Frag Plug Mold

[GaryP]

I want to build an aragocrete plug mold so that I can start making frag plugs.

I'm following the plan on GARF to make one. Its no big deal except that I need a 1 1/4" step bit. Do we have any wood workers in the group that might have one that I can use for about 15 min. to drill the mold holes? Maybe even someone that has a friend that has one that they could borrow. I'd be happy to trade some plugs or even frags in return for the use of it.

Gary

[kaiser]

Would a 1 1/4 paddle bit work on this?

[GaryP]

No, beacuse the idea is to make a tapered hole, not a round hole. For the record I had the same idea but talked myself out of it.

Gary

[malofish]

Gary I havea 3/4 tapered meta; bit, It should cut through about anything!! It starts with a 1/4 iin hole then cones out to a 3/4 in max size hole, I'm free allday today, just give me a p.m.!

[adaminaustin]

Gary you could always use a empty egg carton.

[beareef19]

Thats what I had planned on doing ..eggcarton

[GaryP]

HHhhhhmmmm.... Good idea. I had thought about using portion cups like you use for jello shots but didn't think they would be deep enough. I'll check that idea out.

Gary

[GaryP]

Joshua, not really. The original plan calls for the plugs to be 4" deep.
Tou use 2 ea. 2X8" and then drill them with the bit to make the molds.

I'm wondering if the heat from the concrete setting up might melt egg cartons.

Gary

[dow]

Another option is the clear, plastic egg cartons that HEB is using now. They would be slicker on the inside, and might keep the agoracrete from sticking. I'm afraid that the agoracrete would stick to the foam egg carton material.

Another option if you need the plugs to be longer might be one of those home pop-cicle kits. We had one when I was growing up that was tuperware.

[dow]

OOPS. I think that was supposed to be something like aragocrete.

[adaminaustin]

put waxpaper on the inside of the egg carton. that way you can reuse the egg carton.

[SuperXdude]

i have the materials for agrocrete....perhaps I will experiment tomorrow....


Superxdude's Ghetto Frag Plugs!

[dan]

GaryP, have you started yet on the agrocrete. trying to see what they look like. how long do they take to cure before you can use them?

[PsychFish13]

I am not sure how it would affect reefs... But my mom uses vasoline to smooth out rough areas in her concrete molds and it also acts like a releasing agent. She alos uses clay to change the shape of the molds. She does the embedded glass in concrete stepping stones.

[GaryP]

Dan, No I haven't started yet. The project got put on the back burner for a while. You saw one of the GARF plugs in my 75. It had pipe organ growing on it. You might of had a hard time seeing it through all the Xenia growing around it. I fixed that problem.

My original intention was to follow the GARF instructions.

Psych - I wouldn't recommend using any petroleum product in a reef project. Vaseline is basically white grease (petrolatum).


Gary

[::pete::]

I came across this (http://www.ram4x4.com/coralfragplugs/Coral_Frag_Plugs.htm) today and there is always those plastic eggs you hunt for at Easter.

[dan]

that would cause the fish to slip and slide and all your corals to fall to the bottom of the tank LOL!! LOL!!

[rocketeer]

Ok, if you have 4" long plugs that would be great for farming. But if you want to move one to a display tank, how do you make it look natural?

Jack

[manny]

You could just cut the bottom off....Also, those "frag plugs" that you can buy that prafferty posted about are just filters in sprinkler heads. Or at least that's what they look like to me lol You could probly get some of them for free somewhere.
http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/products/sprays/plasticmpr.htm

[::pete::]

Thanks for the info ... I received an order and the plugs were different so I inquired and that is the link he sent. The actual frag didnt have the filter attached, it was peeled off what ever he placed inside... epoxy? Well, then you save even more going to Lowes, HD or even a plumbing supply shop and there is no shipping. The epoxy was easily removed from the frag or you could just leave it as it is small and would get covered in corraline.

I e-mailed the vendor where the frags came from with the above link and he was aware and said the ones that are sold at the site are a little bigger and fit the egg crate. I would assume they could be purchased thru an irrigation or plumbing co. still.

[Brett Wilson]

http://www.ram4x4.com/coralfragplugs/Coral_Frag_Plugs.htm

like manny said, you can get these at a sprinkler shop. I got some, paid $7 for 150 of them locally over a year ago.

[JesterGrin_1]

Okay here goes I talked to LeRoy years ago and what he was using at the time is those cheap little cups that you would get for the bathroom lol. You can get them either in plastic or paper and they are cheap. And for the growout shelf you use some plastic sheet and just drill the size hole's you need for plugs to drop into. Go to his site I think he still has pic's of the construction.

[reefer]

you should try some aquamend putty. i've used it a few times to secure a couple of frags in my tank recently.
8)

[GaryP]

I have been using water piks recently. They are the plastic tubes that florists use for individual flower stems. They work OK, but have a tendency to float, even if you get all the air out. I cut the bottoms off with a pair of wire cutter so that stagnant water isn't trapped inside. They work well for the little pieces of SPS that get broken every time I stick my hand in the tank. I let them grow out in the picks until I'm ready to glue them onto some rubble.

Gary