Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If someone could tell me where i can find the PVC or other plastic boarding to to build a cage with i would really appreciate it.

I've found expanded PVC (sometimes called PVCX) at sign and plastic shops. Plastic shops are always cheaper but the sign shops always seem to have free scrap material for me to practice with.

In three different cities in two different states it's been cheaper from local plastic shops than mail order - at least in small quantities.

At the same plastic shops I've also found acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, styrene, and HDPE.

I do think expanded PVC is the best material for all around *plastic* construction, provided the species in question does not scratch. I'm not sure what material is best for them, probably styrene.

The only negative with expanded PVC is that only the 1/4" offers significant weight savings over plywood construction. The 1/4" PVCX is readily available but not as easy to work with as 1/2" and makes for slightly flexible cages.

A cage made out of 1/2" PVC will weigh the same as a cage made from 1/2" laminated plywood. Given the cool grain structures and cheap price of laminated plywood I'm not sure PVCX is worth the extra cost or thermal properties it offers.

So I either plan to learn how to use the 1/4" or stick with plywood. At least for cages - racks are a different story.

I've been toying with the idea of using PVC water pipe in a snake rack. It would kind of look like tinker toys. Use the pipe for the legs and flat sheets for the shelves. The sides and back would be open. The entire thing would be very light weight.

Don't know yet exactly how to handle the shelves, and the exact tolerances required. Cutting pipe and gluing fittings tends to be less than exact, though it should work ok with a good jig. Would like to think there's a simpler way.

As for heating, seems that on your flat shelf you could run flexwatt, then glue a super thin (like 1/64" plastic sheet over it. That would allow you to slide boxes in and out without damaging the flexwatt and without blocking the heat from the box above it.

If anyone has some thoughts I'd love to hear them.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&Category_Name=Sheet,+Rod,+Shapes&Page=1

Lets try that again.

Just copy and paste. www.usplastics.com

thanks for your help guys