Posted by:
markg
at Mon Dec 1 18:16:59 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by markg ]
As others mentioned, the joint gluing for plastic caging is a weld of sorts, and it is as strong or stronger than the plastic panels being glued. No problem there.
It is relatively easy to repair a plastic cages made from expanded PVC or HDPS. In each case, you cut a piece to cover a crack or hole, use the proper solvent-adhesive, and there you go. Done. Fixed.
Plastic caging is for function, not beauty. There is no better material for smaller, humidity-loving boids than the various plastics used in caging. My favorite is HDPS (high-density polystyrene, ala herpcages.com and precisioncaging.com) and ABS (ala Neodesha). HDPS especially is ultra-light and very strong, even the .125" thk panels are incredibly strong and resistant to warping from heat.
One of the challenges is to make a plastic cage large enough for the larger boas and pythons. Vision and Neodesha have done it, but at high cost. Here is where the wood cage becomes attractive, because you can have it sized to fit your area and the animal type (i.e. taller for carpet pythons, longer for retics) and the material cost is much less.
Plastic does break down over time, but in the realm of herps, it will probably outlast any animal. I have a piece of ABS from Neodesha. It has been outside as a bunny-hutch roof for 5 years. I can stand on it and kick it and it doesn't crack. 5 years of sun and temp changes. That is darn tough.
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RE: Plastic cages - markg, Mon Dec 1 18:16:59 2003