Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Chris I want to make some small racks and cages using sintra. What type of blade would you recommend for cutting? Are there any special tools you would recommend to use with PVCX? And finally, could I use PVC cement, polycarbonate cement or ?? I have built a ton (and I do mean A TON) of melamine racks/cages and want to start making some lighter, more easy to move enclosures. Thanks in advance.
-----
www.hullabalooherps.com

>>Hey Chris I want to make some small racks and cages using sintra. What type of blade would you recommend for cutting?

I've not found the blade to matter much. But I do have a high tooth, low-kerf blade that does seem to work especially well.

>>Are there any special tools you would recommend to use with PVCX?

I'd suggest a router and a heat gun to bend the material. The router to cut a V-shaped groove into the plastic where you want to make a bend. Then use the heat gun to gradually warm it up to its bending point.

This allows you to avoid edge-to-surface bonds as much as possible. They just are not strong at all.

Or you can skip that altogether and use the PVC angle available from USPlastics to duplicate a surface to surface bond. It basically duplicates a frame.

>>And finally, could I use PVC cement, polycarbonate cement or ??

I like to clamp two pieces together and then use a syringe to inject IPS Weldon 1007 along the joint.

Regular PVC cement is not that hard to work with. You do have a bit of time to move a piece of material around while it sets up. But the solvent is very thick so it can often be difficult to acheive consistent pressure along a joint.
-----
Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

since we are on the pvcx subject, do you know any good how-to sites with step by step instructions with pictures on bending, jointing etc. ?

bending it with a router and heat gun: i am guessing that pvcx is hard pvc plastic on the outside with a foam core right? so when you route the groove , you then heat the outside layer and bend inwards towards the routeer cut?

does this form a nice looking uniform inside edge? does anything cosmetic need to be done?

when edges are welded they are watertight right?

i like wood cages because i like to put trim on them, is there plastic trim for the sintra cages?

how long does pvcx span before it starts to bow? say 1/2"

thanks
-----
1.1 Gargoyle geckos
0.0.1 asian golden tree frog
1.0 oriental firebelly toad
0.1 european firebelly toad
1.0 albino betta
1.0 orange tabby
0.0.1 asian painted frog
1.0 broad headed skink
0.0.1 fowlers toad
0.1 red eyed tree frog
1.1 red eared sliders
476.769.47 feeder crickets

>>since we are on the pvcx subject, do you know any good how-to sites with step by step instructions with pictures on bending, jointing etc. ?

No, I really don't know of any. You can try the one I linked below. I believe there are multiple pages to read through.

>>bending it with a router and heat gun: i am guessing that pvcx is hard pvc plastic on the outside with a foam core right? so when you route the groove , you then heat the outside layer and bend inwards towards the routeer cut?

Actually, I've heard of it being bent both ways. So the cut groove either being on the interor of the exterior of the cage.

>>does this form a nice looking uniform inside edge? does anything cosmetic need to be done?

I'm only posting the info about bending for general information. I have not bent PVC with the help of a groove. I have only bent it around forms. I'm just sharing information on how this material is commonly used.

>>when edges are welded they are watertight right?

Again, I have no first hand experience with this technique. If I even get around to building any PVC cages I'll be using the plastic angle.

>>i like wood cages because i like to put trim on them, is there plastic trim for the sintra cages?

I'm sure there is. It probably will be made from a different plastic, though, and it might be tough to find a solvent that will weld both materials to each other.

>>how long does pvcx span before it starts to bow? say 1/2"

I'm sorry, do you mean 1/2" thick material or a 1/2" of sagging?

If you do mean the 1/2" thick material, in general I don't recommend it for cages. It's expensive, not very light, and really does not provide any advantage over a well-sealed plywood cage, IMO. For cages my philosophy is to figure out the quirks of using the 1/4" or use an entirely different material.

For racks, 1/2" PVCX does seem to provide some advantages over materials of similar weight.
Sintra - The Basics

-----
Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

thanks for the info, i think ill stick to wood for a while
-----
1.1 Gargoyle geckos
0.0.1 asian golden tree frog
1.0 oriental firebelly toad
0.1 european firebelly toad
1.0 albino betta
1.0 orange tabby
0.0.1 asian painted frog
1.0 broad headed skink
0.0.1 fowlers toad
0.1 red eyed tree frog
1.1 red eared sliders
476.769.47 feeder crickets