Cable Saw

[JGT]

Ratcheting PVC cutter. If that won’t fit, I have used these Amazon product ASIN B0CN9G23MYTwist around the branch to score it then nip at the score with bone cutters.
The wire saw will probably work but will take quite a while.

I saw these but they don’t look like they open that wide.
Your method might work better though. Score first with cable saw and then try to finish it off with the cutters.

 

[JGT]

I saw these but they don’t look like they open that wide.
Your method might work better though. Score first with cable saw and then try to finish it off with the cutters.

I have ratcheting pvc cutters. In fact that was my first option I considered. Just not sure if the thin, sharp blades will work with a coral skeleton.

 

[Red_Beard]

If you score it deep enough you could probably snap it at your score like too.

 

[Red_Beard]

I have ratcheting pvc cutters. In fact that was my first option I considered. Just not sure if the thin, sharp blades will work with a coral skeleton.

They probably will, they are not as dense as you would think.

 

[JGT]

They probably will, they are not as dense as you would think.

OK, guess the only way to find out is give it a go.

 

[JGT]

In case anyone was curious, here’s a pic of the beast. My primary concern is that I don’t want to cause huge movement from the jolt of snapping effect and wind up collapsing half my reef.

 

[UncommonSense]

This might also work. Just also concerned about the jarring effect on rock and other corals in attempting to cut it. It isn’t going to go quietly.

The cut was actually pretty smooth, even with my worn out blade on the shorter plastic loppers!

It felt like it was slicing wood to roughly the halfway point, then the rock split in half without flying everywhere! (The small hand pruners required FAR more force, and both halves of the rock flew several feet away!)

— the cut took maybe one second… just close the handles together in one deliberate motion!

 

[UncommonSense]

OK, guess the only way to find out is give it a go.

Ratcheting pvc cutters will definitely work, but the ratcheting effect in itself might do more harm than good, in that you have to force the blade back open with the handles…

Both the tree loppers and the ratcheting PVC cutters will crush the soft tissue; maybe more-so for the PVC cutters, as they clamp the object on both sides of the blade….

Both will be a little clunky to work with… would you like me to test cut another chunk of rubble with my ratcheting PVC cutters to compare and contrast the differences in user-friendliness, and cut cleanliness?

 

[JGT]

Ratcheting pvc cutters will definitely work, but the ratcheting effect in itself might do more harm than good, in that you have to force the blade back open with the handles…

Both the tree loppers and the ratcheting PVC cutters will crush the soft tissue; maybe more-so for the PVC cutters, as they clamp the object on both sides of the blade….

Both will be a little clunky to work with… would you like me to test cut another chunk of rubble with my ratcheting PVC cutters to compare and contrast the differences in user-friendliness, and cut cleanliness?

Thanks not necessary, although it seems you are enjoying it so don’t let me stop you.

 

[ptrusk]

I have ratcheting pvc cutters. In fact that was my first option I considered. Just not sure if the thin, sharp blades will work with a coral skeleton.

One way to find out!

There really is no delicate way to cut that monster and I don't know how hard the skeleton is but scoring a stylophora that was like a rook with the toothed cutter then nipping at it worked for me.

Are you trying to remove the whole colony?

 

[JGT]

Thanks not necessary, although it seems you are enjoying it so don’t let me stop you.

Actually I would be curious on how easy the pvc cutters work and if they work at all so if you are willing, please proceed.

 

[JGT]

One way to find out!

There really is no delicate way to cut that monster and I don't know how hard the skeleton is but scoring a stylophora that was like a rook with the toothed cutter then nipping at it worked for me.

Are you trying to remove the whole colony?

The skeleton is hard. I did a few small branches a while back and it took some effort.
Not trying to remove the whole thing, just major portions. Since it’s tabling all of the branches converge into a solid chunk of acro. No way I’ll be able to cut it at that section so going to go for the chunkiest branches I can find. I’ll take a top down pic so you can see.

 

[JGT]

Top down pic sucked. Here’s an underneath pic. You can so how all the branches converge into one massive table. Thus the name.

 

[ptrusk]

I would start trimming small pieces to get some room to work. You don't necessarily need to cut the whole branch in one go. They are brittle and will snap. Start by making small cuts in the same place with bone cutters, going a litter deeper and farther around each time. Just nip at it.

 

[UncommonSense]

Actually I would be curious on how easy the pvc cutters work and if they work at all so if you are willing, please proceed.

So, the ratcheting pvc pipe cutter did work quite well through roughly 1” of rock; it wasn’t an excessive amount of squeezing pressure like the garden pruners were…

However, it did snap the rock with enough energy to send the halves flying, like garden pruners did! — the break is clean, but it’s more of a snap than a cut… also, it deformed my cheap cutter’s blade!

I did another cut with the tree pruning loppers after this; it was very little effort again, it did cause one small chip, but otherwise actually cut quite like wood through at least half of the stone, before snapping the remainder!

You can see where I stopped closing my ratcheting pipe cutters when the rock snapped, in addition to both cut sample rocks put back together to show the severing lines…

Tree pruner cut on left, ratcheting PVC pipe cutter on right.

I think I would go with the tree pruner if you have the available room to work with the larger format tool; it just seems to be a lot more ergonomic to make these cuts in one fell swoop!

 

[JGT]

So, the ratcheting pvc pipe cutter did work quite well through roughly 1” of rock; it wasn’t an excessive amount of squeezing pressure like the garden pruners were…

However, it did snap the rock with enough energy to send the halves flying, like garden pruners did! — the break is clean, but it’s more of a snap than a cut… also, it deformed my cheap cutter’s blade!

I did another cut with the tree pruning loppers after this; it was very little effort again, it did cause one small chip, but otherwise actually cut quite like wood through at least half of the stone, before snapping the remainder!

You can see where I stopped closing my ratcheting pipe cutters when the rock snapped, in addition to both cut sample rocks put back together to show the severing lines…

Tree pruner cut on left, ratcheting PVC pipe cutter on right.

I think I would go with the tree pruner if you have the available room to work with the larger format tool; it just seems to be a lot more ergonomic to make these cuts in one fell swoop!

Thanks a lot for testing out the 2 options. Decisions, decisions….

 

[UncommonSense]

Thanks a lot for testing out the 2 options. Decisions, decisions….

I’m worried that neither option will cleanly sever the soft tissue surface, so be prepared for some tissue damage on the peripheries of your cuts!

And, obviously thoroughly clean either tool of manufacturing oils/etc, possibly disassembling the pivot to clean all the lubricant out of it!

 

[Michael Adam]

I used the diamond wire. Also bought a saw to hold it. Just go easy on the sawing. I just snapped off a colony today doing this. Lol.

 

[Michael Adam]

Here's a link to the video of me using one of those diamond saws.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/anybody-try-cutting-coral-like-this-before.1098450/#post-13329948

 

[sdreef]

In case anyone was curious, here’s a pic of the beast. My primary concern is that I don’t want to cause huge movement from the jolt of snapping effect and wind up collapsing half my reef.

I've tried this wire saw in the past. It didn't work well for a couple reasons. Underwater it was a little more difficult to get the momentum to cut as effectively as I was hoping. Had to put it under a bit of tension as well and consequently was definitely pulling on the rockwork.

I've used this pruner for larger branches and it's worked well for me, if it's large enough for the branches you're trying to cut. Same thing as the tree lopper just a different scale.

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/h...axspect/?searchid=7476388&search_query=pruner