For the fraggers...

I really need a nice handheld saw thing-a-mabob for fragging my zoanthids. Currently, I either use a hammer and chisel (which rarely ends well) or I painstakingly remove zoas one at a time with a razor blade.

I would like something more efficient, and have seen many youtube videos of people using this tiny saw-looking thingy to frag their colonies.

Anyone know the technical term for this doo-dad, or have any suggestions of a good one to purchase?

Share a youtube link, and i'm sure we can brainstorm something..

maybe a dremel like this?? only caveat I'd add to using one of these is wear a mask and eye protection, the rock dust is irritating and goes everywhere!



ohh, and buy a cheap one, cuz it will rust no matter how well you clean it

EXACTLY what I want, Joanne! I figured it'd rust no matter what :P I wonder if there are ones that have the option to replace just the saw part?

Here's another link showing a guy using the same type of tool (although Joanne's is better):

‪How to frag corals (zoanthids)‬‏ - YouTube

So it's called a DREMEL!!

Anyone have experience with these? Pros/cons?

Dremel is the name brand.." rotary tool" for other less expensive ones. They're great, wear safety glasses, they really spin at high rpm's, and usually you're cutting close to fingers. The last video you linked has the guy using his dremel with a flexible extension on it. makes it easier to cut small objects with more precision. reminds me of the dentist too much honestly. just practice on non living stuff at first, its easy, just takes a couple times to get the feel of it.

Originally Posted by LadyOfIreland

I wonder if there are ones that have the option to replace just the saw part?

The actual cutting wheel is replaceable, about 1-$2 bucks each...

Originally Posted by Saltcreep

Dremel is the name brand.." rotary tool" for other less expensive ones. They're great, wear safety glasses, they really spin at high rpm's, and usually you're cutting close to fingers. The last video you linked has the guy using his dremel with a flexible extension on it. makes it easier to cut small objects with more precision. reminds me of the dentist too much honestly. just practice on non living stuff at first, its easy, just takes a couple times to get the feel of it.

Great! Yeah, the first time I watched the video I linked, my first thought was of a dentist tool O_o

I figure I'd start practicing on pieces of plain live rock. That way I'm not harming any corals, but getting the feel for cutting live rock that would be under the corals.

Originally Posted by Saltcreep

The actual cutting wheel is replaceable, about 1-$2 bucks each...

That's great news! Looks like I'm gonna be getting a new toy soon

Thanks all for the advice! Anyone else have any experience, maybe a negative one?

Theyre extremely easy to use. After a few minutes you will develop a feel for it. You will be able to carve your name in the rock after 5 mins of using it Im sure. Hows Cpt Skerf McShoe doing btw?

I just use a scalpal. You can get a sliver of rock off with it.

Originally Posted by Variko

Theyre extremely easy to use. After a few minutes you will develop a feel for it. You will be able to carve your name in the rock after 5 mins of using it Im sure. Hows Cpt Skerf McShoe doing btw?

He's doing swell! Got him to eat small bits of frozen clam and krill while he was above the sand. I'm worried he's not getting enough to eat, but he seems to be doing really well

Originally Posted by rgrking

I just use a scalpal. You can get a sliver of rock off with it.

Even with tough rocks? I've been able to get some rock with zoas before using a sharp razor blade, but that's only really been with softer, more "crumbly" live rock. The really tough liverock doesn't give for me at all

well, a con I guess, I hardly every bother with the rotary tool, cuz I dont like how hot it gets the corals - especially if I was fraggling some sorta fleshie LPS coral

I actually find myself going back to to old school hammer and screwdriver method more than anything haha

Originally Posted by estanoche

well, a con I guess, I hardly every bother with the rotary tool, cuz I dont like how hot it gets the corals - especially if I was fraggling some sorta fleshie LPS coral

I actually find myself going back to to old school hammer and screwdriver method more than anything haha

Good point! I had wondered if it would do some bad damage to the fleshy zoanthids. I'm thinkin they'd be fine, though, since I'd mostly use the rotary to cut the rock underneath. Right now, when I hammer and chisel, the rock always breaks the wrong way and sometimes rips the colony