View Full Version : Whta kind of glue stuff for screen top
I went to home depo a few months ago with the intent of buying silicon caulking to attach screen mesh to the top of my BP tank. The <i>person</i> there advised me against it and so I bought some (rolls eyes) <i>"household goop"</i>.
Weeeeeell, the screen is coming off because of the constant weight from the heat lamp (and the kitty that I just can't keep off the top of the tank, im working on it), and needless to say, Anoushka is beyond thrilled. I need to reattach some screening to it, which means I'll have to keep her in this teeny tank for a day or two.
What do you guys suggest I use to attach the screening? Should I just get silicon caulking like the kind that is used on aquatic tanks?
Thanks!
:-D
sSNAKESs.com
11-13-02, 04:50 PM
if the frame is wood i would suggest you staple it into the wood with a staple gun.. (15$) from homedepot.. just stape right around it.
Big Mike
11-13-02, 04:52 PM
What surface are you attaching the mesh to?
Another option is hot glue, I've heard it's safe for animals.
Unless you can staple or use something to support the screen, not much will work if you have weight on it.
Like Mike said hot glue works well and is non-toxic .. silicone will stick it on but don't use silicone caulking .. get the 100% silicone .. it does come in a caulking tube, but make sure it is 100% and not a caulking mix.
Tim_Cranwill
11-13-02, 08:36 PM
I tried to fix my front door screen with a hot-glue gun and it SUCKED! If you want to support the weight of a cat by using hot glue, be prepared to loose either your cat or your snake... or both.:(
In my experience, 100% silicone should work well. But all in all, keep the cat off the screen!!!;)
Good luck!
This is my personal Opinion, get 1/4th inch hardware cloth. And a staple gun. or even 1/2 inch hardware cloth. It's like chicken fence. If your snake likes to rub against the screen get the rubber coated stuff. Staple that stuff down and presto.
But some sort of fastener is a MUST. You could aslo buy that pigeon fence stuff to keep the cat down, you know the big plastic spike stuff they put on signs and billboards at businesses to keep the birds from scatting and nesting on them. works great for cats too. If you are not dealing with wood. Then 100% Pure Silicon is your only other alternative. Make sure it cures fully and make sure you have your heat elements and lights on while it cures.
Its a former aquatic tank. I don't know if stapling will work, it's a very thin fake wood (probably plastic) frame on top. If I staple, it will most likely go through to the glass. Maybe the silicon. I will see. Thanks so much for all your imput! Yes, the cat is learning. He does it less know because I practically have a conniption when he jumps up there....
and it is the 1/4 metal cloth that im using...
Why do you say that I should have the heating elements on while it cures???
Tim_Cranwill
11-14-02, 02:12 PM
Because it will cure at room temp and then still release gasses or whatever when it is heated. So, if you cure it at the temps it will likely be subjected to, it won't off gass any further at those temps.
Them and Us
11-14-02, 07:42 PM
i taught my cat to stay off of the screens on my older enclosures with the most handy device known to man. the squirt gun. just leave it around the house and whenever the cat gets up on it just quirt the crap out of it. it will learn to stay off. and they get a shower while learning.
Can you show us some pictures of this thing, I cant see why you would want to glue the top down. Does it open from the front?
Haha yea that squirt gun or spray bottle idea works great. Especially if you get one that makes a noise. We used that to keep teh cats off the sofa, now if we catch them sitting on it all we have to do is make that "pssssssh" noise (sort of the same noise as the spray bottle makes) and the cats go running. Plus you could use the bottle to mist the snake when hes shedding :)
to keep the cat off our tanks we took wire coat hangers and bent them and placed them around the top of the tank... the cat doesn't jump on the tank anymore.
I would use 100% silicone.
OK, I took another look at it (sorry, I dont have a digi camera) and I think that you guys are right, I could probably staple it and save myself so much grief. Because the plastic (woodlike) frame on the top of the tank extends into the tank for about a half inch or so. Except, if I staple it, wont the staples hang into the tank? Anoushka likes to press up against it, how can I make the staples like paper staples that fold under?
Sorry guys, I'm a ****** at this.
As for the water gun, yeah I use tha. THe cat already knows my tricks. It only works if I squirt it a lot and in his face, hehe.
What I was thinking is you could build a simple wood frame to go around the tank, to staple the hardware cloth to. I think that would work much better then trying to staple it to plastic.
What a mess I've made. But i have a divider on top because one half of the tank is covered with a sheet of plexiglass to keep humidity in. Maybe I should just screw it in and get some washer type thingies so she doesnt poke herself on the screw ends.
The_Omen
11-19-02, 12:44 PM
I really don't get why you are wanting to glue the screen directly to the tank anyway....
Look here and you will see an easy to make, easy to modify tank topper.
Full view. (http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL131/780296/1370089/15989160.jpg)
Close-up view. (http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL131/780296/1370089/15989155.jpg)
Staples. (http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL131/780296/1370089/15989153.jpg)
The screening is 14 gauge ¼” mesh held on with hammer driven staples for the most secure attachment.
If you use bare screen mesh, sand it to remove the sharp areas to prevent damaging your animals.
You can make it with screen, plexi or a combination.
You can control heat and humids with aluminum foil covering a portion or more, depending on what you have in it animal wise.
I use foil since it is not flammable like the plastic wrap reccomended by some, especially with a heat lamp or CHE nearby.
Now does that look so difficult?
Omen,
The pictures that you have have a wooden frame. If I had that it would be something else. I am using an old aquarium that has that plastic frame on top.
I don't have the slightest idea how I would take that off and put a wooden one on there.
Do I have to take the frame off and make a new frame in order for this to work? This is why I glued it on. I wish I had a camera so that I could show you what it looks like now.
We have done the wooden frame with metal screan thing too. I'll post pics of it when I get home from work.
sSNAKESs.com
11-21-02, 05:17 AM
Wrath... you make the wooden frame so it sits inside the plastic frame on top... there is a groove along the inside of that plastic frame thats meant to have lids sit in there... So you cut the wooden frame so it sits INSIDE the plastic frame... not directly on top of the aquarium.
I meant to post these last night but here they are.
This is the top we have for our 20G. see how it's stapled.
http://snakes.lexxdog.com/snakes/frame001.jpg
To open the cage we have a handle. Using wire we have fastened the light to the lid so it doesn't fall off when you open the cage. The box is there because it turned out that the snakes in the cage were strong enough to push the lid up, I found the one that went on an adventure but decided we didn't like the idea of a free roaming snake.
http://snakes.lexxdog.com/snakes/frame004.jpg
The following is our 15G, it has the same footprint as the 20G, but the screen is smaller. The two tops are interchangable and are constructed the same way.
http://snakes.lexxdog.com/snakes/frame005.jpg
Here are the modifications we've done to a 10G store bought lid. The frame is metal and the original mesh screen is held in by a rubber. We took the same screen as the 15G has and fastened it to the frame with screws. The original mesh screen (like you see on your windows and doors) is still there to prevent something small from escaping. The additional screen is to stop something from getting in, though it does keep bigger snakes from pushing through the weakly attatched screen underneth. Unfortunetly this modification came about due to a tragedy we had Febuary of 02. It is now cat proof, but to keep the cats off the cages anyways we used bent coat hangers ontop of the cage, since we moved and now have a dedicated herp room we nolonger have the problem of the cats warming themselves on the cages.
http://snakes.lexxdog.com/snakes/frame006.jpg
katey did most of the work on these, I mainly watched.
tightsqueeze
11-22-02, 06:52 AM
if it is a former fish tank ? you should jut go get a screen kit from Home Depot it should just fit right in to were thoes old lids with the light and lifty uppy thingy used to be it will cost you about 25 $ its cheep and it works great , make sure you get the heavy duty screen , my ball pushed right through that nylon crap!!!
jay
:firestart
stormyva
11-22-02, 08:58 AM
Those screen cage tops look great!
If you are going to be spraying/misting your cage with water or have a snake/reptile that requires high humidity tye to use a solid wood or metal frame and not particle board or fiber board. Particle and fiber board will soak up water like a sponge and eventually start to fall apart. In the event that you do use a wood that will break down give it a good coat of paint or something to seal the pores so that water can not be absorbed. (Let the top set out for a couple of days to allow the paint or sealer to completely dry and all fumes to dissipate.)
Originally posted by tightsqueeze
if it is a former fish tank ? you should jut go get a screen kit from Home Depot it should just fit right in to were thoes old lids with the light and lifty uppy thingy used to be it will cost you about 25 $ its cheep and it works great , make sure you get the heavy duty screen , my ball pushed right through that nylon crap!!!
jay
:firestart
the 10, 15 and 20 gallon tanks are aquariums. the 15 was used as a fishtank many years ago.
also our 100G was used as a fish tank, but you can see photos of it elsewhere.
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