Cutting fibreglass pond filter. How to?

[giddyup]

I buy fibreglass filter from the pet shop for my fish pond. It comes in a large sheet and I cut it into smaller pieces to fit inside the tank, but  find it really difficult to cut. Scissors won't do it and even a Stanley knife struggles. Any tips?

[Ralf001]

4" angle grinder with 1 or 2mm cut disc.

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:41 AM, Ralf001 said:

4" angle grinder with 1 or 2mm cut disc.

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This stuff is soft, not like fibreglass sheeting.

[Lacessit]

You need tailor's scissors, the really big ones.

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:51 AM, Lacessit said:

You need tailor's scissors, the really big ones.

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I reckon this stuff would blunt them pretty fast. Fortunately only need to replace the filter every 6 or 8 months.

[Lacessit]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:53 AM, giddyup said:

I reckon this stuff would blunt them pretty fast. Fortunately only need to replace the filter every 6 or 8 months.

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How dense is it? Maybe using a hole punch in the line of cut beforehand would help.

[Crossy]

I think last time Madam used my hedge clippers ???? 

 

At least they can be sharpened.

[OneMoreFarang]

And depending on how you cut it wear a mask. As far as I know it is bad if you inhale small particles of it. 

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:56 AM, Lacessit said:

How dense is it? Maybe using a hole punch in the line of cut beforehand would help.

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A photo might help.

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 6:01 AM, Crossy said:

I think last time Madam used my hedge clippers ???? 

 

At least they can be sharpened.

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I'll give that a try.

[stoner]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:43 AM, giddyup said:

This stuff is soft, not like fibreglass sheeting.

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maybe some good quality garden pruning hand sheers. 

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 6:36 AM, stoner said:

maybe some good quality garden pruning hand sheers. 

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Tried pruning shears, no good, maybe hedge shears.

[stoner]

  On 7/27/2023 at 6:40 AM, giddyup said:

Tried pruning shears, no good, maybe hedge shears.

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a sheet metal cutting machine ? where they bend and cut metal in shops maybe you could take it there.

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 6:42 AM, stoner said:

a sheet metal cutting machine ? where they bend and cut metal in shops maybe you could take it there.

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This stuff is soft, I thought the photos showed that.

[stoner]

  On 7/27/2023 at 6:45 AM, giddyup said:

This stuff is soft, I thought the photos showed that.

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it did. you never know what can be done by people who cut materials every single day. 

 

take it to a seamstress. 

[worgeordie]

First of all it's not fibreglass , it a kind of synthetic wool , i cut it with ease

with a largest size of scissors ,even sometimes smaller ones when i cannot

find the large ones , no difficulty at all, so no idea what problem you are

having , you can even rip it apart if you have to....

 

regards worgeordie

[giddyup]

  On 7/27/2023 at 7:17 AM, worgeordie said:

First of all it's not fibreglass , it a kind of synthetic wool , i cut it with ease

with a largest size of scissors ,even sometimes smaller ones when i cannot

find the large ones , no difficulty at all, so no idea what problem you are

having , you can even rip it apart if you have to....

 

regards worgeordie

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No way you can rip this apart, and it's nothing like a synthetic wool, it's full of strong fibres, not unlike fibreglass. I bought from a different shop this time and it's only about an inch thick, normally it's about 3 inches thick. There's no label on the bag but I think it might be some kind of polyester.

 

 

[worgeordie]

  On 7/27/2023 at 7:24 AM, giddyup said:

No way you can rip this apart, and it's nothing like a synthetic wool, it's full of strong fibres, not unlike fibreglass. I bought from a different shop this time and it's only about an inch thick, normally it's about 3 inches thick.

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From your photos it's exactly like the stuff I have been buying for years, its synthetic wool ,

I know because I used to be an Aquatics wholesaler in UK , and have sold tons of the stuff,

it's actually made for the clothing industry to be used in batting and in making quilts etc,main use,

you either have very weak hands or are not trying hard enough , fiberglass would not be

used in aquatic filtering as particles would get in the fishes gills,  it's a synthetic wool. .

 

regards Worgeordie

[Lacessit]

  On 7/27/2023 at 7:17 AM, worgeordie said:

First of all it's not fibreglass , it a kind of synthetic wool , i cut it with ease

with a largest size of scissors ,even sometimes smaller ones when i cannot

find the large ones , no difficulty at all, so no idea what problem you are

having , you can even rip it apart if you have to....

 

regards worgeordie

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If it's polyester, hot wire cutting.

[worgeordie]

  On 7/27/2023 at 8:03 AM, Lacessit said:

If it's polyester, hot wire cutting.

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All you need are scissors ,I just cut some up to see if I wasn't crazy or something

and it cut easy , can pull apart ,and i am 77 not in my prime ,

 

regards worgeordie                            

[Lacessit]

  On 7/27/2023 at 8:12 AM, worgeordie said:

All you need are scissors ,I just cut some up to see if I wasn't crazy or something

and it cut easy , can pull apart ,and i am 77 not in my prime ,

 

regards worgeordie                            

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As I said before, tailor's scissors.

Perhaps the OP is losing his grip. SORRY!!!!

[Ralf001]

  On 7/27/2023 at 5:43 AM, giddyup said:

This stuff is soft, not like fibreglass sheeting.

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Yeah my bad...I assumed it was like jap matting but now see the pics you later put up

I cut that stuff with a decent pair of scissors.

 

This is how you cut Jap Matting (skip to 9 mins).