Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i saw a picture earlier of a piece of pvc painted up to look like a log. looked like it had been heated and twisted as well, with a hole being placed in the middle. does anyone know where the article for this is?
if not..
what kind of paints work best for pvc and which are safest for use with reptiles and water?

I remember the article you're talking about.

If I recall correctly, the person didn't even use paint.

They just took a handheld torch (mapp gas or something similar) and scalded the pipe, burninig it a little until it turned brown, heating carefully to bend it, but not so much that it would completely melt or blacken too much.

I'll post a link if I can find it, but I know they didn't paint the pvc, that was all burn marks. They might have sanded parts of it later to get some of the scorch off.

It was a very cool effect.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP

>>They just took a handheld torch (mapp gas or something similar) and scalded the pipe, burninig it a little until it turned brown, heating carefully to bend it, but not so much that it would completely melt or blacken too much.

Be careful doing it. The fumes given off by burning PVC are incredibly bad. Most definately an outside job. Let someone know what you are doing and where you are doing it. That way (I hope not), if anything were to happen to you, they know what is going on. Sorry, they harp on safety at work and it spills over into my life at home. I guess that's a good thing.

That being said....
I heated some one time to bend it. It's weird. It heats up, won't bend. Heats up some more and wont bend. Then all of a sudden, it's too hot and bent way too much and on fire. So I suggest you get some extra so you can practice. Or better yet, get one piece and practice on it, then sand it and see if it turns out like you wanted.

Get some big pliers (channel locks) and tape up the jaws (so they don't leave unwanted marks). Use them to crush in certian areas. Maybe use the side of a saw blade to put some scratches in the side. Just some ideas that might help out.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Eastern King-Ozy
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

Here you go. I scrubbed them down, and rinsed them in bleach water until the water ran clear. I let them sit for a week or 2 to make sure they offgassed. Have a fan on outside when you do it. Derek

>>Here you go. I scrubbed them down, and rinsed them in bleach water until the water ran clear. I let them sit for a week or 2 to make sure they offgassed. Have a fan on outside when you do it. Derek
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For Sale cheap: One (1) 6' 19 yr old male. Does no house work. Has no job and will complain. Constantly.
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Eastern King-Ozy
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

thanks to all for the help. i got myself a handheld torch today!! i've never used one so im hopefully not going to injure myself. i'll let you guys know what kind of progress i make