Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So after a trip to Home Depot and a trip to Lowes, I have ALL my supplies (i hope) for my first attempt at a rock wall.

I bought a package of 6 sheets of polystyrene measuring 3/4"x13 5/8"x48"
When I asked the guy at lowes if they carried polystyrene, he gave me like the weirdest look and asked me what it was... so I just had to find it myself! I doubt I'll need all six sheets, I'll probably only use one!

I also bought perfect glue liquid nails 1, premixed ceramic tile adhesive & grout, water based polycrylic protective finish, and great stuff foam insulant.

Thats all I need right?
I also have sand I'm going to throw with the finish. I bought the spray kind, is that good?

And how did you all cut the polystyrene? I read that a hot wire is best to cut, but I dont have that. I also read the carving knife like the ones used for cutting turkey on thanksgiving is good, I have that, like the electrical one that cuts itself.

Thats fine right?
I'm ready to start on this! WHOOO!!

Just a tip when constructing it. Before actually beginning constructing, I suggest you print out a photo of a REAL rock cliff/escarpment, so you have something to visualize. I can't believe how many people attempt to make "naturalistic" rock backgrounds, and the end result is like nothing you would ever see or encounter in the wild.. Think about cracks, crevices, fissures, indentations, coloration, mineral leaching, etc... Put yours one step above everyone else's, and make it look REAL...

Best of luck to you,

Bob
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TheOdatriad

Rasps work well as do hack-saw bladed bent into a large curve. Be very careful while bending.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

You can make a hot wire cutter with a transformer and a trip to radio shack. Or you could buy one at a model shop. Model railroaders use them in road bed construction. That would be the cleanest of the three.
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer