10 replies to this topic

[antdoctor]

Hi,

 

I'm just getting started in the DIY world. I'm going to be making some nests out of hydrostone soon based on some of the DIY journals I've seen here. I'm planning on using magnets to secure a glass or plastic pane to provide a view into the nest. I would prefer the aesthetic that glass provides. I'm just wondering what people use for this purpose. I've found glass microscope slides (3" x 1") and glass picture frame replacements (much larger) on Amazon. Should I be looking elsewhere to find other sizes? I'm also thinking about doing some other shapes such as circles - does anyone know where I might find circular glass cut outs?

 

I know THA offers museum quality glass. Does anyone know where I could find this quality of product?

 

Would I be better off using plastic? Is there an easy way to cut plexiglass at home?

 

Thanks!

Edited by antdoctor, December 18 2020 - 11:27 AM.

[ANTdrew]

You could find lots of different size glass frames at a hobby store like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

[antdoctor]

Ahh, you're right that frames at Michaels are pretty cheap. Borrowing from picture frames seems like a good option. Maybe I'll learn to cut glass too... Thanks for your help!

[Boog]

Would I be better off using plastic? Is there an easy way to cut plexiglass at home?

I spent the last few weeks testing out an acrylic style lid with magnets on a prototype formicarium that I'm DIYing myself and I just had a setback using 2mm thick lids. I used a cutter to scribe and snap a sheet down to squares, used a rotary tool to smooth the edges straight, drilled a hydration hole and was amazed when my design initially worked! The lid was flat with my formicarium and I started doing hydration tests with it on.

 

 

Then I noticed recently that the lid had warped and is no longer flush with the base. So I think 2mm plastic/acrylic will warp over time and I'm wondering if I should move onto glass instead or use thicker plastic. I'll need to look into the prices and compare but this was a setback to my current DIY builds. I spent time shaping down these squares and will probably try gluing them as a test next. These Neodymium magnets allow access into the nest but can be a hassle to handle and the lid could easily slide off by handling the formicarium near metal tools or what not.

 

 

DIY stuff is fun but expect failures among the successes.

 

[ANTdrew]

What species are you building that for, Boog? You know, I’ve never once removed the glass on a THA formicarium with a thriving colony inside. Gluing the glass may be more practical for tiny escape artists, even of it looks less elegant.

[drtrmiller]

Then I noticed recently that the lid had warped and is no longer flush with the base. So I think 2mm plastic/acrylic will warp over time and I'm wondering if I should move onto glass instead or use thicker plastic. I'll need to look into the prices and compare but this was a setback to my current DIY builds. I spent time shaping down these squares and will probably try gluing them as a test next. These Neodymium magnets allow access into the nest but can be a hassle to handle and the lid could easily slide off by handling the formicarium near metal tools or what not.

Acrylic and other plastics absorb moisture from the air and warp unless there is some evenly distributed clamping force to prevent it.

 

The magnets aren't strong enough to provide this.

[mmcguffi]

@Boog, any tips for how you dremeled the corners so perfectly? I just got a rotary tool and it is much harder to control than I thought it was going to be  looks great by the way!

[Boog]

What species are you building that for, Boog? You know, I’ve never once removed the glass on a THA formicarium with a thriving colony inside. Gluing the glass may be more practical for tiny escape artists, even of it looks less elegant.

 

I was planning to use these ones with my growing Pheidole spp. so I wanted to use these with tiny ants. I think gluing in will work but I'll need to test further, especially dealing with possible thousands of workers.

 

Acrylic and other plastics absorb moisture from the air and warp unless there is some evenly distributed clamping force to prevent it.

 

The magnets aren't strong enough to provide this.

 

Yeah, I was figuring the humidity or the drilled hole was causing it to warp, probably a combination of both. I've got an Ant-Shack outworld with about the same thickness plastic and a lid with a hole in it for feeding which has warped in a similar fashion. I ending up using it as a spider enclosure instead, which was fine.

 

@Boog, any tips for how you dremeled the corners so perfectly? I just got a rotary tool and it is much harder to control than I thought it was going to be  looks great by the way!

 

Thanks! I went all in on the Dremel accessories and the 231 Shaper/Router Table was how I rounded the corners and sanded the edges with the smallest sanding drum. Had to have a shop vacuum on next to the piece and using pressured air to keep the area clean of plastic shavings which could get between your piece and the table. This could scratch through the protective film or mess up your flat handling while trying to move the piece carefully. Good luck!

Edited by Boog, December 20 2020 - 3:36 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, you’ll need a tight seal if you’re putting Pheidole in there!

[Ants_Dakota]

@Boog, any tips for how you dremeled the corners so perfectly? I just got a rotary tool and it is much harder to control than I thought it was going to be  looks great by the way!

he is the expert formicarium maker around here. check out his formicarium building journal!

[antdoctor]

 

DIY stuff is fun but expect failures among the successes.

 

 

 

Thanks for the wisdom! That delayed warping of the acrylic would be a heartbreaker.