Cutting/forming tera cotta pots

[kmail5776]

I have determined that the cheapest way to decorate my new 30 gal. is with terra cotta pots. I would like to take a few 3" and 4" pots and cut holes/form cave entrances. From what I've read, I need a carbide tool bit. And its recommended that the pot be soaked in warm water frist to help with the cutting process. Can I get some tips on how you all form/cut your pots to the shape you wanted? Yeah, rock and slate, or PVC could be used, but I am going minimal here, and terra cotta is ferfect for that. Thanks in advance.

Kevin

 

[DeRo316]

I just punched the bottom out of mine with a tack hammer. A dremel would be helpful to cut the holes in the side, they have many different bits to chose from. I wanted more of a cave so I just needed the bottom removed.

 

[BloodThirsty28]

Same here. When I had them I just hit it with a hammer. Bottom broke out just fine and then I took the sharp edges off with the hammer as well.

 

[nmrsco]

a hammer works fine, but prepare to mess up a few pots trying to get the shape you want

 

[ESOXLUCIOUSS]

For caves if u have 2 inches of substrate just bury them,,, sorry i only have dwarf cichlids

 

[YoFishboy]

I use a hole saw (like for drilling holes for door knobs) on a relatively slow drill speed....works great!

 

[will74]

HOLES

use a carbide tipped masonry drill bit to drill several small holes in the shape of the entrance desired and knock the remainder out with a hammer. Be sure to rasp the entrance with a rasp, I use the circular kind that goes in a drill.

 

[AngJo72]

I saw someone who took clay pots, broke them up in big pieces and siliconed them into the shape they wanted.. Cheap and easy!

Ang