Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what is the easiest way to put holes in a bin (for a rack system)

I've read that it's a soldering iron.

more detail please

>>more detail please

Just use a standard soldering iron that you can get at any Home Depot or like store. The tips are pointed and once they heat up they easily melt holes in plastic storage boxes used in rack systems. Be sure to do this in a well ventilated area as the plastic fumes will go to your head.

Rob

is there anyother way? i dont have the money for that

Wire hanger snipped or something of larger diameter heated over the burner on the stove. As stated, watch for fumes.
J

>>is there anyother way? i dont have the money for that

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/91600-91699/91616.gif
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

those wont crack the bin

>>those wont crack the bin

Unless the bin has been in the sun for years smaller drill bits will go right through without cracking. With step bits the differenece in sizes is so small its like chewing a gradually bigger hole. I would start off with a 3/32" or so.

You can do the same thing with regular drill bits and just gradually increase them but it takes awhile.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

is there anyother way? i dont have the money for that

Sure you do, I bought one at a dollar store for under 5 bucks. I've also seen them at radio shack for under $20. You don't need anything spectacular here. The cheapest one you can find will do the trick.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062758&cp=&sr=1&origkw=soldering&kw=soldering&parentPage=search

$7.99 at radioshack mine is similar to this one.

>>http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062758&cp=&sr=1&origkw=soldering&kw=soldering&parentPage=search
>>
>>$7.99 at radioshack mine is similar to this one.

No offense to any and all that buy these products but they are not intended for this use and the cheaper they are the faster they break.

My 2 Cents, in this hobby tools are an investment like the animals themselves. What you buy today will most likly be used again tomorrow. Case an point I bought a drill bit to use in construction of a bearded dragon cage, not the norm a big hole saw. I've used that at least twice on other projects, you never know when you may need the tool again.

For me an adjustable temp solder gun was the best route, however I stumbled and bought a crappy one first. Learned my lesson buy good the first time. In todays society electronic home repair will save you something in the end.

IMHO
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

You're right. Cheap tools are just that. It takes a rich man to buy cheap tools.
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0.2 Leopard Geckos (Fire and Mello)
0.0.1 Blue Tongue Skink (Smoot)

I have a better soldering iron for work on my computers, car electronics etc. I would not use that one for electronics, though it may work.

However, the post said they couldn't afford it and I bought that one specifically for putting holes in tubs. It is cheap and does that task. Bear in mind that residue sticks on the soldering iron and it's a pain to clean, at least for me. So that cheap one is only used for that purpse.

For $7 bucks, (I got mine for less at a dollar store) you can't expect much. But then again your only looking to put holes in a plastic bin.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I hope this is not taken that way. It's difficult to express mood over the internet, and I agree that a good soldering iron is a good investment for electronic repair.

I take no offense......

It is always my intention to look beyond, to see what is not yet here. I take the same phylosophy in my hobbies. If I buy a scale it should be accurate to all the possible weights I need and for items outside of the herp community. If I buy a Table saw it needs to be large enough to handle the largest project I will build. When I buy a car it should hold my entire future family not just in the present. I treat all purchases in the same fashion, we have a large enough waste stream at present why should I contribute. Everything should have a next step.

Lego's are the Ultimate Toy for that reason alone, the items used in any creation can always be used for another. The perfect recycling program!
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

thanks you everyone, i will most likely go to the dollar store and radio shack and buy the cheap one. it will only be used to put holes in the bin. if it works like u say than i thats u very much.

I have 41 qt. bins how many hols and where should i put them?
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Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

Depends on your climate and species you plan to keep. In the 41 qt sterilites I use for my BCI I usually put about 40 holes all the way around the perimeter. And a suggestion on keeping the tip clean. I keep a damp thick washcloth handy while adding holes. It makes doing a quick wipe off easy and avoids the build up of material.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

ball pythons basic climate setting maybe a little but more humidity during shed.
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Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

For a few dollars more you can buy a soldering iron that has a very large tip - I have one that makes a hole that I can fit my little finger through. I got it at Home Depot - maybe 20 bucks. For ball pythons (or any other large snakes) it will save you a ton of time to make a few big holes vs a bunch of little ones. For my 41qt boxes I put 8 big holes down each long side and 5 across each end at the top, and then one hole on each side at about the level of the top of the substrate to help with airflow.
-Lee

I bought a soldering iron at a dollar store for...you guessed it...$1. I also got one at a Harbor Freight for under $5. You don't need a fancy one. Just something that will get hot.
I draw neat rows of dots on my tubs and then burn through the dots.
Good luck!

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
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