STEP-BY-STEP FRAGGING WITH THERMOPLASTICS
1 Heat water in a thick-walled ceramic mug to approximately 150°F (65°C).
Alternatively, you can fill a large bowl, which will stay warm longer.
2 Add the required number of beads.
3 Wait for about two minutes, or until the material is soft and pliable.
4 Remove the soft thermoplastic from the water with a fork or other
implement and knead to make a homogeneous mass.
5 Press the coral frag into the thermoplastic and press it onto the substrate.If you remove the material from the hot water too soon, the beads remain
separate. With sufficient heat, the material forms a homogeneous mass. A
disadvantage of thermoplastic is that it cannot be used to mount a coral
fragment on a smooth surface. It works best to attach fragments to a porous
substrate, pressing it into crevices and holes. The thermoplastic material will
harden and form an anchor.
The thermoplastic
beads are placed
in hot water and
heated until they
have lost their white
color and become
transparent. Then
they are removed
from the water and
kneaded into a
homogeneous mass.
TIP
If you want to work with
thermoplastic over an ex-
tended time, use an elec-
tric cup warmer to keep
the material flexible until
it is needed.When the material gets sufficiently hot, it forms a
homogeneous mass (arrow). If the heat is too low,
the centers of the beads remain firm and they do
not fuse. Either way, the hardened plastic will be
overgrown by coral tissue or algae.