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  • Arboreal enclosure finished

    Just put the finishing touches to a new arboreal enclosure.

    Now have to wait a couple of years until my pokie is big enough to use it! Mind you, I will be at the BTS show in May, so may not be able to resist something nice to put in this...





    Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
    Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
    Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
    Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
    Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
    Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
    Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
    Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
    Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
    Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
    Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

  • #2
    hi its danny here

    hi i was just wondering if you could tell me were i could get the matrials to bulid this peice of art thanks danny
    danny p

    Comment


    • #3
      Cool enclosure Chris. Alot of people seem to be making their own enclosures these days. Might have to give it ago myself one day.
      Devoted tarantula enthusiast & Future M.balfouri specialist.



      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by danny pearson View Post
        hi i was just wondering if you could tell me were i could get the matrials to bulid this peice of art thanks danny
        Hi Danny

        Quite a few components and suppliers, but here goes:
        1. Acrylic bought from ebay advertised store. It was cut to size and flame-polished.
        2. Acrylic bonding solvent bought from S.I.M via ebay. Plus syringe and needle for applying.
        3. Acrylic hinges and hasps bought from Alternative plastics
        4. Stainless steel mesh from Dartfrogs
        5. Plastic rings from ebay
        6. Cork and wood from Bugfest event in Yeovil
        7. Moss from garden centre
        8. Water bowl on ebay
        9. Peat from garden centre, mixed with coir.
        10. Pothos vine from Dartfrog
        11. Hot glue gun used for making vents and fixing enclosure decor
        12. Inspiration from this and other forums, plus youtube.

        Good luck if you decide to make one - it is very satisfying to make your own enclosures. Practice using the solvent on some scrap acrylic because you get no second chances with this stuff. And don't try to wipe it off if you spill it on the acrylic as it will mark - just let it dry and it will be far less obvious.
        Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
        Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
        Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
        Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
        Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
        Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
        Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
        Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
        Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
        Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
        Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Ian Hall View Post
          Cool enclosure Chris. Alot of people seem to be making their own enclosures these days. Might have to give it ago myself one day.
          Thanks Ian - I get a lot of satisfaction from making my own enclosures.
          Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
          Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
          Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
          Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
          Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
          Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
          Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
          Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
          Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
          Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
          Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

          Comment


          • #6
            Love the finished enclosure Chris!

            When I built mine, they were intended for my A.versi slings for when they got a bit bigger. (6 - 12 months down the line) Anyway, they weren't empty for very long! It was too tempting and I bought 4 new spiders within a couple of weeks! I can't imagine your enclosure will be sitting empty for 2 years! Buy a new T, then you have a good reason to build another work of art!

            I've just had a quote from Red Ltd for some acrylic for my upgrades. How accurate did you find their cuts? Reason I ask is I used someone different the first time round and I needed to make a few minor adjustments as they weren't quite spot on. I've taken your advice and gone for flame polishing this time so I don't be able to trim a bit off here or there if I have to.

            Jamie.
            My Collection:

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Jamie Cooper View Post
              Love the finished enclosure Chris!

              When I built mine, they were intended for my A.versi slings for when they got a bit bigger. (6 - 12 months down the line) Anyway, they weren't empty for very long! It was too tempting and I bought 4 new spiders within a couple of weeks! I can't imagine your enclosure will be sitting empty for 2 years! Buy a new T, then you have a good reason to build another work of art!

              I've just had a quote from Red Ltd for some acrylic for my upgrades. How accurate did you find their cuts? Reason I ask is I used someone different the first time round and I needed to make a few minor adjustments as they weren't quite spot on. I've taken your advice and gone for flame polishing this time so I don't be able to trim a bit off here or there if I have to.

              Jamie.
              Hi Jamie

              I think you are probably right - a juvenile/sub-adult pokie would look just right in there lol!

              I did not use Red Ltd for the flame polished acrylic. I emailed them and 2 other suppliers to get a quote and only Trent plastics replied. I have to say the flame polishing they did was great. One of the sides was actually a bit wide at one end and I did not realise until it was virtually finished, by which point it was too late. It did still fit together but one edge does stick out slightly. A bit annoying but it is not that obvious. I am a bit of a perfectionist so wish I had double checked all the measurements. Mind you I would have lost the nicely finished edge if I had tried to trim it so probably best I left it.
              Let me know how accurate Red Ltd are and maybe I'll try them next time.
              Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
              Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
              Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
              Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
              Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
              Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
              Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
              Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
              Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
              Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
              Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

              Comment


              • #8
                Hi Chris,

                Yes all my enclosures had at least one edge a fraction of a millimeter out, never mind, I suppose it is difficult or probably impossible to get them all perfect! Another problem I had was forming a perfectly square base. Although they looked it, none were water tight which I didn't think was important at the time. It was only when I dampened the substrate I noticed over time droplets of water were leaking from the base. It was all down to a slightly angled cut. Very frustrating! Rather careless by the machinist. I doubt if I'll use them again.

                Red Ltd quoted £27.50 for the flame polished acrylic sheets (including postage) which will build me a 150mm x 150mm x 300mm enclosure. I'll let you know what the quality is like.

                Jamie.
                My Collection:

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Jamie

                  The acrylic from Trent Plastics was £24.69 - to make enclosure 210 x 210 x 410 mm. The description on the receipt said 'diamond polished edges'?
                  Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
                  Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
                  Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
                  Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
                  Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
                  Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
                  Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
                  Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
                  Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
                  Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
                  Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Chris Barnard View Post
                    Hi Jamie

                    The acrylic from Trent Plastics was £24.69 - to make enclosure 210 x 210 x 410 mm. The description on the receipt said 'diamond polished edges'?
                    I've just google "diamond polishing", it seems to be done by machine with a diamond tipped blade. Theres not very much info at all really. There is a you tube vid.

                    I received my flame polished acrylic this morning. Its amazing! I think I'm definitely going to have all future sheets polished this way. Worth every penny! I can't wait to get to work on it! It will be a few weeks though before I have an hour or 2 to myself. I'll post pics in a few weeks when I get round to it.

                    Jamie.
                    My Collection:

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Look forward to seeing the new masterpiece!
                      Good luck with it.
                      My P regalis is molting at the moment. Can't wait to see how she looks in her new clothes!
                      Brachypelma vagans 0.0.1
                      Lasiodora parahybana 0.0.1
                      Grammostola rosea 0.1.0
                      Poecilotheria regalis 0.0.1
                      Poecilotheria rufilata 0.1.0
                      Brachypelma smithi 0.1.0
                      Avicularia versicolor 0.0.1
                      Psalmopoeus irminia 0.0.1
                      Aphonopelma schmidti 0.1.0
                      Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens 0.0.1
                      Acanthoscurria geniculata 0.0.1

                      Comment

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