Has anyone worked with Expanded PVC/ Acrylic combo cages? Pitfalls to avoid? How hard is it to work with? Suggestions?
I think expanded PVC (PVCX) is a bit harder to work with. Mostly because the factory edges and corners are not as square as even medium quality plywood. But if you thermoform from full sheets a lot of this is less of an issue.
If you wish to make the cages from panels (rather than thermoforming) I do recommend using something thicker than 1/4" and finding a plastic shop or distributor that can cut the material with a CNC router.
There are pros and cons to both methods.
Regardless, I do think a plastic cage is a good idea for the species you keep.
Any idea of the cost difference between plastics and traditional plywood cages?
Both types of cages have to have doors, ventilation, heat sources, etc. So this cost is fixed between the two types, more or less.
For the most part the cost difference boils down to the difference in cost of the plastic as compared to plywood with a comparable finish. For the species you keep I would recommend a finish you apply yourself (numerous choices) rather than a factory finish (either melamine or UV cure epoxy). I don't name a specific price difference here simply because both plastic and plywood vary so much in price.
More comments:
If lightweight caging is most important to you then don't go over 3/16" or 10mm PVCX. People are often surprised to learn that many 1/2" PVCX products weight more than decent 1/2" plywood.
Use 1/4" if you want to thermoform and don't build a cage larger than the typical 4x2x4 size.
If you want to build the cage from panels attached with screws or rivets then use at least 10mm PVCX. I think rivets plus PVC "glue" is a great way to build cages. I do recommend finding a plastic distributor with a CNC router who can cut the material accurately. I used to live near such a place and would still use them if I still lived there, even though I now have a $1000 table saw.
If you're thinking about build banks of cages, say where the floor of one cage acts as the ceiling of the cage below, plywood will be a better choice.
If you plan to use a lot of soil, plants and other decoration for the geckos you might have issues with stacking PVCX cages. I'd be concerned with them sagging.
It sounds like you won't need any super large cages so I think you have a lot of choices.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
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Current snakes:
0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)
2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)
