MauricesExoticPets
New member
I use Sterilite 1847 bins they are 58qt/55L in size which is pretty easy to work with when you are cleaning them out on a regular basis in a utility sink.
The finished product teaser.
Sharpie pens are great for marking where you want to cut out.
Get your knife as sharp as possible. Be safe with knives.
Start at a corner and begin cutting along the line, don't try to cut through on the first pass. Be safe with knives.
After two or three passes flip the lid over and look for a mark in the plastic where you were cutting on the other side, cool!
Insert the knife through the lid from the original cut side, the mark can help guide your knife on this side. Be safe with knives.
Once the section of lid is cut away you'll need your screen and cutters. Here I used aluminium screen, any fine metal screen will work.
Cut the screen slightly oversized.
Heat up the wood burning iron, I modified a flat flame shaped tip to do this sort of work. Be careful around hot wood burning tools.
I like to support the lid on 2x2 wood blocks as I melt the plastic into the screen.
The hot tip melts the plastic and presses the screen into it at the same time. This process should be done in a stitching manner like this - - - - - - - once you have the entire perimeter done fill in the gaps. Take caution to do this outside of with plenty of ventilation, your melting plastic and the fumes are likely toxic in some way.
So there you have it, you can place a dome lamp right on the screen and heat your insects if you wish and there is no chance that it will come loose after washing 100s of times.
Just for fun, Lobster roaches like Valentines Day too.
Maurice Pudlo
The finished product teaser.
Sharpie pens are great for marking where you want to cut out.
Get your knife as sharp as possible. Be safe with knives.
Start at a corner and begin cutting along the line, don't try to cut through on the first pass. Be safe with knives.
After two or three passes flip the lid over and look for a mark in the plastic where you were cutting on the other side, cool!
Insert the knife through the lid from the original cut side, the mark can help guide your knife on this side. Be safe with knives.
Once the section of lid is cut away you'll need your screen and cutters. Here I used aluminium screen, any fine metal screen will work.
Cut the screen slightly oversized.
Heat up the wood burning iron, I modified a flat flame shaped tip to do this sort of work. Be careful around hot wood burning tools.
I like to support the lid on 2x2 wood blocks as I melt the plastic into the screen.
The hot tip melts the plastic and presses the screen into it at the same time. This process should be done in a stitching manner like this - - - - - - - once you have the entire perimeter done fill in the gaps. Take caution to do this outside of with plenty of ventilation, your melting plastic and the fumes are likely toxic in some way.
So there you have it, you can place a dome lamp right on the screen and heat your insects if you wish and there is no chance that it will come loose after washing 100s of times.
Just for fun, Lobster roaches like Valentines Day too.
Maurice Pudlo
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