Perfect Holes; Sharing Failures

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This was originally located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 3, 2013.

Garden doc makes superb holes for seedlings with copper pipe and a blow torch.

I don't have a blow torch so I though I'd try something else.

Part of research is sharing failure.  I tried to use a set of large paper punches of 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4".  I could get the punch into position, but it failed to cut.  The plastic just stretched.  I tried on an old one, so nothing lost.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, Rondini. This user is located in Zone 5 more like 4 mid Michigan. This was originally posted on April 4, 2013.

1 more way although there are others is, using a sharp knife such as a utility knife cut an X then cut off the petals.

Ron

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, zenful6219. This user is located in Denton, TX Zone 8. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

I use a bulb planter.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 6,
2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, zenful6219. This user is located in Denton, TX Zone 8. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

I use a bulb planter.

What is a bulb planter and how does it make holes?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This was originally located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 9, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, zenful6219. This user is located in Denton, TX Zone 8. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

I use a bulb planter.

I have a bulb planter.  I do not think the edge is sharp enough to cut the plastic.  Do you use it like a stencil and cut around it?

Here is a link to the model I have:

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7983-Bulb-Transplanter/dp/B000AQLUD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365557722&sr=8-1&keywords=bulb+planter

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 9, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 6,
2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, zenful6219. This user is located in Denton, TX Zone 8. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

I use a bulb planter.

What is a bulb planter and how does it make holes?

Garden doc makes superb holes for seedlings with copper pipe and a blow torch.

The bulb planter is just for removing the potting mix in a shape it accepts the new plant. No hole cutting.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

That is correct. The holes in the plastic are cut with my custom cutters and the mix plug is removed to accomodate the transplant.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This was originally located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 9, 2013.

I have a bulb planter.  I do not think the edge is sharp enough to cut the plastic.  Do you use it like a stencil and cut around it?

You can use the bottom of the bulb planter as a guide for cutting the holes.  I just did that yesterday.

I held the bottom of the bulb planter at the spot I wanted the hole, and used a VERY sharp knife to cut around the outside edge.  It took a bit of care and slight manipulation to do, but on the whole, was quite an acceptable technique.

You could also use a sharpie and mark a circle on the cover using the planter as a guide, then cut it out with a VERY SHARP knife or scissors.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 6, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This was originally located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 9, 2013.

I have a bulb planter.  I do not think the edge is sharp enough to cut the plastic.  Do you use it like a stencil and cut around it?

You can use the bottom of the bulb planter as a guide for cutting the holes.  I just did that yesterday.

I held the bottom of the bulb planter at the spot I wanted the hole, and used a VERY sharp knife to cut around the outside edge.  It took a bit of care and slight manipulation to do, but on the whole, was quite an acceptable technique.

You could also use a sharpie and mark a circle on the cover using the planter as a guide, then cut it out with a VERY SHARP knife or scissors.

Build a fire, heat the bulb planter super hot and burn hole and remove plug of media in one action. How's that? Just kidding, or not.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

Build a fire, heat the bulb planter super hot and burn hole and remove plug of media in one action. How's that? Just kidding, or not.

Now there's an idea.   It might be difficult though due to the whole planter being quite a heat sink; don't know if it would be hard to get the bottom edge hot enough.

Also, the bottom is not straight/flat  _______--_________--__________
Could leave some spots uncut maybe.
Interesting idea though.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 14, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 10, 2013.

Build a fire, heat the bulb planter super hot and burn hole and remove plug of media in one action. How's that? Just kidding, or not.

Now there's an idea.   It might be difficult though due to the whole planter being quite a heat sink; don't know if it would be hard to get the bottom edge hot enough.

Also, the bottom is not straight/flat  _______--_________--__________
Could leave some spots uncut maybe.
Interesting idea though.

Those irregularities can be ground away or sharpened with a simple bench or angle grinder cheap at Harbor Freight.

Like a brand for a steer, except your removing a plug. Hell, the steer is lucky we're not plugging him.

All we need to do is design a soldiering iron attachment that is bent around in a circle. No torches, just different size attachments, 2 or 3.  Or a hand held electric oven type circled element to melt the holes. I can use my hand to scoop potting soil, feels good to get your hands in the dirt, I was a kid in the country once.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This was originally located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

I like the soldering iron idea, but I don't have one of those either.  I moved from a small apartment to a town home.  I have yet to amass a collection of power tools.  I think I should start with a power drill.

Building a fire might work.  I could build it in my weber grill.  The handle on my bulb planter is plastic and kinda short to hold in a fire.  However, I could heat a pipe or tin can and use the BBQ tongs and gloves.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

I think any metal 'thing' of the proper diameter could be used.  A key issue will be to limit the opportunity for heat to "soak away" from the 'tip' that will serve as the contact point.

In other words, a long pipe of the proper diameter would not be good as the heat would be readily conducted away from the end intended to be the cutter--thus preventing it from retaining sufficient heat.

However, a "ring" of that pipe, attached at the back end to a low-heat-conducting holder of some sort, would be great.

I could see a short section of pipe press fit into a hole of the same OD cut into a block of wood (or preferably a non combustible substitute).  And a handle of some sort could be attached to the wood.

This is fun thinking about.