Help! Diy cage

[stineramos]

What type of glue or sealant should I use to attatch mesh onto a metal frame? I don't really want to drill any holes into it.

 

[mrfixit01]

What type of glue or sealant should I use to attatch mesh onto a metal frame? I don't really want to drill any holes into it.

I assume the screen will be on the outside of the frame? So you will probably want to cover the edges (and glue) with some sort of moulding or trim? Will this enclosure be inside or outside?

 

[yojon3000]

Well when my dad made my cage he had a saw a certain length into the board to make it like a aluminum window frame so we could just push the screen in like if we were making a regular screen cage

 

[SliK JiM]

Personally, i would try something like mrfixit said and use a trim or some description to cover it other wise it will look quite messy.

As for the adhesive itself, hot glue would work or aquarium sealant (silicone) would be another good option. I would apply it, push the mesh into place (leaving the corners glue free so you have something to pull and make sure it is taught) then put the trim on top so that it all binds together. Then do the corners once you have it all in place. It's going to be quite tricky though!

I always thought about trying something like this, but always turned to wood where i could staple the screen in place, then sandwich another frame between the first to cover up the staples so that it looks nice (I'm all about aesthetics!)

Good luck with this and do post some pictures as I'd be intrigued to see how it turns out!

 

[chameleonkev]

I made a frame to go around a small tree in the garden an I used a staple gun to pin it down then glued wooden trim over the top

 

[Ulrich]

Metal frames are usually nicer as they can be much slimmer compared to wood. My question is: what metal is the frame and what metal is the mesh. If the frame is steel and the mesh is aluminium, you will have to screw. If both are steel, you can weld. If both are aluminium, you will still have to screw.

 

[Ulrich]

Well when my dad made my cage he had a saw a certain length into the board to make it like a aluminum window frame so we could just push the screen in like if we were making a regular screen cage

Sorry, didn't see this one. Not sure about the post. But if you do a normal screen frame, you will use a special tool to mold the frame. Then use a rubber sealant extrusion from a builders shop. If you cut the grove, make sure the edges are sanded down otherwise they might destroy the screen.

 

[NorCalAnthony]

When I built my cage I used the corner braces of the wood frame to hold down the corners of the screen (making sure it was tight before I screwed each corner down) and then used a staple gun to staple down the sides. After it was held down with the braces and staples I used some masking tape to mark off what I wanted to be kept clean and then laid down some waterproof exterior door/window caulking over the top of the edges to thoroughly seal it and also to keep any fraying edges covered. It worked really well and didn't turn out messy at all using the masking tape to keep the edges clean . Here's a link to my build thread in case you want any more details https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-first-cage-build-84441/. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[stineramos]

Metal frames are usually nicer as they can be much slimmer compared to wood. My question is: what metal is the frame and what metal is the mesh. If the frame is steel and the mesh is aluminium, you will have to screw. If both are steel, you can weld. If both are aluminium, you will still have to screw.

The frame is steel and the mesh is aluminum. I'm trying to find a way to not have to drill through them because i don't have the best luck in that department

 

[stineramos]

Personally, i would try something like mrfixit said and use a trim or some description to cover it other wise it will look quite messy.

As for the adhesive itself, hot glue would work or aquarium sealant (silicone) would be another good option. I would apply it, push the mesh into place (leaving the corners glue free so you have something to pull and make sure it is taught) then put the trim on top so that it all binds together. Then do the corners once you have it all in place. It's going to be quite tricky though!

I always thought about trying something like this, but always turned to wood where i could staple the screen in place, then sandwich another frame between the first to cover up the staples so that it looks nice (I'm all about aesthetics!)

Good luck with this and do post some pictures as I'd be intrigued to see how it turns out!

Will the hot glue or sealant be strong enough to hold a lot of weight for a long time?

 

[stineramos]

I assume the screen will be on the outside of the frame? So you will probably want to cover the edges (and glue) with some sort of moulding or trim? Will this enclosure be inside or outside?

I was thinking of attaching the mesh onto window frames like with any other cage and then attaching that onto this steel frame/stand that I have. But I don't want to have to drill it in, so I'm wondering what type of sealant is strong enough to hold it in place. It will be an inside enclosure.

 

[mrfixit01]

No hot glue wouldn't hold like that. Best thing would be clear silicone 'aquarium' sealer would probably work but you'd have to clamp it tight while it dries. It'll need about 3-5 days to air out and stop stinking.