Building Styrofoam basking spot/cave.(Finished)

[dragonscales]

I have finally started to make a basking spot/cave for Ember out of Styrofoam. I had all the stuff I needed to make it for a while now but been too lazy to start. So hopefully posting it here will urge me to finish it sooner. It will be a while until I get it finished because I still need to do the final shaping, Then put enough tile grout on it to withstand a dragon. After all that I will paint and seal it then let it sit for a few days to air out.

I will try and post pictures of the progress.

 

[ILoveLemmonade]

Thanks for posting pictures of the process. I would like to make one myself but don't really know where to start.

 

[zandi202]

It looks nice! Can't wait to see the end results!

 

[dragonscales]

Here is Ember’s cave/basking spot with about 5 coats of tile grout. I will be putting a few more coats on then I will paint it and seal it. I am just trying to figure out what color to make it.
Any ideas on what color I should paint it be would be appreciated.


I am also making a ledge for my anoles cage. I put magnets on each side and was planning to have it be able to stick to the side of their tank. I just don’t think the magnets will be strong enough even though my anoles are only a few grams each.

Once I started to put grout on it I just realized that the shape looks like a dog’s head in profile.

 

[halffrozen]

What did you use to stick the foam together???

TIA.

 

[dragonscales]

What did you use to stick the foam together???

TIA.

I used clear Loctite Power Grab to glue the Styrofoam together and I used some toothpicks to help hold the foam where I wanted it. I think the toothpicks help make it stronger.

 

[ILoveLemmonade]

Ember is sooooooo pretty! Where did you get him/her? Also, do you have a finished picture?

 

[dragonscales]

Ember is sooooooo pretty! Where did you get him/her? Also, do you have a finished picture?

Thank you
I got her from Carolina Designer Dragons I live about half an hour away from the breeder so I was able to go down there and pick her out from the all the dragons the had.

I actually just finished it this week. I am letting it air out for a few days to get rid of any fumes that linger. Here is a photo of the front, side and back of the basking/cave.I added some sand on the last coat of sealer to cut down on the glossiness and to give Ember better traction. The cave is a little bit darker in person the flash washes out some of the color as well.


I just put Ember on her cave tonight for the photo she is in the middle of shedding. I will be putting in her tank sometime this weekend


Here is the finished ledge I made for my anoles. It is a little bit too heavy to support its self with just the magnets so I will have to figure another way to attached it.

 

[zandi202]

Looks nice! So jealous!!

 

[ILoveLemmonade]

What force magnets did you use? You can get some 10lb magnets on amazon for a good price.

 

[dragonscales]

What force magnets did you use? You can get some 10lb magnets on amazon for a good price.

I used ½ inch neodymium magnets N42 from Amazon that had a pull force of 3 lbs. I am mounting it on a vertical surface so the pull force is not used as much. It is the downward force that is causing them not to stay up. I should have made the back of it wider so there is more contacting the wall.

I added a piece of wire to help support it like how a bracket is used to hold up a shelf. So it will prevent the front of the ledge from drooping. I also added a few more magnets to help. I made this ledge a bit too long because from the wall to the front edge is about 9 inches. My next one will be much shorter.

 

[ILoveLemmonade]

It looks good. How did you attach the magnets?

 

[dragonscales]

It looks good. How did you attach the magnets?

I first tried with just gluing the magnet in the Styrofoam but the magnet was too strong and pulled right out of the foam even crazy glue did not work. I saw someone on line use a screw to help secure the magnet to the foam.
I first made a hole in the foam that would fit the magnet and be flush. I then drilled a small hole in the center of it and filled up that hole with power grab glue. After that I screwed in about an inch screw but I added a washer the same size as the magnet so it has more to grab on to. I added more glue on top then stuck the magnet in. So with the glue and the metal being attracted to the magnet it will stay in place.

 

[ILoveLemmonade]

Hmm we'll keep us updated!

 

[dragonscales]

Here is the finished cave in her enclosure I think she will like it.

Ember slept in her cave the first night I put it in there.