Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do you all attach your heat panels when stacking cages so you don't have screws sticking out? Can you use any kind of adhesive instead of screws?

>>How do you all attach your heat panels when stacking cages so you don't have screws sticking out? Can you use any kind of adhesive instead of screws?

I wouldn't rely on an adhesive.

How thick is the cage material?

If it is 1/2" or thicker you could screw the panel to it, thinner than that and I would through bolt it with flat head screws countersunk on the top and nuts on the bottom.

depends on a few different things:
1. what type of heat source are you using(flexwatt, rhp's,etc..)
2. what type of caging are you stacking?
3. how do you have the heat set up before stacking?
-----
1.2 ball pythons
1.2 columbian boas
1.1 thayeri kings
1.1 mexican black kings
1.1 red african house snakes
1.0 grey-banded kingsnake(loma alta locality)
0.0.1 snow corn
0.0.1 ghost corn
0.0.1 blood red corn
1.0 hypo honduran milk
0.1 albino honduran milk
1.2 texas bulls
1.0 western hognose
1.0 cave dwelling rat
1.0 bairds rat
2.0 texas banded geckos
1.2 african fat-tail gecko
1.0 savanah monitor

I have a stack of boaphiles with flexwatt on the bottom and I'd like to attach some RHP's to the tops. All run on individual Ranco thermostats. The boaphiles are not very thick (1/4" I think)and I don't want anything sticking out the top.

I have a similar set up with belly heat and helix radiant heat panels. I used machine head screws to mount the panels with the flat screw head on the outside of the cage. I then used ½ inch spacers between each cage. I do know that Helix recommends using liquid nails to attach their panels, but I cannot comment on other brands of RHP. I didn’t use the adhesive because I didn’t want the panels permanently attached. Sorry for the long answer.

The Boaphiles are about 1/4" thick.

Position the RHP, drill the holes to size, then carefully countersink the top of the cage so that flat head screws will fit slightly below the surface.

Go slow and easy when countersinking. Use a screw and straight edge to check depth as you go.

Measure the total thickness of the RHP and cage, than get flat head machine screws that are about 1/8" or so longer than this total thickness. Pick up some "acorn" or "cap" nuts (just like on your hinges) and secure.

There will be nothing protruding from the top of the cage to interfere with stacking.

I attach my panels with construction adhesive. I put the cage on its top and put 5 very small globs(one in each corner and one in the center)on the panel and attach. Go easy it dosent take much, about the size of a dime. It holds them very secure and they can be removed with a scraper. They will "pop" right off if need be. Hope this helps.

Anthony