Light guards in housing DIY?

Anthony · Honored Member Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 151

Hi, I wonder if anyone here can show me pics of and tell me how to make light guards for florescent tubes on the wall, as well as ceramic heater and bulbs on the roof? I did read this:

http://www.reptileforums.com/articles/light_guard.htm

But I do not fance how you have to unscrew it everytime youchange a bulb... any other ideas?

PICS PLEASE! YAY!

worleygurl · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject:

I am, by far, an expert on building but it seems relatively simple. Using plywood, build a box to put your bulb in. The bottom of the box needs to be open, with some sort of mesh covering it so your tegu can't get to the bulb and get burnt. Make one of the sides of the box or the lid of the box a door that you can open to change the bulb. For that matter, you could make the bottom (where the mesh is) the part that opens, to be able to change out the bulb. In all honesty, UVB bulbs only need replaced every 6 months, and CHEs should last 2 years or more. Regular household light bulbs should last at least 6 months so it's really not as big a hassle as it sounds.

Hopefully Diegar will see this post and reply, since he just built two light boxes for his new cages

Good luck, Anthony!!

Oh btw, this is just my opinion, making a light box for fluorescent tubes isn't really necessary. They don't get hot enough to burn your tegu. I have used fluorescent UVB tubes with my reptiles for 7 years and *knock on wood* have never had a problem with my lizards getting burnt by them.
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Kris, Herps they're not just a hobby, they're a way of life!

Anthony · Honored Member Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 151

I am not so much worried that they will get burnt by florescents but rather that they will crack the tubes by climbing on them.

Diegar · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject:

The problem with fluorscent tubes, isn't so much that they will burn the tegu, as the tegu can shatter the tubes.

As for light boxes in my cages, here are a few pics... they are nothing fancy, and sure aren't pretty, but they will do fine. The big hole is for the basking lamp and the smaller hole is for the compact fluorescent light, which will protrude down through the hole.

Hope this helps a little bit

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The Jay

RehabRalphy · Banned Joined: Feb 01, 2006 Posts: 403 Location: Missouri

Heres a few of my light guards.

Anthony · Honored Member Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 151

Diegar may I PLEASE see a pic of whatever tool you used to cut the round holes in the plywood?? I have been looking for a way to do that for a long time. Thought it was impossible without heavy machinery until I saw your pic. Thanks!

Anthony · Honored Member Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 151

And rehabralphy the big guard you have that's slanted right? How does it look on the side?

This is really helpful all of you. I appreciate it!

How do you attach these things to the top?

Anthony · Honored Member Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 151

And rehabralphy, for the round ones does the wire get hot and what if the snakes coil around the wire?

Diegar · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:36 am Post subject:

Cutting a round hole is easy. You just need a jigsaw (20 bucks at home depot) and a drill with a bit that is thicker than the width of the jigsaw blade... Then, after you measure out your radius on the wood, use a compass to draw your circle. Drill a hole in the wood, inside the circle, put the jigsaw blade into the hole and start cutting in a circular pattern until the middle falls out.

Easy as Pie
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The Jay