Mid Tier Arboreal Enclosure

[Trenor]

I think my bits are getting a bit dull

If you lived nearby and they are the regular bits I could sharpen them for you.

Tap Plastics bit

I thought you meant Taps as a name brand. No it didn't have the v tip that those bits had but it did have a sharper angle on the cutting face to prevent wandering. It seemed like even with no pressure I was melting the plastic rather then cutting it. Even with the new bit.

Their main feature is that they don't skate/dance across the surface of the acrylic... something that is solved immediately with either a drill press or a steady hand.

Or a sharp drill bit. A dull bit will walk all over the place. People like to drill too fast and will often burn up bits even when drilling wood.

 

[bryverine]

I haven't had any probs drilling, but I think my bits are getting a bit dull, and had thought about Taps bits.

I'd still recommend the plastic bits. Regular high speed bits might work, but the way they work is completely different.

Metal/wood bits 'chip' away material where acrylic bits scrape it. That's why it's so much easier to get blowouts with acrylic using a regular bit.

As for the cork background, I had to pick some up from an exotic pet store when I was on vacation awhile back (their tarantula selection was sad though). It was easily 75% of the amazon price. It works very well for anchoring; I have it in my avic and regalis enclosures.

 

[viper69]

According to my grandfather (a carpenter by trade), those are a luxury. They do work better, but they're unneeded. Their main feature is that they don't skate/dance across the surface of the acrylic... something that is solved immediately with either a drill press or a steady hand.

Oh def not, my own general bits work fine.

I have both. I'd just like to drill a bit faster that's all, and wondered if those Tap bits allow for that.

 

[viper69]

I'd still recommend the plastic bits. Regular high speed bits might work, but the way they work is completely different.

Metal/wood bits 'chip' away material where acrylic bits scrape it. That's why it's so much easier to get blowouts with acrylic using a regular bit.

As for the cork background, I had to pick some up from an exotic pet store when I was on vacation awhile back (their tarantula selection was sad though). It was easily 75% of the amazon price. It works very well for anchoring; I have it in my avic and regalis enclosures.

This is true, they do work differently. Their geometry is different, the Tap bits are single fluted for example.

I did a slew of research on bits/drilling acrylic about a couple of years ago, there's a bunch of posts by me with a variety of knowledge from my research into this area, all under the Viv section.

 

[viper69]

If you lived nearby and they are the regular bits I could sharpen them for you.

Man, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I don't live nearby. If I did, I'd have obtained a T tour and some fresh honey

 

[louise f]

Those are pretty cool setups @Trenor Looks really fantastic

 

[Hellblazer]

Nice! I might order some of those boxes.

 

[Trenor]

Here is the big enclosure I got the corkbark flat to rework. My P.cam girl was none too happy to get ran out of her cork round hide into a catch cup for the duration of the renovations. She went back in easily though.

I ended up with enough cork left over to do 3 or 4 more of the other enclosures like the one above.

I didn't glue the bark to the wall like I did for the above enclosure. I secured the bark to the walls with plastic coated wire so I could remove it to make a terrestrial enclosure should I choose to in the future.

Right before she dropped back into her hide.

 

[viper69]

Here is the big enclosure I got the corkbark flat to rework. My P.cam girl was none too happy to get ran out of her cork round hide into a catch cup for the duration of the renovations. She went back in easily though.

I ended up with enough cork left over to do 3 or 4 more of the other enclosures like the one above.

I didn't glue the bark to the wall like I did for the above enclosure. I secured the bark to the walls with plastic coated wire so I could remove it to make a terrestrial enclosure should I choose to in the future.

Right before she dropped back into her hide.

Looks like a Jamie's container or did you make that?

LOVE the idea of wiring the cork, I will do that for mine because I never know what's going in them next. Great idea Trenor!!

How'd you line up the holes? Did you drill into the cork, and then score the acrylic? That's what I would do at least.

 

[Trenor]

Looks like a Jamie's container or did you make that?

LOVE the idea of wiring the cork, I will do that for mine because I never know what's going in them next. Great idea Trenor!!

How'd you line up the holes? Did you drill into the cork, and then score the acrylic? That's what I would do at least.

It is a Jamie's enclosure I picked up a while back. They are very well made but I'll be making the new ones myself to try to save some money.

I have really been impressed with the ease those bits drill the acrylic. I drilled the holes in the back of the enclosure then turned it on it's side. Put in the bark and lined it up how I wanted. Then drilled through the enclosure holes into the wood while holding the wood in place. It worked really well.

The main reason I went those route is this enclosure can easily be used for a arboreal or a terrestrial setup so I didn't want to glue something that would make it one or the other permanently. The smaller one above really isn't suited for anything other the arboreal so gluing wasn't a big deal.

 

[viper69]

It is a Jamie's enclosure I picked up a while back. They are very well made but I'll be making the new ones myself to try to save some money.

I have really been impressed with the ease those bits drill the acrylic. I drilled the holes in the back of the enclosure then turned it on it's side. Put in the bark and lined it up how I wanted. Then drilled through the enclosure holes into the wood while holding the wood in place. It worked really well.

The main reason I went those route is this enclosure can easily be used for a arboreal or a terrestrial setup so I didn't want to glue something that would make it one or the other permanently. The smaller one above really isn't suited for anything other the arboreal so gluing wasn't a big deal.

Yeah I've seen her containers before, I think they are well made. I've seen Lorex, not as good.

Which bits did you get? I may replace mine as I said earlier.

Oh, you did it the reverse of what I had thought, thanks for the info. Had you wired the cork up BEFORE drilling?

If you make your own, let me know how it goes. I haven't attempted that yet.

 

[Kodi]

Very nice! What kind of glue did you use for the bark? I used silicon but the smell always seems to linger.

 

[Trenor]

Yeah I've seen her containers before, I think they are well made. I've seen Lorex, not as good.

Which bits did you get? I may replace mine as I said earlier.

Oh, you did it the reverse of what I had thought, thanks for the info. Had you wired the cork up BEFORE drilling?

If you make your own, let me know how it goes. I haven't attempted that yet.

They are nice a sturdy.

It's the regular all purpose bit set I have. I have the drill set on the slowest setting and I let the drill weight be the only pressure. Goes right through with nice clean holes.

I didn't wire it till last. The cork piece fit snug in the enclosure space side to side. I left it out and drilled the holes in the enclosure then put it in lined it up and held it in place while I drilled through it using the holes in the enclosure. I would have liked to drill it through the wood to the outside but the drill doesn't fit in the opening very well. It worked really good this way though.

Yeah, I need to find someone with a table saw I can barrow for a bit to cut the plexi glass and make a jig to hold the sheets in place while drying and it shouldn't be hard to make some. I have a decent place for the hinges which should be cheaper if I buy in bulk.

 

[viper69]

That's how I drill as well. Let the machine due to the removing of material. Drill too fast you melt it, like PVC.
Now I see how you did that.

Yeah her setups are good. I remember when I saw them at a show, Jamie and Jon had a nice table, some nice adults too.

 

[Trenor]

Very nice! What kind of glue did you use for the bark? I used silicon but the smell always seems to linger.

On the small enclosure I used hot glue. I use that for almost all my gluing needs as it dries quickly and doesn't leave any smell. When I go to use the glass fish tanks I have, I'll use silicon because hot glue doesn't stick well to glass.

The big enclosure I wired the cork to the wall so I could remove it later if I need to.

 

[Kodi]

On the small enclosure I used hot glue. I use that for almost all my gluing needs as it dries quickly and doesn't leave any smell. When I go to use the glass fish tanks I have, I'll use silicon because hot glue doesn't stick well to glass.

The big enclosure I wired the cork to the wall so I could remove it later if I need to.

I didn't even think of hot glue for the plastic enclosures. How long do you leave the silicon to cure?

 

[viper69]

On the small enclosure I used hot glue. I use that for almost all my gluing needs as it dries quickly and doesn't leave any smell. When I go to use the glass fish tanks I have, I'll use silicon because hot glue doesn't stick well to glass.

The big enclosure I wired the cork to the wall so I could remove it later if I need to.

When you do the fish tanks, send up some pics. I'm sure they will be nice!

I liked these Aqueon tank conversion kits that the dart frog people are using. Don't know if he makes a double door version

http://frogcube.com/overview

 

[Trenor]

I didn't even think of hot glue for the plastic enclosures. How long do you leave the silicon to cure?

Yeah, hot glue is my go to for permanent enclosures. Not a lot can beat it IMO.

With silicone, I try to apply it a week or so before I need the enclosure. Most silicone shouldn't need that long to dry but I like to have it all the way cured and aired out before putting a animal in with it.

 

[Trenor]

When you do the fish tanks, send up some pics. I'm sure they will be nice!

I liked these Aqueon tank conversion kits that the dart frog people are using. Don't know if he makes a double door version

http://frogcube.com/overview

That's a nice conversion. Two the the tanks I have are 2.5 gal and a 10 gal and a 25 gal (I have no idea what this one will be used for yet) that were all free. I was looking at pattern with top and bottom silicone in pieces and a double hinged door with latch that connects right to the side of the tank. We'll see what stuff I can find before I need them.

 

[Blue Jaye]

Wow @Trenor super nice enclosures. Very nice job!