What would someone use to cut this?

[Tom800]

There is a very annoying black divider piece that smack in the middle of my sump. It feels like thick plastic see picture attached. I’d like to move my protein skimmer here so I can put a fleece roller where my skimmer is currently. I tried to get in there with my multi oscillating tool, but it’s too small of a space for the oscillating tool.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@Troylee

 

[Troylee]

There is a very annoying black divider piece that smack in the middle of my sump. It feels like thick plastic see picture attached. I’d like to move my protein skimmer here so I can put a fleece roller where my skimmer is currently. I tried to get in there with my multi oscillating tool, but it’s too small of a space for the oscillating tool.

Is the sump fully acrylic or glass with acrylic baffles?

 

[bluemon]

If its plastic/acrylic, it is most likely chemically bonded to the acrylic panes, so your best bet is a small dremel as it is more likely to fit in that tight of space.

 

[Hishman]

if it’s bonded the cheapest would be a 1/4” chuck cut off disc put into a normal electric hand drill.

Guessing you have a drill if you have an oscillating cut off tool.

 

[Tom800]

Is the sump fully acrylic or glass with acrylic baffles?

The sump is fully acrylic

 

[Troylee]

The sump is fully acrylic

So you got a couple options.. drain it down and use a cut off wheel on a angle grinder or dremel or just a good box cutter and score the crap out of it and then grab it and snap it off.. the score and snap is a little dangerous as there’s a chance it can crack and that would be my last resort if I couldn’t get a tool in there to cut it any other way.

 

[Troylee]

Even a little coping saw or sawszall blade would work but take some time lol.. could score it really well with a sawzall blade or cut like half way through then snap it off and grind the rest down smooth

 

[Tom800]

So you got a couple options.. drain it down and use a cut off wheel on a angle grinder or dremel or just a good box cutter and score the crap out of it and then grab it and snap it off.. the score and snap is a little dangerous as there’s a chance it can crack and that would be my last resort if I couldn’t get a tool in there to cut it any other way.

Thanks for your input – yeah I would do this during the next water change and drain down it then. I can go to Home Depot and buy a tool there Use it and return it. I’m a little nervous about box cutter and snapping it off because it’s bonded to the bottom of the sump. I wouldn’t even be cutting it all the way down because I don’t need to and I’m too nervous to be that close to the bottom of the sump just need 75% off. the protein skimmer has a base with legs that that goes over it.

Yeah, definitely need something That’s either small or that has a handle that angles up, the oscillating tool with the battery Did not give me enough clearance and you can’t angle that blade on the oscillating tool.

Anything you can think of that I can get at Home Depot that I can either score and cut it by hand or a tool. Again, it being angled so the handle can go vertical towards me, but the blade be horizontal would be best.

 

[Troylee]

Thanks for your input – yeah I would do this during the next water change and drain down it then. I can go to Home Depot and buy a tool there Use it and return it. I’m a little nervous about box cutter and snapping it off because it’s bonded to the bottom of the sump. I wouldn’t even be cutting it all the way down because I don’t need to and I’m too nervous to be that close to the bottom of the sump just need 75% off. the protein skimmer has a base with legs that that goes over it.

Yeah, definitely need something That’s either small or that has a handle that angles up, the oscillating tool with the battery Did not give me enough clearance and you can’t angle that blade on the oscillating tool.

Anything you can think of that I can get at Home Depot that I can either score and cut it by hand or a tool. Again, it being angled so the handle can go vertical towards me, but the blade be horizontal would be best.

This would be the easiest and cheap.. use those little cutting wheels and hold it vertically they will cut it no problem.

 

[bluemon]

Thanks for your input – yeah I would do this during the next water change and drain down it then. I can go to Home Depot and buy a tool there Use it and return it. I’m a little nervous about box cutter and snapping it off because it’s bonded to the bottom of the sump. I wouldn’t even be cutting it all the way down because I don’t need to and I’m too nervous to be that close to the bottom of the sump just need 75% off. the protein skimmer has a base with legs that that goes over it.

Yeah, definitely need something That’s either small or that has a handle that angles up, the oscillating tool with the battery Did not give me enough clearance and you can’t angle that blade on the oscillating tool.

Anything you can think of that I can get at Home Depot that I can either score and cut it by hand or a tool. Again, it being angled so the handle can go vertical towards me, but the blade be horizontal would be best.

A Pizza cutter maybe?

 

[Tom800]

This would be the easiest and cheap.. use those little cutting wheels and hold it vertically they will cut it no problem.

Something like this,right?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-...ge_rr-_-n/a-_-1-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

 

[Troylee]

Something like this,right?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-...ge_rr-_-n/a-_-1-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

Yes sir. Will work just fine! It’s a good tool to have around the house lol..

 

[FUNGI]

https://www.harborfreight.com/07-am...MI4OP28pO9jgMVsS7UAR10oAfIEAQYAiABEgLmm_D_BwE

 

[Tom800]

Update: success! I used the Dremel from Home Depot and it worked, although the blade actually broke before it was able to cut all the way through the whole thing, but it cut enough so that after it broke, I was able to gently snap it off. I was even able to return the Dremel to Home Depot (it got the job done, but I’m not sure why the blade broke, and when I say the blade broke, there is like a locking mechanism in the center of the blade and it became detached from the blade so the blade could not lock onto the Dremel head)