Viv building idea

[staylor]

I was looking for plans on building a viv. I found this one, with a low build cost and very easy. Just thought I would share with you all for your future builds. I like this one with the exception of the sand and air vents. I am sure as it is built there are other things that I will change.

http://708designs.netfirms.com/customcage/customcage.htm

 

[Craiger]

LOVE it! Nice plans. I've yet to read the entire page, yet, as I just glanced through (and the fact that one of my 18-year-old twins is wanting to take over the computer), but I wanted to give this little bit of input in case it helps.

It has to do with the fake rocks. Personally, I found that just siliconing two layers of insulation together (and mine were 2" thick instead of 1") made for carving the rocks directly out of the Styrofoam a lot easier. Not that it was two whole layers combined. Just small sections of the insulation glued in areas where I wanted the rock to look like it was bigger and protruding out further than that of the rest. Here, maybe a couple pics will help describe it better.

This is the insulation I purchased at Lowes for about the same price listed on that website ($8 a sheet). It's 2" thick, as I said, and like 8 feet long and 2 feet wide.

A bit of carving and a couple "double thick" areas of insulation for raised rocks.

And here's the result of carving those raised sections.

Another view and another piece added.

Then, everything carved, cemented (with a brown dye), then sealed. I used cement instead of grout. Seems to be holding up pretty well after three years.

And this is the background with ivy added.

I'll be going over all of this in my build thread, but thought I'd give you a heads-up, here, since it was being covered in that link. Again, VERY cool link. I'll talk more about it later when I get some time. For now, I'm being hovered over. LOL! Scholarship papers are calling!

 

[staylor]

Thank you, I will keep all this in mind. First I have to find the dresser I am going to gut.

Scholarship papers are important...right now I am getting my family about 20k in debt with student loans because I was too lazy to try for scholarships. Back to school as an adult with a family equals no patients to look for scholarships.

 

[egg 80]

great link staylor ive seen a few builds like that and they all end up lookin cool as.


craiger how did you cut the styrofoam i use a hot knife but missis goes mad lol and i end up in dog house

paul

 

[Craiger]

craiger how did you cut the styrofoam i use a hot knife but missis goes mad lol and i end up in dog house

paul

I used a serrated knife found in my fishing knives. Actually worked really well. You can see it in this photo. Not the clearest, but might give you an idea of it's size.

 

[egg 80]

cheers craiger i might just have to give it a go


paul

 

[Craiger]

cheers craiger i might just have to give it a go


paul

Cool. If you do, be sure to let me know. I'm about ready to start another thread on my other viv. It's a stand alone.