[Guest]

ok how do i cut these things in half and to make a little "doorway" i got 2 that are kinda small figured id cut one in half and the other make a little doorwa then get 2 bigger pots and do the same thing... what should i use to cut them

 

[hsd]

I just scored it and then cracked it in half. To make holes a dremel works well. Read somewhere soaking it in water will make it easier to do, so I did that as well.

 

[Guest]

cool i have 2 dremels.. what attachment did you use on it? the one that looks like a drill bit or one of those brown cutting wheels that always break off into a million pieces before you are done cutting whatever you wanna cut thru? lol

 

[DJRansome]

Cutting the pots really killed our dremel attachments...we bought and went through several diamond drill bits but it worked. I did not soak either, maybe that would have made a difference.

After all that I found my fish are just as happy with an intact flower pot laying on it's side and dug into the substrate so it is partially filled. I don't cut them at all anymore.

We do have both a U cut open to the bottom and a oval cut in the side. Fish use them occasionally but not a favorite.

 

[sjnovakovich]

I just use pliers and break out pieces.

 

[Guest]

I just use pliers and break out pieces.

thats the best plan *** heard yet.. should i soak them in water first.. to be honest the dremel kinda irritates me... the first one i bought was a battery operated one its a piece of **** its always dead and even at full charge it dies really quickly so i bought the black and decker one that plugs in... wow its so much better than the dremel.. has optional speeds and all the dremel attachments fit in it

 

[hsd]

cool i have 2 dremels.. what attachment did you use on it? the one that looks like a drill bit or one of those brown cutting wheels that always break off into a million pieces before you are done cutting whatever you wanna cut thru? lol

Those brown cutting wheels suck, I've break them every time. I had a metal cutting bit from something else I used. Pliers work well too. Important to just score it first.

 

[sjnovakovich]

I've never soaked mine, but it does take some OOOMPH to break it. I've noticed that the pots I've used from Lowe's have some sort of core that is made of a black, gritty material.

 

[Guest]

i used a metal cutting wheel i had and it jus ground all the teeth down on it.. the brown cutting wheels worked fine it took a lil bit the bigger one worked better than the smaller ones.. and i kept running it under some water... took a lil while but it worked ok... def worked better with the black and decker one cuz its alot faster than the dremel

 

[The Novice]

I frequently need to drill holes in terra cotta for plants, and reptiles. I soak the pots for a day or two, and use a variable speed drill with a long shafted spade (wood) bit. I drill under water at low speed. It cuts nicely.

* * * W A R N I N G * * *

If you do it this way, keep in mind you are using ac power in close proximity to water. Use a grounded drill, wear rubber soles, and obviously, the drill bit only enters the water. And I don't do it with kids around.

 

[Guest]

lol that made me chuckle... i soaked it but only for a few hours in hot water.. i jus scored it almost all the way thru with the dremel... i didnt run water over it constantly cuz the bit was tossing water up at us.. and i didnt want to fry my rotary tool or myself (allthough theres a gfi there so i doubt id get electrocuted) and then broke it with the pliers.. then used a sanding round bit thing to smooth the rough edges...

 

[Chubbs the Jellybean]

To be honest, since they're so cheap by me, I buy a few, take a hammer to the side, I end up with a little cave opening usually 2/3 times. It's less complicated, and if you break one, you can beat it to a pulp with the hammer afterwards :lol:

 

[Guest]

To be honest, since they're so cheap by me, I buy a few, take a hammer to the side, I end up with a little cave opening usually 2/3 times. It's less complicated, and if you break one, you can beat it to a pulp with the hammer afterwards

lol thats the best advice *** heard yet... lol idk what you mean.. since they are so cheap by you.... arent they cheap everywhere? i think i paid a buck for them maybe $1.50 i didnt get really big ones cuz they went in a 55 galloni stacked a few.. only thing is breaking them with a hammer probly leaves really sharp edges... could cut the fish...

 

[iwishihadmorefish]

i just took a screw driver and a hammer found the middle of the pot on the side and hit the screw driver with the hammer and now i have 2 half pieces rather then one whole pot