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07-17-2004, 10:22 AM
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#12
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 13,648
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router table, with high speed small dia bit.
will also allow you to camfer the edge and/or make an instep cut at the edges to make a flush fit with the top of the tank.
for the (relative to setting up the router table) quick and dirty, use the diagonal wire cutters.
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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07-17-2004, 10:27 AM
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#13
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Skimmer and Reactor
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: East Atlanta Village
Posts: 1,657
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I got it cut perfectly with a pair of wire cutters. I'm planning on having a pair of fairy wrasses and some gobies. I'm hoping the smaller gobies won't be able to jump up through the holes.
Thanks a ton for all the suggestions. Next time I am in the market for a table saw, I'll have an excuse to buy one. |
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