Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a screen frame kit at Lowe's yesterday and so now I can make the lid! Thanks for the tip about Lowe's!
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

You measured it all out and, your sure it will fit ok?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Hopefully you are gonna use metal screening? If you use the fiberglass cloth stuff, keep in mind that Crickets can eat thru that stuff! Also with age it can get brittle and rip.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Whenever I do anything involving cutting I measure twice and cut once. I am using metal screen.

Next I need to make the lip out of something that will match the black frame of the tank top. Any ideas as to what would work?
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

>>Whenever I do anything involving cutting I measure twice and cut once. I am using metal screen.
>>
>>Next I need to make the lip out of something that will match the black frame of the tank top. Any ideas as to what would work?
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>>Bob/Chris
>>Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Hmmm that's a tuff one! I would probably use some kind of wooden strip and paint it black. Wood is the easiest thing to cut to size. They should have different size strips that are used for molding and trim in houses. Only problem is you may have to buy an 8 foot piece?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

You should be able to find some very dark "bronzed" aluminum strips from either Home Depot, Lowes, or any aluminum framing shop such as screened-in patios, pool enclosures, etc are made from in different widths and thicknesses that should work well and match very closely.

If you built the frame to drop directly down into the the little return lip of the tank, you could get a piece of angle aluminum stock that you could screw into the top, and it would also continue down the side, just like a standard lid would. It really depends on how you designed it. But there is much more "surface area" to screw into to keep the piece from "rocking" back and forth this way, and would look very professional if it was done this way with a regular flat window screen frame dropped in, with the angle stock screwed on from the top, then grind the screws flush from underneath. Another thing I would suggest doing is do the last final twist with a hand screwdriver so you don't strip the thin aluminum,...that, or set the clutch on your cordless drill extremely well to prevent this from happening, because it will if you aren't careful..LOL!

Anyway, as long as you reinforce things well enough, and plan it out, it should work out quite well.

Good luck with it!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Whenever I do anything involving cutting I measure twice and cut once.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

How do you intend to secure the lid so the snake doesn't push it up? Can you post a pic when it is done?
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Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
2.2 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

>>How do you intend to secure the lid so the snake doesn't push it up? Can you post a pic when it is done?

He has one of those lids that has the screen section which slides forward. I think those are pretty neat by the way, but he was missing the screen part. He said it was standard window screen so I told him they sell kits to cut and assemble screens for any size window.But the original has a nice black plastic front which matches the rest of the lid.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

>>>>How do you intend to secure the lid so the snake doesn't push it up? Can you post a pic when it is done?
>>
>>He has one of those lids that has the screen section which slides forward. I think those are pretty neat by the way, but he was missing the screen part. He said it was standard window screen so I told him they sell kits to cut and assemble screens for any size window.But the original has a nice black plastic front which matches the rest of the lid.
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>>King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
>> J Sierra

OH....he is trying to retrofit a missing slide out screen.....
I suggest wood and paint to match...
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

>>I got a screen frame kit at Lowe's yesterday and so now I can make the lid! Thanks for the tip about Lowe's!
>>-----
>>Bob/Chris
>>Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

I would glue aluminum channel to three sides and build a screen to slide in and out of it.....

I've done it with 6 of my enclosures....It is very easy to do.....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

tank needing lid; it already has the channel grooves.

Other complete tank showing how lid goes on.

Underside of lid; just like a window screen.

Tank lip I need to copy for the other tank.

So this is a pretty simple fix after all. I appreciate all the ideas! This seemed really complicated until I took a good look at the details. LOL! I will assemble it today if I feel okay; have some sort of flu and feel blech..
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

>>
>>tank needing lid; it already has the channel grooves.
That gives me some ideas, lol.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Are those chanel grooves available at OSh or are they only from specialty window places? Any specific type needed? Just glue it on with hot glue or epoxy or what?

www.fairchildind.com/app/standard_products.asp?cat=4
Maybe something like this can be hot glued onto the tank wall along the inside top.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Bob did you see any grooved tracs when you purchased the screen frame at Lowes? It seems like they should have something? But then maybe that would be called a window, lol. Those tracks you linked could probably work. You would just have to make sure they are the right size. Probably talking to a rep would be the smartest way. I would use hot glue, in combination with some other epoxy or silicone, maybe even liquid nails. The hot glue will make a quick hold on a few small sections and the other glue will make a more lasting bond. Or use clamps instead of hot glue, but most people don't have clamps laying around.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I was in sort of a hurry and didn't look for any channel grooves at Lowes, as all I needed was the screen kit. They probably do have channel grooves though. They cater to contractors as well as home do it yourselfers, and have a lot of stuff.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

>>I was in sort of a hurry and didn't look for any channel grooves at Lowes, as all I needed was the screen kit. They probably do have channel grooves though. They cater to contractors as well as home do it yourselfers, and have a lot of stuff.

When I build one of my enclosures I purchased aluminum channel that fit the outside dimension of the screen frame.....
I used epoxy to set the channel.......

I also used another size of aluminum channel so that the lip of a Sterlite tub would slide in it.......

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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

Elegant in its simplicity! Good work, John!
I have to pay another visit to Lowes!
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Most home supply centers sell aluminum channel that can be cut to fit with a hacksaw. Clean up the burrs with a small file and some sandpaper and glue in place. It's a good idea to really scuff up the plastic with coarse sand paper so the glue can get a better "bite"

I've also converted a number of regular aquariums to sliding tops just using outside corner molding similar to what Bob did with his outer lip on his screen. Make the screen frame but leave out the screen to fit the tank, cut the moldings to fit around 3 sides. It helps to have a miter box of some sort to fit the corners. Set the fitted moldings on top of the screen frame and use spring clamps to hold until glue sets. Once set slide out the screen frame, install screen and last molding edge like Bob did. Drill a hole along each short side for a drop in lock pin.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

I have some ten gallon tanks with tedious lids that I may employ your idea to retrofit.

As you said, a miter box to get the corners cut right is a must.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Aluminum channel is a great material to use. It is often stocked near where the fasteners are kept. I would use liquid nails to secure it - it is strong enough but still removable if you have to. Same with silicon. Hot glue can lift from aluminum over time.

Great job to the poster. Nice work!
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Mark

Tank with finished lid.

Tank corner showing drop pin to secure it.

I used a length of wooden molding that I had from another project for the lip. Sprayed the whole affair black. Not perfect, but it will keep the snakes in the tank!

I tell you what, that aluminum screen is a real bugger to install but nylon screen is not adequate to the application, but I got it done nice and tight. Fortunately I had done this aluminum screen install before on other cages, etc. I had to put screen on what used to be the bottom of a 4x2x2 screen cage so I could lay it horizontal and put my bull snakes in it.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire