174 replies to this topic

[drtrmiller]

Here are a couple medium woodlands boxes.  Which is your favorite?

 

Reserve your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com, only while supplies last!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com, only while supplies last!

 

[drtrmiller]

Here is a Medium Beach with Caribbean Blue backsplash:

 

 

 

 

Reserve your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com

 

 

 

Here is a Large Woodlands with Dark Bronze backsplash:

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com

[Tspivey16]

Wondering if the bronze is the one I ordered?

[drtrmiller]

I believe so

[drtrmiller]

In preparation for the release on Amazon.com, I'll be announcing some pricing changes on October 1, 2015, which is in one week.  I highly recommend any customers who were waiting to purchase a GroTube with beautiful GlassBox foraging area, do so before October 1, in order to lock in the current price.

 

Reserve yours today at http://grotube.byformica.com

[drtrmiller]

Thanks to Larry for making a short YouTube video on his new GroTube and Large Woodlands foraging area!

 

He posts ant videos occasionally, so feel free to subscribe to support his channel!

 

 

 

 

 

Please support our work by buying your own GroTube with GlassBox foraging area,

available now in thousands of user configurations at http://grotube.byformica.com

Edited by drtrmiller, October 12 2015 - 5:11 PM.

[Huch]

They look really good, good work Miller.

[drtrmiller]

Here is a Large Woodlands foraging area that is one of my favorites so far:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com

[drtrmiller]

Faster Shipping:

 

Buy a Large GlassBox foraging area in a Woodlands or Desert theme, and any GroTube color (excludes pink), and your order will ship within 1-2 days of ordering.

 

Orders for GroTube (housing only) ship within 24 hours.

 

Small and medium boxes take 2-4 days to ship.

 

If anyone wants to see some recent boxes that have been made, let me know here in this thread and I'll post some more recent pictures.

 

Get your made-to-order GroTube with GlassBox foraging area today at http://grotube.byformica.com

[TheAnswerIsTheLogic]

Do you sell fluon?, like how much costs shiping and some fluon?

[drtrmiller]

http://www.byformica.com/Fluon

3 bottles for $29.99 with free shipping worldwide. Use the PayPal button on the bottom of the page.

[drtrmiller]

Process:

 

For anyone interested in why these cost a few dollars, consider the following:

1. The main box materials are cut by a laser machine. (20-40 minutes per box)
    
2. After all the pieces are cut by a laser cutting machine, they are grouped together by box size. (1-2 minutes per box)
    
3. Each box requires 12, proprietary 3D-printed square nuts which are made in large batches and then the threads are tapped by hand before being inserted into the box sidewalls. (12 minutes per box)
    
4. The boxes are carefully assembled with the paper masking intact.  Painter's tape is applied to special areas inside the box to offset the expansion of the plaster stone. Screws are used to fasten the pieces tightly together. (5-7 minutes per box)
    
5. The diorama components, which include cotton wool, non-hardening clay, water, plaster stone, dyes, pebbles, sand, live and preserved mosses, plant fibers, wood chips, wood discs, cast surface rocks, and wood centerpieces are grouped together. (2-3 minutes per box)
    
6. After the plaster stone is measured and mixed, it's a race against time to decorate the interior of the box before the plaster stone begins to set. (5 minutes per box)
    
7. After drying for 1 or more days, the excess sand is removed, and a brush is used to rub the loosest particles off.  The diorama is inspected, and a special glue is applied to areas in need of touch-ups, with additional sand and particles being layered on top of the glue. (5 minutes per box)
    
8. After drying again for 1 or more days, the excess sand is removed and the box is disassembled. The protective paper masking is removed from the plastic, countersinks or other secondary operations are drilled, the diorama is touched-up by hand before being glued to the box floor, the formicarium nest entrances are added to the side, and the entire box is reassembled. (25-30 minutes per box)
    
9. Each box, as a unique art piece, is photographed. (10 minutes per box)
    
10. The inset lids are assembled with countersink and tapping operations, hand-placement of mesh and tightening of handle. (6-12 minutes per box)
     
11. Protective tape is applied to the inside of the boxes to prevent particles from scratching or sticking to the inside plastic during shipping. (3-5 minutes per box)
     
12. Dunnage goes inside the boxes to protect against shipping damage, and the lid is fastened on, with the inset lids held on with more tape. (3-5 minutes per box)
     
13. The box is meticulously packed to arrive safely to any destination, worldwide! (3-5 minutes per box)
    
     

So there you have it!  About 2 hours of skilled human labor, and many refined and highly technical steps, go into the creation of each and every Primo byFormica Foraging Arena, both large and small!  And that's not counting the GroTube nest!

Stay tuned for a few pictures of ready-to-ship models in the coming days, or visit http://www.byformica.com to customize your own today!

Edited by drtrmiller, November 21 2015 - 5:27 PM.

[Mannomorth]

 

 

it's a race against time to decorate the interior of the box before the plaster stone begins to set. (5 minutes per box)

 

Oh I didn't know that it was that fast to harden, that's really incredible that you are able to make something that pretty in such a short period of time. I'm impressed.

[drtrmiller]

The working time is a bit longer than that

 

 

 

it's a race against time to decorate the interior of the box before the plaster stone begins to set. (5 minutes per box)

 

Oh I didn't know that it was that fast to harden, that's really incredible that you are able to make something that pretty in such a short period of time. I'm impressed.

 

 

The working time is a bit longer than that, but the surface starts to dry out sooner, so it has to be done very quickly.  The largest items go in first, and the sands and particles goes on last.

 

What's probably more interesting, is that if you look at the order of steps, the whole thing is done blind—the paper masking isn't taken off until much later, so I don't even know what it looks like from the front or side views until the very end.

[Mdrogun]

Is it really necessary to photograph each box for 10 minutes? I'm just saying that it could make you more productive.

[antmaniac]

Very beautiful outworlds. I presume the photograph also means photo editing and it is crucial for marketing purpose. In addition, the research and knowledge behind these products are immense. As far as my skill level goes, I wouldn't able to create these, so well done!

[drtrmiller]

I have made an almost imperceptible improvement to the "riser" part of the nest.  The result is a more sturdy and less warped part.  Further, the risers will now be color-matched to the nest housing color.

 

Future models that ship will feature this cosmetic improvement.

[Ants4fun]

When will you be selling the backdrops separate?

[drtrmiller]

What color do you need? Shouldn't be a problem for most of them.

[Ants4fun]

Ordered a byformica long out world and Grotube from tspivey16 and was curious about a long TURQUOISE BACKSPLASH. Btw how much would that cost?