Im planning a totally awesome enclosure and I'm going to make it out of PVC. I won't spoil all of the surprises now, but I am working out logistics in my head and cant figure how to attach screen and plexiglass to the frame. Any advice or pics of your own project would be appretiated
Can anyone wiht a PVC enclosure share pics?
- Thread starter mikeduner
- Start date
DeviousMike
New Member
Citizen Snips
New Member
I was going to make a pvc this summer, but ran out of time. I was going to use a square tubing instead of round, so the door would seal a bit better. Heavy Duty staples should hold the screen in place w/o damaging the frame.
fluxlizard
Avid Member
I don't have pics but I have built them in the past.
For screen, I cut a pvc pipe into quarters along the length to make strips that would hug the frame. Then I screwed these strips to the frame with the screen sandwiched between. The problem then is the gap around the door. For the doors I simply drilled out a few of large holes one at the top of each end of the the door and frame and the same at the bottom immediately below them. I then dropped 4" long bolts into the holes. This way if 2 are in place the door is secure. If 2 are removed the door swings like it is on hinges and if 2 more are removed the whole door comes off. removal is fast and easy- just slide the bolts out to remove. In the end I hated the gaps around the doors though, so I stopped using these cages.
I may have come up with a solution to the problem, but I never used it on a pvc framed enclosure. But one time I made wood framed cages with pvc doors- I cut pvc along the lengths about 60%- so roughly strips of 40% (maybe 45) were removed from the pipes which were then attached around the door frame so the gaps faced the front. Then the actual doors which were made of pvc covered in screen held in place by the strips as described above are held by snapping the doors into gap stripped frame described. It works OK- holds very well with strength so even medium lizards like bearded dragons or blue tongue skinks cannot snap out, yet easy enough for a human to snap open and either remove the door or one end can remain snapped in and the door swings like it's on a hinge. I made a stack of enclosures this way that I still use sometimes when I need cages in a pinch. The reason I don't always use this stack is because the result cannot be taken outdoors for the summer- I keep all my lizards outdoors every summer all summer long. It was built for indoor use only, and there are still a few small gaps at each corner of the door frame. Never figured a way to insect proof the corners of the doors...
And finally I've made cages like the first but instead of covering in screen I just zip-tied rubber coated or plastic hardware cloth to the frames. I eventually stopped using these also, mainly because I dislike this kind of caging for insect eating lizards because it doesn't keep feeders in and fireflies out. And for really big cages like the 8x8 cubes I make for my iguanas I still prefer to use cheaper wood framing.
Oh and also I've made lots of my own reptarium frames out of 1" pvc and then bought replacement covers to put over the frames. It's cheaper and much stronger than the reptarium kits. I zip tied a strong water proof flooring material (the stuff they use for fast food bathroom walls sometimes) to the base of the frame and the result is so strong I can stack the cages indoors while using things like cinderblocks and large rocks in the reptariums for them to climb on.
I've also used this method to combine reptariums- 2 175 gallon reptariums can each have a side cut out and be slid over a 5' long x 4' high x 29" wide pvc frame and then sewn together with a hooked needle and fishing line to make a very roomy and relatively inexpensive enclosure (less than $100).
to attach plexi to your frame you should be able to just silicone it to the frame...
For screen, I cut a pvc pipe into quarters along the length to make strips that would hug the frame. Then I screwed these strips to the frame with the screen sandwiched between. The problem then is the gap around the door. For the doors I simply drilled out a few of large holes one at the top of each end of the the door and frame and the same at the bottom immediately below them. I then dropped 4" long bolts into the holes. This way if 2 are in place the door is secure. If 2 are removed the door swings like it is on hinges and if 2 more are removed the whole door comes off. removal is fast and easy- just slide the bolts out to remove. In the end I hated the gaps around the doors though, so I stopped using these cages.
I may have come up with a solution to the problem, but I never used it on a pvc framed enclosure. But one time I made wood framed cages with pvc doors- I cut pvc along the lengths about 60%- so roughly strips of 40% (maybe 45) were removed from the pipes which were then attached around the door frame so the gaps faced the front. Then the actual doors which were made of pvc covered in screen held in place by the strips as described above are held by snapping the doors into gap stripped frame described. It works OK- holds very well with strength so even medium lizards like bearded dragons or blue tongue skinks cannot snap out, yet easy enough for a human to snap open and either remove the door or one end can remain snapped in and the door swings like it's on a hinge. I made a stack of enclosures this way that I still use sometimes when I need cages in a pinch. The reason I don't always use this stack is because the result cannot be taken outdoors for the summer- I keep all my lizards outdoors every summer all summer long. It was built for indoor use only, and there are still a few small gaps at each corner of the door frame. Never figured a way to insect proof the corners of the doors...
And finally I've made cages like the first but instead of covering in screen I just zip-tied rubber coated or plastic hardware cloth to the frames. I eventually stopped using these also, mainly because I dislike this kind of caging for insect eating lizards because it doesn't keep feeders in and fireflies out. And for really big cages like the 8x8 cubes I make for my iguanas I still prefer to use cheaper wood framing.
Oh and also I've made lots of my own reptarium frames out of 1" pvc and then bought replacement covers to put over the frames. It's cheaper and much stronger than the reptarium kits. I zip tied a strong water proof flooring material (the stuff they use for fast food bathroom walls sometimes) to the base of the frame and the result is so strong I can stack the cages indoors while using things like cinderblocks and large rocks in the reptariums for them to climb on.
I've also used this method to combine reptariums- 2 175 gallon reptariums can each have a side cut out and be slid over a 5' long x 4' high x 29" wide pvc frame and then sewn together with a hooked needle and fishing line to make a very roomy and relatively inexpensive enclosure (less than $100).
to attach plexi to your frame you should be able to just silicone it to the frame...
Real hard to follow, a pic would be greatly appretiated
phase
New Member
i built a small pvc enclosure for my baby. i made the skeleton of the cage using pvc and 3 way elbows. then i simply just used liquid nails to glue some mesh screen on the outside.then i made a swing open front door out of acrylic. no pics though 
. but its very simple and cheap to make.
. but its very simple and cheap to make.
fluxlizard
Avid Member
What exactly would you like a pic of?
Some stuff described I've dismantled and/or thrown away.
I did a quick look around the yard yesterday- I still have a couple of the old doors from the screen covered pvc cages which would kind of show you how I attached the screen and where I drilled the holes for the bolts that acted as latches/hinges to keep the door in place.
I have lots of the pvc frames covered in reptarium covers with the "bathroom wall" strong waterproof floors currently in use.
The stack of wood cages with pvc doors is in storage with cobwebs but I could get a pic or two if you want to see how those doors are mounted on cut pvc.
I get too wordy on the internet, but none of what I did is rocket science.
Just rip a pvc pipe into quarters down the length with a circular saw and you've got quarter strips that will fit exactly over your pipe so you can sandwich the screen between and hold it in place. Fasten down with short metal screws (or you could use liquid nails- I never did but it would work great until you need to repair- with chameleons I doubt you would ever need to repair. Some of my other lizards can be harder on cages over a few years time). I think on some of my old cages I even remember using a high powered staple gun to hold the strips and screen over the frame... I ended up using screws though- so probably work better.
For your doors rip a strip about 40% of the pipe out, and fasten the other 60% around your frame so it faces you. Now you have something you can snap the pvc of your door into.
Montium
New Member
hmm iv never sen the square kind, where can i get that stuff?
yeah but what im plannig isnt simple
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n:16414401,p_item_shape:Square&page=1
try that link, if it doesn't work try square tubing on amazon or square pvc in a search engine. Home Depot used to carry it but I don't know if they still do.
