Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have decided that Vinyl Film is the way I want to waterproof my cages.
Tips please?
I will be building a pretty large number of 4x2x2 cages. The sign shop had concerns over adhesion to wood, but seemed slightly more comfortable with mdf.
$150 for 150 foot roll (30 inch wide)? Sound about right?
Is there a thickness you recommend, a brand, anything else?

Thanks in advance.
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Ben Team
Mark Davis
New Paradigm Herpetoculture
Captive Bred Morelia
404-438-2135
chondro776@yahoo.com

I was told by a signmaker, who also happens to keep snakes, that if the wood was primed then adhesion would be excellent. And I found a zoo in New York or someplace out east that put graphics inside of painted wooden cages. Just use the cheapest paint or primer you have available or can find. However, it does stick well to MDF and melamine.

My biggest concern with vinyl film is finding a caulk that will stick to it. I have not experimented around with this much so let me know if you find anything. My other gripe with it is how glossy it is but I guess you can't have everything.

I got a 30" x 150' roll for about $105 shipped and even got a few squeegees thrown in. But I shopped around a lot.

Regarding brand, just get the cheapest film you can find. More expensive films last longer only in exterior applications. Their extra durability will be neglible in an indoor snake cage and are not worth the money. And the calendared VF is actually thicker than the cast so in one regard you're better off with the cheaper stuff.

Also, get the unpunched film.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Thanks Chris, also thoughts on seams? In the corners or should I overlap the corners and have the seams a few inches away?
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Ben Team
Mark Davis
New Paradigm Herpetoculture
Captive Bred Morelia
404-438-2135
chondro776@yahoo.com

You could probably overlap the corners, assuming you can't find a silicone or other caulk that will stick to it.

It will take some practice to perfect the overlapping technique but I don't think it will be too hard.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Its VYNIL and with the sign vynil I have worked with on banners etc its the SAME vynil that goes on shirts etc for teams jerzees.
I woul personally go with over lapping the side pcs over the front and back of the cage and i would do the floor first . With a hair dryer / heat gun and care you can slit and heat & form the vynil so the bottom runs up the sides and then is covered with the sides and front/ back pcs. This will virtually waterproof the entire cage as the top is last section and take it over the sides etc so water rolls off the seam not INTO the overlaped seams. As chris said the cost for the 5-7-10 yr isnt of much need as the 10 yr is thicker and has more UV stabilzation to keep it from fading in the sun & weather.

When applying it get a spray bottle and spray the surfaces with water will make applying it on a surface much less forgiving and workable as when that stuff touches dry its stuck almost lol use squeeges to work water out just as if you were tinting windows on a care the water will work out and or dry under it and your good .

good luck ( Also i can get printed vynil by the qt ft ) this is a signage vynil that has a color printed images on it so could do rain foresst back grounds etc on the vynil and apply like your doing
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