Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was just wondering what the average cost for the expanded pvc panels are. i havnt found anybody local yet and i see them online for 99 bucks a 4x8 sheet for the 3/8.
also it says its a foam? i thought it would be more of a rigid material.
adam jeffery
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

I did some pricing recently and it was not hard to find 1/2" black PVC for $75 to $90, depending on brand. Thinner and/or white material will go down from there. Just sticking with black expanded PVC one place sold 1/4" for about 60% of the price of 1/2". 3/8" sold for about 85% of 1/2".

In my situation all of these places would have required shipping but still be cheaper than local sources.

Also, from the bit of experimenting I have done with PVCX, I don't think I would go thinner than 3/8". 1/4" is lighter and cheaper but creates extra difficulty when it comes to joinery since it does not work well with mechanical fasteners. It is also more flexible.

$99 is not a horrible price but I would find out exactly what it is and see if they offer free CNC milling with that price. It will have to be cut down to size for shipping anyways (assuming this is not a big order) so if you can get it CNC milled that's a huge bonus.

Expanded PVC does vary in quality and density. For that price I'd want to make sure I was getting one of the higher quality and lighter products.

I have seen expanded PVC sold as foamed PVC, which is a bit misleading as there is also PVC foam core, which is a different product.

The interior of expanded PVC is "foamed" but don't let that scare you. It makes the product lighter, easier to mill and also improves it's thermal properties. And believe it or not it also makes for a more rigid product (vs. solid PVC sheet) since it is essentially a stressed skin style of construction.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

0.0.4 Rhynchophis boulengeri

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

0.0.1 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus

0.0.2 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

so do you normally have all your cuts and grooves cnc'd and then shipped or is it easier to have the sheet cut down and then do the work your self as far dattoed lips and what not.
adam
pm me if you have anyone you reccmend online as im sick of heavy melemine racks
adam jeffery
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

I have yet to order any CNC cut panels. I have done all of the cutting myself, and there has not been much of that. Just a lot of research and tinkering.

But once I have some issues sorted out in my snake room regarding placement of electric and heaters I will have all of my parts CNC milled and shipped to me.

And for the record I will not be used any grooves, dados or rabbets. I know a lot of professional cage makers do but that is only to aid their customers during the assembly process. Otherwise they do not serve any function and unlike wood actually weaken the joint.

I'm not saying they are a bad idea by any means. But don't include them because certain companies do or because you think they will add strength.

I have talked to two plastic fabricators and both said they don't like to do dado and rabbet joints for customers. Primarily because it can take some work to get the CNC program just right. But they also mentioned joint strength, saying that grooves create a stress risor.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

0.0.4 Rhynchophis boulengeri

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

0.0.1 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus

0.0.2 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Just wanted to say that in no way am I criticizing companies that ship their cages unassembled and rely and grooves as a way to assist their customers with assembly. If I had a cage company I would also use dados and rabbets to help with assembly.

But for the DIY guy or gal making a handful of cages I don't think they are worth it.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

0.0.4 Rhynchophis boulengeri

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

0.0.1 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus

0.0.2 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

thanks for the advice. i thought it would add strength, so thats why i was going to go with it. honestly none of my melamine racks have datto joints, so i guess it would make no real differance except in the assembly aspect.
adam jeffery
thanks again for the advice
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

And a dado would add some strength to melamine, assuming it's not too deep, so it's easy to assume that it would add strength to PVCX. But the opposite is true.

Acrylic aquaria are not build with dado joints for the same reason, and we know how strong they are.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

0.0.4 Rhynchophis boulengeri

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

0.0.1 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus

0.0.2 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Excellent points and very true.
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Mark

Foam core PVC is fairly rigid, it just isn't very strong. You can sometimes make a dent in it with your fingernail. It is used primarily in the sign industry for making those inexpensive signs you see out on the road. That and expanded core PVC are not the best materials for making reptile enclosures with in my opinion, however I am highly biased towards hollow core PVC - it's how I make my living. It is 100% pure PVC. If you want to buy something in a sheet though, you can buy sheets of 100% pure PVC...it is a little more expensive but it is well worth it as it is FAR better.
Thanks,
Paul Edwards Reptiles/ProTek Caging Systems
843-224-8985

I actually really like the xpvc sheet a lot. It holds up well and is easy to work with. So far for me, it is he ideal cage material from a cost and workability standpoint. As with all things some compromises must be made.

I haven't done anything with the hollow core stuff though. It is certainly an interesting material.

I am hoping for good success to you in the cage building market Paul. That has to be a very rewarding career, probably a dream job for most of us here!
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Larry Stroud - Fort Pierce, Florida