Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know where I can get PVC foam board. 1/2 to 1/4 inches thick?? Lowes and Home Depot looked at me like I was nuts!

Thanks
Will

Are you talking about the blue insulation board that comes in 4 x 8 sheets and usually applied to walls of buildings/houses?

If so, Lowes, HD, or some other building supply company. I've not seen it any less than 1/2" thick, 1/4" may be available by special order, though.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Lowes and Home Depot will not carry this. Check this company out: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=115&product%5Fid=10432.

If you are thinking about building your own cages, I think many of us had the same idea and found it is cost prohibitive unless you can pay wholesale for materials and avoid shipping. For a few cages, what it would cost for materials and shipping is close to what you would pay for a pre-fabricated cage from one of the known builders.

If you are looking for smaller peices cut to size, check this company: http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=342&. You pay more obviously.

Good luck,
Bart

Yea your right. It would cost the same if not much more to do it myself this way. Oh well back to the drawing board.

Thanks
Will

Anyone know where I can get PVC foam board. 1/2 to 1/4 inches thick??

Local sign shops are one of the best places provided they stock the material. This can save a lot on shipping and may even be cheaper than ordering a few or less sheets from a plastics distributor.

If you live anywhere near a major metropolitan area you can probably find a plastics distributor and that will save a lot of money.

Two years ago I ordered from Port Plastics and got a great price. They have at least a few locations around the US.

Another company that has been mentioned recently is E & T Plastics which I believe has several locations. They are discussed in a recent thread on this forum regarding PVCX racks.

Regarding saving money, I agree that the $$ savings from DIY plastic cages are not as great as other DIY cage projects. Plastic has gone up a lot in the past two years so I have no idea what the prices with shipping are today.

I can tell you that two years ago when I ordered the plastic from Port I was going to be able to build cages from 1/2" black Celtec 550 for less than I could buy professional cages made from 1/4" black PVCX, brand unknown. Again I have no idea if I could still do that. And to be fair my price included sliding doors compared to hinged doors which is what most of the PVCX cage makers offer.

I also priced how much money I'd save by ordering in material by the pallet. I don't recall the figures but I remember being surprised at how few sheets I'd have to order to get very significant savings.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

Also, be very specific when shopping around for "PVC Foam Board". In fact, don't even call it that as there are products that are PVC laminated onto actual polystyrene foam and sometimes called PVC foam board.

When calling sign shops or plastic distributors it is best to call it expanded PVC or by the actual brand name (sintra, celtec, etc.). Some sign shops refer to all expanded PVC products as Sintra as historically it has been the most common brand. Sort of like glass shops selling generic acrylic as Plexiglas.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.