I do. I live downtown sj
Cool video of diy frag plugs
- Thread starter MichaelB
- Start date
We could possibly also get you various sized frag plugs if having samples in hand would serve better for you?
I think @MarcosD isn’t to far form you and he probably has several size plugs he could get some to you when he's able, otherwise I could make a trip over to you next weekend or one day after work next week and bring some.
I think @MarcosD isn’t to far form you and he probably has several size plugs he could get some to you when he's able, otherwise I could make a trip over to you next weekend or one day after work next week and bring some.
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timmeh
Supporting Member
So I just found a one plug in my cabinet with a stem, and measured the stem (~9mm diameter).
Ideally, we'd want to identify early (here in this thread) the sizes of plugs we actually want. I can then pre-make a handful of molds for the different sizes. To keep things simple, it's probably best to pick 2 or 3 sizes/shapes that we want. For example:
3/4" diameter top circle, with 3/8" stem that is 3/4" long
1" diameter top circle, with 3/8" stem that is 3/4" long
1.25" disc with no stem
.... or something like that.
Ideally, we'd want to identify early (here in this thread) the sizes of plugs we actually want. I can then pre-make a handful of molds for the different sizes. To keep things simple, it's probably best to pick 2 or 3 sizes/shapes that we want. For example:
3/4" diameter top circle, with 3/8" stem that is 3/4" long
1" diameter top circle, with 3/8" stem that is 3/4" long
1.25" disc with no stem
.... or something like that.
3/4 & 1 inch with stems are probably the most commonly used sizes for most people.
In regards to a disk without a stem I would be more inclined to suggest 2-3 inches. As there isn’t much difference between 1inch with stem and 1.25 without stem.
In the times I need a frag plug without a stem I would just prefer snip off the stem as opposed to buying a slightly larger one without a stem.
I do use disks for encrusting corals, zoas, and leaters to spread out over. Yet For those I typically seek larger plates that are thin making it fairly easy to to frag the corals on the disks. By cutting the disks and gluing peices of the disks to the smaller plugs.
Is that something possible to find a hardware store, or something that could be ordered online. I can't speak to the proccess of using it. Yet if it's not crazy expensive, I would imagine making some with alternative materials should be possible in some way.
You been doing this way longer
Than I have. I'm curious is there a specific reason behind your preference in plug materials?
I don't personally know the difference between materials except I hate whatever those that are almost impossible to cut are made of.
Though I would be intrested in gleaning knowledge if there is a reason that makes one type more desired than others.
Regarding why I like them better- The ceramic ones are hard to cut and modify, like the hard artificial rock that is popular now but I don’t like. The agrocrete (concrete made from aragonite) ones are still hard, but are more like live rock in that you cut, chip, mod as needed. Like for example to cut the stem off of, or to chip off excess edges to make it less less unnatural. Also I have the impression that coral and coralline grow better on the more natural aragonite surface. Finally, the agrocrete ones just look more like they belong since they are made of the same stuff reefs are made of.
Don’t take this the wrong way Michael, but I’m specifically looking for @timmeh’s opinion about feasibility using techniques he is familiar with, since he’s the expert and will be leading the workshop.
I have precise calipers and various plug/disc sizes. If you need some more measurements I’m happy to supply them. Just let me know.
No worries, I only meant as I refrenced above there has to be some way to make plug with the material your talking about. Though I would be clueless as to how to do it.
I didn't mean to imply otherwise or try to answer for him.
I can't tell the difference but i related to what you mean some plugs are much easier to chip/ remove stems than others.
Seeing you mention corals may grow better on one type verse another is intresting and something I will try to research further.
timmeh
Supporting Member
So agrocrete looks to be a poured castable material - like concrete. That means you mix it, a reaction starts, and it gets hard. Similar to plaster.
To make those you’d need to make a silicon mold (flexible, so they can be removed after hardening) and then mix up just enough of the material to cast the plugs you want. Unfortunately I suspect that would be a royal PITA, since you’d only wanna be mixing a handful of ounces at a time, and anything you don’t pour goes into the trash. Plus silicone is >$100 gallon, so the cost of the molds would be huge.
Alternatively, the ceramic plugs could actually be fired to a low temperature so they stay brittle, rather than porcelain hard. That would make them very easy to clip with clippers. They would be susceptible to breaking though if you shook a box of them around too hard. That is a tradeoff that could be made though, if they were treated delicately afterward.
To make those you’d need to make a silicon mold (flexible, so they can be removed after hardening) and then mix up just enough of the material to cast the plugs you want. Unfortunately I suspect that would be a royal PITA, since you’d only wanna be mixing a handful of ounces at a time, and anything you don’t pour goes into the trash. Plus silicone is >$100 gallon, so the cost of the molds would be huge.
Alternatively, the ceramic plugs could actually be fired to a low temperature so they stay brittle, rather than porcelain hard. That would make them very easy to clip with clippers. They would be susceptible to breaking though if you shook a box of them around too hard. That is a tradeoff that could be made though, if they were treated delicately afterward.
Thank you for explaining!
I know at least 1 home based seller uses the bottoms of plastic cups like drink cups, deli cups, or yogurt cups as the molds for making cement frag discs. Any reason that wouldn’t work for the aragonite concrete approach?