Need opinions on repair please

Sublimeballs · 11-04-13, 11:42 PM

So I was supposed to trade for a good condition used boaphile 8'x2' enclosure the guy sold it after making the deal. But he has another that is cracked, I'm a very handy person. But I have no experience working with plastic. So I was hoping for some input on how I would go about repairing this damage, or if its a waste of time.

Mikoh4792 · 11-04-13, 11:55 PM

what is that? two cages combined or next to eachother?

There might be a better way to do this but i'm thinking a solvent that will bond the plastic to eachother in between the cracks.

ErikBush97 · 11-05-13, 01:37 AM

That sounds like a sketchy choice. He sells something after you make a deal and then tries to sell you something damaged... I'd just find another one. I'd bet you'll find more issues when you receive it.

Donnie · 11-05-13, 01:39 AM

After him doing that I wouldn't buy anything from him, good deal or not.

ErikBush97 · 11-05-13, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

After him doing that I wouldn't buy anything from him, good deal or not.

x2... Even though I said it first

ErikBush97 · 11-05-13, 02:25 AM

And look at the hinges in that photo... Old, and rusty... I know that isn't necessarily anything major, but it kind of gives an impression of the entire cage. Why would everything you can see be crappy, but the rest be in good or even decent condition? Just seems risky...

Zoo Nanny · 11-05-13, 04:35 AM

You can get bonding agents for plastics at Lowes/Home Depot or at a Marine Supply. Some of them are epoxy based and easy to use like Gorilla Epoxy Syringe. The epoxys that come in a syringe are the easyest to use on small repairs. The syringe is two separate wells joined at the base. The epoxy mixes while you apply.

marvelfreak · 11-05-13, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

And look at the hinges in that photo... Old, and rusty... I know that isn't necessarily anything major, but it kind of gives an impression of the entire cage. Why would everything you can see be crappy, but the rest be in good or even decent condition? Just seems risky...

You can easily replace them. That the only thing i ever had to replace on mine, but that expected when you have high humidity and metal. The crack should be a easy fix. I will say i drop one of mine down a flight of stairs and not so much as a scratch or crack. Makes you wonder what the heck they did to crack it.

Terranaut · 11-05-13, 05:15 AM

I looks to me as if it was picked up from both ends with a heavy snake sitting in the middle. See the way the upper corners are crushed? Personally I would not accept that if it wasn't discussed at the time of the deal. If you do keep it and it is pvc just go to a plumbing store, buy some pvc cement and use a C clamp on the inside to crush it back together while the glue sets. You can take the hinges off and wash themwith an sos pad to remove the rust. If they still look bad paint them with a metal/rust paint .

LarryS · 11-05-13, 05:54 AM

I'm not sure what those metal rusty things are, but they appear to be something added after the fact. They are on the top of the cage so I'm guessing some kind of latch, so there is most likely an issue with the original latches as well.

Epoxy for plastic as already mentioned would be my choice to bond that crack.

Sublimeballs · 11-05-13, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

After him doing that I wouldn't buy anything from him, good deal or not.

Yeah it was a sh#*ty thing to do, and I'm pissed. But if my animal will benefit from it I'm willing to suck up my pride. The cage will not be shipped its local so ill be able to examine it more. But the crack here is what I know to be wrong and wanted to get some opinions.

Chuck you said you dropped one down the stairs, now I'm really wondering what happened to this one. How strong of a bond does the pvc epoxy hold? Do you think this is something ill have to repair time and time again? I'm thinking this cage will not be able to be the bottom of a stack.

KORBIN5895 · 11-05-13, 07:19 AM

Boaphile makes a sketchy product at best anymore. I have heard of a lot of people that have had their welds break.

formica · 11-05-13, 07:23 AM

i personally wouldnt pay anything for that unit, thats a pretty substantial crack

if you really want to fix it, first you need to ensure that the crack wont simply carry on taring along its path after fixing (drill a single hole at each end of the crack, this will stop it cracking further) then i'd recommend welding, rather than epoxy or glue, to fix it

but tbh that pic is pretty useless, it doesnt tell us enough about where the crack is, how much load the area needs to take, etc

knox · 11-05-13, 08:03 AM

IF that is the only thing wrong with the cage, a simple fiberglass or marine epoxy patch will make it the strongest point on the entire cage. VERY easy to do. Might not look great, but some touch up paint with Krylon Fusion will help with that. Or just sand it well and repaint the entire thing.

I would buy it in a heartbeat at the right price and fix that puppy up. But it would have to be DIRT CHEAP.

Terranaut · 11-05-13, 08:16 AM

Why use anything but pvc cement? Seriously ??