Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My kid fell to sleep so I set up a very quick test on our kitchen island.

First, we are remodeling so sorry for the mess in the back.

This peice of foam is 30" x 16" and 2" thick. It is the blue dow product available at Lowes.

The distance between the two concrete blocks is 25.5".

The weight of the case of water and the gallon of water is about 40 pounds. If you want to check that math, there are thirty 16.9 ounce bottles in the case and the gallon of water has, well, a gallon of water (128 ounces).

The foam was flat before the weight and is now sagging about 1/2". I have pressed down on the water and got the whole thing bouncing up and down and it has not shown signs of cracking. It has been set up for 15 minutes now.

I think the upshot here is that you have little to be worried about with your turtle. It would outgrow the tank before it could break a 12x12 piece of 2" thick extruded foam. If you put down some fiberglass mesh tape before the Drylok, grout, cement or whatever you use it will be even stronger.

I do not believe you need to extend supports into the water for your platform.

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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

Had a box of those composite fire logs nearby. Again, excuse the remodeling mess in the background.

Total is now about 76 pounds on the foam. Sag is just over 7/8".

In case anybody is wondering, my temporary countertop in the back corner is 1/2" expanded PVC that I did not use for reptile projects.

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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

Added another 144 ounces (9 pounds). Sag was still under an inch and I had to take the thing down (wife is on her way home).

So total of 85 pounds.
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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

Now where else are you going to get that kind of feedback on a snake forum?

Well, I am without words... awesome, can't wait to get started on this project... thx again you've been more than helpful... now just got start studyin...

I was sort of speechless myself. I knew the foam would be strong enough but I have to say 85 pounds spanned across over two feet was a bit of a surprise.

I think the Dow product comes in two densities. I'm not sure what I have since I grabbed it from the scratch and dent pile. Regardless, I don't think it matters for your project. I will go through the rest of the pieces and see if I can find the mark saying what it is.

I think either of the pink foam insulations would work as well. I know for sure that comes in two densities.

I would probably avoid the white beaded styrofoam for your platform.
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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 was sort of speechless myself. I knew the foam would be strong enough but I have to say 85 pounds spanned across over two feet was a bit of a surprise.
>>
>>I think the Dow product comes in two densities. I'm not sure what I have since I grabbed it from the scratch and dent pile. Regardless, I don't think it matters for your project. I will go through the rest of the pieces and see if I can find the mark saying what it is.
>>
>>I think either of the pink foam insulations would work as well. I know for sure that comes in two densities.
>>
>>I would probably avoid the white beaded styrofoam for your platform.

Hate to burst your bubble but us modelers have been using that product for years. I think Model Railroader had its first article in 1993 and the strength was a key point.

I plan to build some LEGO display tables with the same principles.

Good to finally see some actual test pics, even better if you had gone to failure...
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

The Dow product I have is actually their weakest extruded polystyrene. It is called Scoreboard. Their stronger products in order are Square Edge and Hi Load.

Corning makes the pink foams, Foamular 150, 250 & 600 and they are the equivalent, in order, of the Dow product mentioned above.

Sounds like the less dense products (Scoreboard & Foamular 150) will be easier to cut, carve and texture from the bit of reading I just did. And obviously they are plenty strong.
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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 Dow product I have is actually their weakest extruded polystyrene. It is called Scoreboard. Their stronger products in order are Square Edge and Hi Load.
>>
>>Corning makes the pink foams, Foamular 150, 250 & 600 and they are the equivalent, in order, of the Dow product mentioned above.
>>
>>Sounds like the less dense products (Scoreboard & Foamular 150) will be easier to cut, carve and texture from the bit of reading I just did. And obviously they are plenty strong.

I find my Table Saw makes short work of the stuff regardless of density....
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

Cabinets look nice Chris, flash us some pictures when your done with the counter top.
Bob
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Thanks, but don't hold your breath on the counters. Wife and I are in a permanent state of paralyis by analysis when it comes to the counters. And now we have a small bit of drywall and cabinet work that has to be done before we can even template them.
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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