DIY Ocean Nutrition Algae Clip Fix

redfishbluefish · Dec 14, 2015

I should preface this with letting you know I'm a first class tinkerer.

I like Ocean Nutrition Algae Clips. With their wide mouth, they perfectly fit the folded up piece of algae. I've only found one LFS (in Pennsylvania) that carries them (although I haven't looked very hard), and every trip I'd make there (and for me it's a trip) I'd pick up a two pack. This trip to this PA store was a yearly pilgrimage with a fellow club member, but he has since moved on, and I haven't gone in a couple years. However, I had gone enough in the past, and had eight clips, that I built a holder for these clips that hung in my canopy:

Well, about six months ago, one of the white plastic pieces that offered the "spring" to the clip broke off.

No big deal....I had seven more....and I'd keep this one for when another broke, I could make one good one. Well when it rains, it pours.....they continued to break. I wanted to see if I could come up with a fix.....and here it is:

I took a piece of 1/2 inch CPVC pipe and cut a grove in it.

I first attempted to use my 12 inch compound miter saw to cut this pipe at about 1/4 inch slices, and actually cut three of these pieces, that immediately got shot off into the clutter of my shop.

After spending about ten minutes searching for these pieces, and only finding one, I reverted back to the old-school miter box to cut the rest of the pieces.

These little pieces simply replace the white plastic hinges that broke, and, I must say, work fantistic.

And there you go, a ten dollar fix for a three dollar algae clip! But it was fun.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
I should preface this with letting you know I'm a first class tinkerer.

I like Ocean Nutrition Algae Clips. With their wide mouth, they perfectly fit the folded up piece of algae. I've only found one LFS (in Pennsylvania) that carries them (although I haven't looked very hard), and every trip I'd make there (and for me it's a trip) I'd pick up a two pack. This trip to this PA store was a yearly pilgrimage with a fellow club member, but he has since moved on, and I haven't gone in a couple years. However, I had gone enough in the past, and had eight clips, that I built a holder for these clips that hung in my canopy:

Well, about six months ago, one of the white plastic pieces that offered the "spring" to the clip broke off.

No big deal....I had seven more....and I'd keep this one for when another broke, I could make on good one. Well when it rains, it pours.....they continued to break. I wanted to see if I could come up with a fix.....and here it is:

I took a piece of 1/2 inch CPVC pipe and cut a grove in it.

I first attempted to use my 12 inch compound miter saw to cut this pipe at about 1/4 inch slices, and actually cut three of these pieces, that immediately got shot off into the clutter of my shop.

After spending about ten minutes searching for these pieces, and only finding one, I reverted back to the old-school miter box to cut the rest of the pieces.

These little pieces simply replace the white plastic hinges that broke, and, I must say, work fantistic.

And there you go, a ten dollar fix for a three dollar algae clip! But it was fun.

Awesome!

JMLewis · Dec 14, 2015

Very cool! How did you cut the PVC length wise?

redfishbluefish · Dec 15, 2015

The original plan was to use my router table, but I was too lazy to set it up and put in the right bit. I was first looking for proof of concept. So I simply put the pipe in the trough of the miter saw, and with three passes, with a slight twist, I had a grove slightly larger than a 1/4 inch.

Now I'm thinking I'll redo this using the router table using a 1/4 inch bit. The slightly smaller opening will make the spring on the clip slightly tighter. To do this using a router table, I'd first attach the pipe to a piece of scrap wood and then run it through the bit to make the slot.

TheEngineer · Dec 15, 2015

Which store in PA?

(Nice upgrade to the clips BTW)

AllSignsPointToFish · Dec 15, 2015

Well done! PhD in shadetree engineering bestowed upon you

AllSignsPointToFish · Dec 15, 2015

btw, I didn't something very similar with 1" pvc drain pipe (the thin-walled stuff). Using your miter saw, you can cut rings and split them axially to make pipe repair clamps for 1" schedule 40 pvc pipe. Just add some cement and slip the split ring over the OD of the schedule 40 pipe for a quick leak repair

redfishbluefish · Dec 15, 2015

Thanks for the nice comments.

icecool2 said:
Which store in PA?

(Nice upgrade to the clips BTW)

Don't want to mention names, but they are located in Levittown.

TheEngineer · Dec 15, 2015

I don't think there's any reason you can't/shouldn't, but since there are only two stores there I can guess which one. I used to go there more frequently when I lived in NJ. Best dry goods selection I've seen outside of That Pet Place in Lancaster.

redfishbluefish · Dec 15, 2015

icecool2 said:
I don't think there's any reason you can't/shouldn't, but since there are only two stores there I can guess which one. I used to go there more frequently when I lived in NJ. Best dry goods selection I've seen outside of That Pet Place in Lancaster.

The one I'm talking about really isn't hidden.

It's out in plain sight.

ReeferBob · Dec 16, 2015

Excellent solution! Those clips break all the time. I think you could just run the PVC through the table saw against the rip fence. I think you only need to split them they should be strong enough to not break with just a saw kerf amount removed I think? If not, you could just run them through twice or put the dado set on.

AllSignsPointToFish · Dec 16, 2015

I would just cut the rings and split them with a pair of diagonal cutters or PVC shears.

I wouldn't even use a saw for such a thing.

redfishbluefish · Dec 16, 2015

Thanks @ReeferBob and @AllSignsPointToFIsh for the suggestions.

I don't own diagonal cutters or PVC shears, so I cut the pipe with a hacksaw....very small saw kerf. I think the pipe is screaming from being stretched so wide, but I really like the tension on the closing jaws of the clip. I think it is stronger than the original. I'll have to see how long these last before the pipe fatigues. Thanks again, makes it a little easier to make these.