Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see people all the time making really nice wood cages that obviously take a lot of time and effort, does anyone make plastic cages?

It's not like its more expensive to build it out of plastic when you factor in the cost of good plywood and sealers. I haven't yet built a cage out of PVC but I've also found really good deals on visions, otherwise I'm sure I'd have made some by now.

I just wonder if its because people think its hard to work xpvc?
From my experimenting it cuts like wood.

Is it because they think its hard to find?
Most major cities have sheet plastic distributors or even warehouses. They can even cut it for you usually 1-3 per cut plus some setup.

Is it because of cost?
A sheet of 1/2" Expanded PVC goes for 100-150, a sheet of nice maple Plywood goes for 50-80 plus good sealer which runs 25-50.

I'm just wondering if people are building plastic cages?

I'm working on a 6tx4wx2d with extruded aluminum framework gaskets and 1/4"pvc panels. I still have to buy the gasket, RHP and T5 light and to cut/mitre my aluminum. Total cost should be around $650.

Nate

Chris wheres pics of the one you made? Anyone else?

I've made several wood cages that came out nice, but lack of space made me quit. It's also time consuming, and sometimes hit and miss. I suppose one can go out and buy pvc, and whatever else is needed to duplicate racks being sold on the market. But I'd rather let the mfgrs earn a living by doing all the work for me. More power to those who've got the knack and tools to make it yourself. My only gripe is the freight cost on the nicer racks that only come in one piece.

Mike

Your cage looks great! It looks like a 4x2x2? how much did it run you, and how did you seal it?

Material cost was $65. Sealed around the edges with clear silicon. Background is 1/8 plastic sheet, sealed the same way; comes in about 8 different colors, incl. black. The entire cage weighs less than 15 lbs empty. Painted with 2 coats of milk paint; you can mix for any color. Sealed with a water base, non-toxic, clear sealant. Paint,etc. dries in 20 minutes.

Mike

It's not like its more expensive to build it out of plastic when you factor in the cost of good plywood and sealers.

I think it's slightly more expensive, but if you factor in your time plastic is pretty darn good.

I just wonder if its because people think its hard to work xpvc? From my experimenting it cuts like wood.

I think it is slightly harder for the average joe to work with. The main reason being that the factory edges are slightly beveled and the factory corners are not very close to square.

May not sound like a bit deal but it is. I have read multiple threads on woodworking forums about checking for and creating square corners on plywood.

Once you have a square corner to work off of with both edges being 90*, it is a dream to work with.

Is it because they think its hard to find?

Most major cities have sheet plastic distributors or even warehouses. They can even cut it for you usually 1-3 per cut plus some setup.

I think people do think it's hard to find. It is not, in my opinion.

Personally I think the next wave in DIY cages is people having plastics companies CNC mill panels for cage construction.

I have a fairly expensive and accurate table saw and even I can't pass up having a plastics company CNC mill cage panels for me. If I have to have the panels cut for shipping reasons anyways why not have my panels precut by a CNC router or CNC panel saw?

Is it because of cost? A sheet of 1/2" Expanded PVC goes for 100-150...

I could get six 4x8 pieces of 1/2" PVCX CNC cut and shipped to my house for just a bit over $600. Let's just say $700 since I have not priced it in a while. I could probably build six cage carcasses at 48x24x16 (not a size I would use, but it seems popular) at about $120 each. I'd just have to build doors.

The problem is that it is a lot harder to do this for a single cage, unless you live near a plastic fabrication shop. I suspect most people do live near such places but do not know it.

a sheet of nice maple Plywood goes for 50-80 plus good sealer which runs 25-50.

It costs less than $50 to seal a single sheet of plywood. The bartop epoxies can run that much but even then they can be bought in bulk and reserved for the cage floors where they are needed most. Thinner and/or cheaper sealers can be used in other parts of the cage.

I'm just wondering if people are building plastic cages?

Chris wheres pics of the one you made? Anyone else?

Here is a lousy picture of the carcass. It's about 30 x 24 x 30. I still need to cut down the substrate dam and cut the door tracks plus order glass.

The front is slightly out of square so I need to order a clamp long enough for the diagonal before I solvent weld it.

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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I went down and checked out the sheet of 1/4" I had cut and couldn't find an unsquare/true edge on the whole thing. I guess the 1/2" could be different, or we're seeing different manufacturers?

I went out and priced the water based epoxy sealers and they were close to $60 a gallon. You could go cheaper, but to get the same ease of maintanence as plastic?

To all the people producing cages out there. I am by no means trying to take away from your buisiness. There's no way any of us DIY guys can compete with the crazy manufacturing procecess you guys have. Roto-molding, heat forming, CNC cutting(wait we can get that). Not to mention the whole process of filling orders, shipping, customer service..ect. I have priced pallets of 1/2" expanded pvc and have no clue how you guys can turn a profit. Theres also no way I could roto-mold cages, maybe vacume form but?

A major factor driving me to make cages is the species I keep. I want large (at least 5x3x2 but prefferably 6x4x2) cages and to have a cage that sized shipped you have to go freight, at least $150, maybe more. $150 is my rhp and lights.

Chris that cage looks good! Finish it up and get some Gony's in there.

I went down and checked out the sheet of 1/4" I had cut and couldn't find an unsquare/true edge on the whole thing. I guess the 1/2" could be different, or we're seeing different manufacturers?

That's a good question. If you had it cut maybe they made they squared everything up?

I went out and priced the water based epoxy sealers and they were close to $60 a gallon. You could go cheaper, but to get the same ease of maintanence as plastic?

No argument there. I do think wood cages have some advantages but to get the ease of maintenance you do have to spend some money.

To all the people producing cages out there. I am by no means trying to take away from your buisiness.

I highly doubt any of the cage companies are worried about DIY potential. Even if we posted a list of companies that would CNC mill cage panels I don't think it would affect them much at all. Honestly if I just needed the typical 48 x 24 x 20 cage mentioned in my previous reply I'd just order one.

A major factor driving me to make cages is the species I keep. I want large (at least 5x3x2 but prefferably 6x4x2) cages and to have a cage that sized shipped you have to go freight...

Yup. Also to get some design features I like. In particular I'm quite, err, particular about doors.

Chris that cage looks good! Finish it up and get some Gony's in there.

Thanks, but it will probably be for a Moluccan Python for the near future.

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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Chris that cage looks great. I have seen that pic already but forgot how nice it is.I really like the black plastic.

I just read this post, and saw that you mention that it has not been solvent welded yet. You could make a clamp extension out of wood and use a small clamp to square her up.

I'm finding plastic locally for under 100 per sheet for 1/2" material.

Thanks for the compliment.

In my previous post I meant to say I need to borrow a longer clamp, not order a longer clamp. But some clamp extensions would probably be just as easy. Just need to build them in a way that will allow me to get in and check for square.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Post them up. I know you have some.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>Post them up. I know you have some.
>>-----

This is what we are working on. I will post a pic when I get the doors on.

The three on the left are prototypes, made from some used signs that I drug home from work. They are a slightly different color.

Very nice Larry. Thanks for posting those.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>Very nice Larry. Thanks for posting those.
>>-----

Thanks Chris.

I installed the doors a few nights ago, here is the finished stack. Actually not quite done, I will be installing the rear vents tomorrow.

I spent many hours over the last week trying to configure a jig to rout 1/8" slotted vents, but I finally threw in the towel. I will be using 3" round soffit vents.

The most expensive tool used by the way, is a plunge router to make the flat sided holes for the door locks. Every other operation was with a fixed base router or a circular saw on a sled. I personally think that working with plastic is much easier than wood, once one figures out the materials little idiosyncrasies.

Larry

I will be using 3" round soffit vents.

Will these be PVC vents you weld in place or some other material held some other way?
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>Will these be PVC vents you weld in place or some other material held some other way?
>>-----

I'm not sure what kind of plastic they are made from Chris. The package does not say. I had been using two small ss screws to hold them in place, but did not like the look.
I want to glue them, but PVC glue does not stick to these. Any suggestions?

I have heard of Goop bonding dissimilar plastics, assuming neither is polyethylene or polypropylene.

If one of the above is used, then you can torch the back and bond it with epoxy. Torching changes the molecular arrangment of the plastic.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I know Larry would like to see them. I sure as heck would. How many years have you and I been discussing this cage?

I'm working on a 6tx4wx2d with extruded aluminum framework gaskets and 1/4"pvc panels. I still have to buy the gasket, RHP and T5 light and to cut/mitre my aluminum. Total cost should be around $650.
-----
Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>I'm working on a 6tx4wx2d with extruded aluminum framework gaskets and 1/4"pvc panels. I still have to buy the gasket, RHP and T5 light and to cut/mitre my aluminum. Total cost should be around $650.
>>-----

Oh my, how did I miss this?

I would love to see some in progress pics. Chris and I were just discussing this construction style recently.

What are gaskets? (in regard to this topic)

Nate's moving to an adjacent state today so I'll chime in here. I misunderstood, Nate does not yet have the framework for this cage put together, he only has the componets. He still needs to miter the extrusions where plastic panels will be held.

So unfortunately there are no in progress pictures.

The gaskets are what hold the PVCx panels tight in the extrusions. It is not a snug fit from the factory so they make a gasket to keep things steady and tight.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

The really nice PVC cages require access to expensive machinery to get accurate cuts, and then jigs assemble them. That is why most folks don't even try. You can get a 4ft plastic cage for $200 that is of great quality. That is tough to beat for a do-it-yourselfer.

Your design sounds interesting. Good luck with the project.
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Mark

>>The really nice PVC cages require access to expensive machinery to get accurate cuts, and then jigs assemble them. That is why most folks don't even try. You can get a 4ft plastic cage for $200 that is of great quality. That is tough to beat for a do-it-yourselfer.
>>
>>Mark

You can do amazing things with a router. Good templates can be made from inexpensive MDF and hardboard.

I agree though, there is not a huge savings figuring the amount of work that goes into it. There is though, a huge satisfaction in building something yourself that cannot be bought.

Larry

Keep us up to date with pictures if you build the cage. I use T5 lights for plants in the cellar and am real impressed with them.