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dinner83
Hatchling
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
 Posted - 19/02/2010 : 22:21:03
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hi all just a quick Q would it be ok to use chipboard to build some vivs. if so what would be the best way to seal it and make it safe for my snakes? i wouldn't want to put them at risk.
any advice would be great thanks phil |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2010 : 22:50:50
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| Yes you could make vivs from them, most vivs you buy from shops are made from laminated chipboard. But you would deffinitely have to find something to line it with as you can't leave the chip board showing. If water gets in the chip board it will pretty much just decintegrate (correctly spellt?). |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 09:46:33
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| i have seen quite a few chipboard vivs, but as said, it will turn to powder if it gets wet! |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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dinner83
Hatchling
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 09:47:59
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| thanks i now that most vivs are made with laminated chipboard, but i was wondering if there is any other way to seal it with out using laminat |
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 09:56:04
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| Aquarium sealant will do for sealing the joins, but apart from that I don't know!! |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Paulusworm
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
686 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 12:39:48
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A good quality, low VOC, water based wood varnish will seal the boards up nicely. If you apply the varnish to the boards before you assemble the viv it will make things a lot easier for you. One thing to watch out for is that all of the fumes have completely evaporated. Whilst it may appear to have dried fully, as soon as you switch on you viv heating (mat, ceramic, etc) more fumes will magically appear. Be sure to run the viv without the snake inside for a few days to a couple of weeks (depending on the VOC content of the varnish) so that all of the fumes have been cleared. My own prefered weapon of choice at the moment is:
Seems to be holding up quite well in the two vivs that I've used it in. Another tip is to apply a coating of sealant to the ends of the boards where they butt up to each other. The sawn ends of chipboard is a pain to varnish completely and if you do get a pinhole in the coating the sealant will seal the gap quite nicely.  |
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
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Paulusworm
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
686 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 16:02:22
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quote:
Originally posted by eeji
one of them housed a water dragon so you can imagine the amount of water that got thrown around in there :)
lol. I know that sight well. G quite frequently belly flops at speed into his pool when chasing locusts down. Kersplosh! I've been checking the wood on a weekly basis and it seems to be holding out well so far.
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
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Paulusworm
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
686 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 16:16:36
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I'll have to try and film him doing it. Quite a sight seeing a Bosc fly  . |
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dinner83
Hatchling
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2010 : 16:18:27
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| thanks for the great advice paul. |
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chipboard for making vivs
