Rango's new cave/basking spot.....

[loz72vw]

So I've finally started rangos new cave....have glued the main structure, now I've got to start carving some detail )

 

[ilovebeardies]

What do you use to make it?

 

[diegothediggy]

Very nice

 

[Luvthemanimal]

You use pink poly styrene Styrofoam...... Wood glue..... Grout (non sanded)....... Than a non toxic sealer...... Like mod podge

 

[ilovebeardies]

Hmm awesome love to see final product. Is it costly? I need to get some platforms that are higher but id love to make something more custom if its cheaper.

 

[loz72vw]

I've only brought the polystyrene so far, I'll let you know how much it costs when I'm done. It is kinda messy too..,,,I'm gonna be finding polystyrene in my room for weeks! Haha.

 

[PatsyB]

Looks good! Can't wait to see it finished!

 

[pistolsfordixie]

if you get the bladed really hot it is supposed to help in cutting. I have not tried but read somewhere..worth a shot

 

[timbalan]

When i did mine i used the white styrofoam also. Its pretty cheap. The styrofaom was only like $10 the grout was about the same the mod podge was about $8 then the paint thats only about a buck. And theres enough that you can make more than your moneys worth with it. Just very time consuming. After you shape it i put 5 good layers of grout and 6 good layers of mod podge to seal it. Just remember if you get the modge podge wet it will turn white again until it drys again. I just make sure minnie is nice n dry before i put her back in her viv. Heres a couple pics of mine.

 

[pistolsfordixie]

that is too cool. I'm hope to do something similar. haven't really got it right in my head yet..yours really came out awesome!!

 

[timbalan]

Thanks.like i said its really time consuming i just kinda went with it. I didnt carve or cut anything to shape it i just broke off chunks that were diff sizes and started glueing them on the backboard. Making sure that it would still fit after i grouted everything. The shelfs have little triangle braces under them for extra support for when my beardie got older it wouldnt break under the weight. The big shelf i use as the basking spot is not connected because it wouldnt fit through the glass doors. Which is nice for cleaning its easier to take out that way. The long steps were tricky the grout kept cracking about the middle of the steps i almost just threw it away and started over but i decided to put a few coats of sealant on it first and im glad i did because once a few layers of the sealant was on it got hard as a rock and turned out just perfect.lol my beardie loves to jump from one ledge to another run down the stairs and around than back up . Over and over. Good exercise aswell. Good luck and happy building. Any questions just ask ill help anyway i can. I also have a thread somewhere that has more pics too.

 

[timbalan]

I posted a reply on it so it would come to the top so you can see more of it if you would like thread is called "started a new viv for vinnie" check it out.

 

[loz72vw]

if you get the bladed really hot it is supposed to help in cutting. I have not tried but read somewhere..worth a shot

Cool thanks for the tip

 

[loz72vw]

Thanks.like i said its really time consuming i just kinda went with it. I didnt carve or cut anything to shape it i just broke off chunks that were diff sizes and started glueing them on the backboard. Making sure that it would still fit after i grouted everything. The shelfs have little triangle braces under them for extra support for when my beardie got older it wouldnt break under the weight. The big shelf i use as the basking spot is not connected because it wouldnt fit through the glass doors. Which is nice for cleaning its easier to take out that way. The long steps were tricky the grout kept cracking about the middle of the steps i almost just threw it away and started over but i decided to put a few coats of sealant on it first and im glad i did because once a few layers of the sealant was on it got hard as a rock and turned out just perfect.lol my beardie loves to jump from one ledge to another run down the stairs and around than back up . Over and over. Good exercise aswell. Good luck and happy building. Any questions just ask ill help anyway i can. I also have a thread somewhere that has more pics too.

Thanks for the advice....your pictures are great ...it's defiantly time consuming but fun too...plus it's gonna look good when it's all done so worth it. I'll have a look at your thread. Thanks for your offer of help, I may just do that when I'm on the other stages

 

[Luvthemanimal]

When i did mine i used the white styrofoam also. Its pretty cheap. The styrofaom was only like $10 the grout was about the same the mod podge was about $8 then the paint thats only about a buck. And theres enough that you can make more than your moneys worth with it. Just very time consuming. After you shape it i put 5 good layers of grout and 6 good layers of mod podge to seal it. Just remember if you get the modge podge wet it will turn white again until it drys again. I just make sure minnie is nice n dry before i put her back in her viv. Heres a couple pics of mine.View attachment 9006
View attachment 9007
View attachment 9008

Very valid point..... I found a mod podge that is outdoor use..... And can get wet... I used it on mine and so far so good..

I posted a reply on it so it would come to the top so you can see more of it if you would like thread is called "started a new viv for vinnie" check it out.

I was wonder wth them dots were for Lmfao...........

 

[timbalan]

Ya i wish i wouldve seen some outdoor stuff that can get wet. But its ok i work around it.

 

[Luvthemanimal]

Ya i wish i wouldve seen some outdoor stuff that can get wet. But its ok i work around it.

You sure did and looks fantastic...... Just figured I'd give the heads up to OP.


also here's my thread on structures me and my buddie made and the enclosure I built....

http://www.beardeddragonforum.com/index.php?threads/10183/

 

[loz72vw]

...here's where I am now, I've grouted, sanded & sprayed one coat a couple more to do ...I'm pleased with it so far

 

[diegothediggy]

Very nice