Getting close

[brandon0133]

ive made alot of hand made stuff from fiberglass,,get some tiny fenceing like litle square shapes and bend it the shape u want it,,then use some fiberglass matting and do one layer,,,then use resin ontop of that,,,it will hold shape really good,,,then of course u would want to do the inside next,,

[Stefan-A]

You mean like a permanent frame, or just to get the shape right?

[brandon0133]

permanent frame

[Stefan-A]

I've never done anything out of fiberglass, so maybe I need a bit of practice first.

[Cazador]

A word of caution about using fiberglass... It must be completely smooth and sealed, particularily if the rough side is on the inside of a cave where the snake will spend time hanging out. One of the real dangers with fiberglass is that its shards can be easily inhaled. If the little shards from the inside of the cave are rubbed loose, they'll accumulate within the cave on the floor. As the snake moves around within the cave, it may stir these shards up. If the snake is in a small enclosure (cave) where it stirs up fiberglass shards and has its head near the floor where the shards settle, it is more likely to inhale them.

Once shads make their way into the lungs, they have two ways to harm organisms. First, they are notorious for digging into lung tissue, causing lesions, and destroying it. That's particularily bad for garters with only one lung to start with. Second, our detoxification enzymes (P450s aromatase enzymes) are unable to break fiberglass down , but they still try. When this process goes awry, it often leads to respiratory tumors and cancer.

You see why it is so critical to ensure the fiberglass is perfectly sealed on both sides. Personally, I wouldn't do it. You can buy plaster of Paris at most craft stores, including Wal Mart, K-Mart, and similar stores. It's cheap, too. Kind regards,

Rick

[CrazyHedgehog]

does anyone know if fiberglass is toxic to snakes? it would just be the resin and not the fiber particles

surely just the resin would not be a problem, it is just like a plastic glue really

[drache]

how do you work with that stuff anyway?
don't you have to heat it? like really high temps?
the very word fiberglass sounds kind of cool
isn't it just glass fibers?
so what's the resin made out of?
lots of questions . . .

[anji1971]

Back in the day we used to use fiberglass in the salon for nail repairs. It came in thin sheets, like a fine woven fabric, and the resin we use is just an acrylic base(cyanoacrylate). I wonder if this is the same type of thing? It's pretty easy to buff down smooth, although I would worry about the particles being harmful to the snakes as well.

[drache]

since this is something that happens before the snakes ever get to occupy the thing, I'd kind of worry more about the particles in the air while working with the stuff
isn't that stuff hell on your respiratory system?
I mean - once you use it, it follows that you need to smooth it, right?
from what I understand, you need to let it harden completely, and then you essentially smooth it through an abrasion process
wouldn't that cause microscopic airborne fibers of glass to go all over the space you're using?
that kind of stuff worries me

[RZL36]

Keep away from fiberglass. It's not only bad for your snake, it's bad for YOU. Unless you find those little white masks that could fit your snake. Plus I really wouldn't want to know what would happen if that stuff makes its way in between some scales. Sounds like tumors, tumors and more tumors. Tumors all around. I'm good on that.