rubbermaids

[remsin76]

i jsut got a huge rubbermaid for 16 dollars at a hardware store.

I want to cut the top so that I can make 1/2 of it into a screen lid. Does anyone have any suggestions on how i can attach the screen onto the plastic cover???

also if possible does anyone ahve pictures of their rubbermaid setups??

[Invictus]

What will you be housing in it? If it's a large snake, there is not much you can d about attaching screen to rubber. The snake will easily be able to break through no matter what you attach it with.

[Ed_r]

If donr right, a hot glue gun secures the screen pretty good. But what are you planning to put in it? Most any snake will get a nose rub from trying to escape.

[asphyxia]

You can always try the handymans secret weapon

Brian

[Stockwell]

Cut the cover with and Xacto knife or similar
You can hot glue the sreen or rivet it.Hot glue wont hold long term, unless you take a dremel tool and rough up the shiny plastic.
putting rivets in will help alot

[Big Mike]

Why not just drill holes into the top and/or sides of the Rubbermaid? You could use a soliding iron to melt holes too.

If Brian is trying to hint at duct tape...don't listen to him ;) I have read quite a few stories about how snakes have gotten themselves stuck to tape that was used in/on their enclosure...even though the owners had thought that the tape was firmly in place.

[reverendsterlin]

the simplest way to attach the screen is to sandwich it between a couple of wood frames. I would use smooth head bolts and push them through from the inside. 1/4in.X1in. furring strips may work for the frame or you may opt for something sturdier like 1X2's.. I also suggest that the screen/frames be at least 4 inches overlapped larger than the hole in the lid all the way around.

[Yve]

here's a good way to secure a screen to a lid that is escape proof. First you need to get a couple of things:)......
1/4" hardware cloth
door screen (that black fine screen)
metal screws, washers and nuts
drill
-cut the screens about 2" larger than the hole in the lid
-put the door screen down first then the hardware cloth
-put the screws on from the inside of the lid so they stick out on the outside, ofcoarse pre-drill the holes!
-make sure the washers and nuts that fit the screw are larger than the 1/4" gaps in the hardware cloth.
-9 screws in a 7" diamater hole will suffice.
using this method the screen won't budge

[remsin76]

its for a ball python. will that be strong enough"???

[remsin76]

what exafctly is hardware cloth never heard of it.

[Lisa]

Hardware cloth is a metal mesh, like chicken wire.

[CDN-Cresties]

I agree with Big Mike, just drill holes in the sides and the top and get some heat tape. This is what i do with my ball python.


-Steve-

[Yve]

Remsin76- yes it is definately strong enough i have used that method to place a heat lamp for a ball in the past. But if it is just for ventilation than drilling holes is alot quicker, easier and more effective for holding humidity if they are drilled in the sides. If its for a bulb, realize that this will dry the air out faster than other heating methods. Plus you want to make sure the lamp can't be knocked over.

[remsin76]

so who thinks its better if i jsut use a under tank heater?? anyone like lights more for their ball or other nocturnal herp?
i've been only using the zoomed undertank heaters with a homemade rheostat.

ok now second question - How do I make the rubermaid escape proof?? I found tank lips that fit but they dont seem strong enough since the plastic cover bends open.

[Yve]

the flexible tops are a real problem....one way you can make sure it won't 'flex' is to screw it shut in several places....a bit of a pain when you want to open and close it....i've heard of people using bungie cords,velcro and pad locks but I don't know how well those work. Its amazing how small a space a snake can get through! you can make a giant rack for it and ditch the lid but in that case you might as well just build an enclosure! another problem is the snake can get its head stuck trying to get out. I wouldn't recommend a container that doesn't have a very snug lid.

[Linds]

Definitely bottom heating methods are preferred for ground dwelling snakes. Lights/CHE's/radiant heat panels are better for arboreal snakes. For a ball python you won't want to use screening on any part. Its better just to punch a few holes in the sides to create a good crossventilation and humidity relationship. If you jsut opened one part, of say the lid, you would still have no cross ventilation. You would have stagnant air, not fresh air, and it also creates a prime environment for mold to grow. For securing lids on rubbermaids, I use the following techniques, depending on the type of lid. I use the "S"-hooks for the 42" long rubbermaids that only have locking ends. I put 3 down each side.