- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 1,419
Same here. I'm thinking about buying 10 large arboreal cages, but $750 plus shipping is a bit much. Heck building my own sounds like fun.
Do you Purchase or make your own enclosures?
- Thread starter dougle
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2008
- Messages
- 956
I really want to build my own. I'm just not sure how to bond them together. I know its some kind of solvent but am not sure where to get it or how it works. Anyone want to let me in on the secret?
http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=130&
They have hinges claps and sheet goods as well.
They have hinges claps and sheet goods as well.
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 821
It is a solvent which is applied with the lil bottle in the corner of the pic.
First I use painters tape to hold two sheets at a 45 degree angle. I use a speed square to insure a square angle, then I gently squeeze the bottle into the seam (you can see the seam filling with adhesive) and within seconds the bond is complete. Make sure before bonding that the sheets are where you want them, there is no going back after application.
Piece of cake once you get the hang of it. The hardest thing is putting the door on the cube. Be extra careful putting on the hinges.
PIG-
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Messages
- 604
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=82056&page=5
See post #91, there is a short description of the process. There are also some more enclosure shots one the same page.
Bill
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2007
- Messages
- 428
The first time I built one, the acrylic cemented got wicked up on the tape I had holding the whole thing together. So that when I took the tape off, I had some imperfections below the tape where the cement had gotten to.
Easiest solution for me was to take off the tape from the seam when I'm gluing that seam. And of course after that the tape for that seam is not necessary.
Before ordering any supplies, I would recommend pricing out all the supplies you will need. Perhaps any tools you need to buy too - the best way to cut acrylic (well, other than laser cutting but that's not realistic) would probably be a table saw with an acrylic cutting blade (though a fine tooth blade would work, just not as well). You wouldn't want to start buying stuff only to realize you ordered enough of X to make M cages but can only get enough Y to make N cages. You also have to decide how you will ventilate it. Drilling holes is the cheapest method, and you won't have problems like the recent "can opening tarantula" thread with the tarantulas ripping mesh. It does take a lot more holes to make equivalent ventilation to mesh vents. A 2" hole is equivalent to 256 1/8" holes, so you would need to drill 200+ holes at 1/8" to equal a single 2" vent. Also do you want to vent the sides too or only the top? That is one nice benefit to building, you can make all design decisions.
Another thing to consider when deciding how many cages to build is that acrylic comes in pretty standard sizes. If you decided to buy 4'x8' sheets you'll get so many cages per sheet. So perhaps you build 14 instead of 10, in which case you would need hinges/latches for 14. This should become apparent in the pricing of supplies step though.
Easiest solution for me was to take off the tape from the seam when I'm gluing that seam. And of course after that the tape for that seam is not necessary.
Before ordering any supplies, I would recommend pricing out all the supplies you will need. Perhaps any tools you need to buy too - the best way to cut acrylic (well, other than laser cutting but that's not realistic) would probably be a table saw with an acrylic cutting blade (though a fine tooth blade would work, just not as well). You wouldn't want to start buying stuff only to realize you ordered enough of X to make M cages but can only get enough Y to make N cages. You also have to decide how you will ventilate it. Drilling holes is the cheapest method, and you won't have problems like the recent "can opening tarantula" thread with the tarantulas ripping mesh. It does take a lot more holes to make equivalent ventilation to mesh vents. A 2" hole is equivalent to 256 1/8" holes, so you would need to drill 200+ holes at 1/8" to equal a single 2" vent. Also do you want to vent the sides too or only the top? That is one nice benefit to building, you can make all design decisions.
Another thing to consider when deciding how many cages to build is that acrylic comes in pretty standard sizes. If you decided to buy 4'x8' sheets you'll get so many cages per sheet. So perhaps you build 14 instead of 10, in which case you would need hinges/latches for 14. This should become apparent in the pricing of supplies step though.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,955
I would totally buy your homemade enclosures that held the gals, WARPIG. Those look really good.
Do you have a walkthrough video?
Do you have a walkthrough video?
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 821
I don't have a vid, but in the near future I plan on making more. I have at least 5 gals at the 3-4" mark, and they too will be in need of their own new digs.
When I do make them, I'll post a detailed thread so anyone can follow.
PIG-
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2008
- Messages
- 956
That would be absolutely great. I cant wait to see it.
I buy aquariums as im to cheap to buy acrilic tanks. They look great for people who want to spend for them, but i like the look of 10g's neatly placed side by side.
I also see no problem with the enclosure costing more then the t (get a p metallica if you dont want this lol). My 125g aquarium setup is probably close to 2000$, YET I SPENT 50$ ON THE FISH INSIDE.
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2007
- Messages
- 428
Acrylic gets pretty heavy, probably would be cheaper to find the acrylic locally somewhere they'll cut it (try places that sell glass.)
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 821
I live less than 5 min from an acrylic distributor/fabricator. I actually walked over and picked up my cut sheet and adhesive, it was heavier than I thought it would be, next time I drive.
The site I posted was where I got hinges and hasps you can also get adhesive there (they were cheaper than where I got the sheet). You should look locally for a distributor and try to negotiate for the cost of cutting it for you. The guy never batted an eye when I told him they were for T's, he said that over the years, he has had many strange requests.
When buying adhesive, buy a small can/bottle, a little goes a long way.
GL
PIG-
dougle
I am glad I asked this question ,I have gained a great deal of postive information and contacts ,please keep this thread going, many of us would love to learn how to create and make are own enclosures out of acrylic instead of spending large amounts of money purchasing them ,that would be better spent on purchasing more Ts for our growing collections.:worship: :worship: :worship: :clap: :clap: :clap:
I am glad I asked this question ,I have gained a great deal of postive information and contacts ,please keep this thread going, many of us would love to learn how to create and make are own enclosures out of acrylic instead of spending large amounts of money purchasing them ,that would be better spent on purchasing more Ts for our growing collections.:worship: :worship: :worship: :clap: :clap: :clap:
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2008
- Messages
- 956
I have to agree. Nice thread dougle.
dougle
Now I will to start taking all that I have learned hear and start making and modifying cages ,that way I can spend the money that I save on all those expensive T s like P Metallica , I must say that I will still be purchasing a few of the XL Terrestrial acrylic cages from adam for my T Blondi and my very rare S. Gigantea group that I will be getting in the near future.:worship: :worship: :worship: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Now I will to start taking all that I have learned hear and start making and modifying cages ,that way I can spend the money that I save on all those expensive T s like P Metallica , I must say that I will still be purchasing a few of the XL Terrestrial acrylic cages from adam for my T Blondi and my very rare S. Gigantea group that I will be getting in the near future.:worship: :worship: :worship: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Last edited: