bone cutters

So, I'm probably gonna need to frag some stuff that would be a PITA to pull from the tank at some point, and I was wondering about the bone cutter I have. It's a newer Boston Aqua Farms black bone cutter.

Will it survive (as in not rust or seize up) if I use it in my tank? It's electroplated steel, AFAIK.

Any danger of any oil or similar substance on it getting into the tank? Would it need to be re-oiled or greased before/after usages (if so, what to use)?I know I saw black gunk coming out of the joint the last time I used it, and that was well outside the tank, just with a bit of water.

Is there any ceramic or other cutting tool you'd recommend for use inside the tank?

 

I use large nail clippers, the scissor like ones. They work great.

 

yea i use what bama uses..if you kept them clean after you used them, then they shouldnt start to rust, rinse them in vinegar water after you use them before putting them back up for storage..

wait if they are greased then i wouldnt use them, just go to walmart and look for like the surgical scissors, the ones that have the like 180degree bend in them in the middle..

 

I would just rinse them off in some hot water before putting them into your tank and after you use them. Then just dry them off really good and maybe give them a small shot of WD 10-40 at the joint. I have had 2 pairs for 3 years now and they are always in salt water, this is what I do and I have had absolutely no problems with them.

 

Good call Bama – I too have used those.

Blackraven, the bone cutters are basically the same thing that Bama referenced. I don’t think they have oils on them, but as with anything going near our tanks they should be cleaned up. I often go into my tank with a razor blade, either sniping at corals or cleaning the coralline from the glass – the blades are oiled so you can slide them apart, I wash them with soap and water and rinse very well and then into the tank.

As for “black gunk” coming out – sure does sound like grease that I wouldn’t want in my tank. I also picked up a pair of stainless scissors – the real small type. I use these in the tank all the time – when I pull them out I rinse in fresh water and dry as well as I can. Then I wrap them in a paper towel and seal in a zip lock baggie. Never had rust and they stay sharp.

 

I have used long nosed pliers to break frags from many thin branched SPS corals
just grip the branch and snap upwards


this has worked for me reasonably well, when I dont want to remove the coral, or its been puttied down so well that removing it would bring one or more large rocks out with it

Steve

 

I use the diagonal plier from Lowes, works much better than any cutter or cuticle Ive used and at $8 you cant beat that deal.
Shop Kobalt 6" Diagonal Plier at Lowes.com

 

If you do use them under water a good rinse under the tap and then dry them as well as you can should be fine. I also work them open and close several times while drying them. If you are worried about the gunk coming from the hing then get the diagonal cutters from Lowe's.

 

I always rinse well after use (and dry well). Maybe I should say, USUALLY. LOL I found a pair of bone cutters that were seized up with rust. I didn't want to use bolt remover spray, WD40, or anything like that. I had some olive oil on the counter and a plastic Dixie Cup and said to myself, "Hey, it's worth a shot". The next morning, my bolt cutters were working just fine.

Since my latest accidental discovery, I found this on the website of one of our sponsors. Frag Tool Care