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Flexwatt (New Idea)

B

Bill_Leverton

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Ive been using FlexWatt for a number of years and was never satisfied with the way to install on my custom cages. Well I got bored the past couple of days and decided to build a new set of cages ( anybody who knows me knows this is like every 6 months :rofl: ). Well I've been back and forth to Clay Davenport's site trying to improve on his ideas. ( Thanks Clay ) well any way I saw the piece of Burnt out Flex there and thought if this could happen or it just stopped working I would need to rip the bottom apart and build a new bottom. Well today I was build sliding doors and thought why not a slide out panel for the flex watt. Its on a 1/4" Plywood board ( for now) I might use glass. with a piece of 1/4" glass 24"x18" over the top with the rest of foor being 1/4" plywood for the rest of the floor Let me know what you Think
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I cannot believe you did that! Yesterday I was actually thinking of doing something similar. During our summers I turn off my heat tape and I wanted an easy way to remove it without having to move all my cages around. I like it, rock on!!

Are you going to use glass on the inside to cover ther flex watt? Is that just wood on wood?
 
Thank you.....Michael its going to have a piece of 24" x 18" 1/4" glass over flexwatt with the rest of the floor wood.
 
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Interesting Bill. Very interesting....
 
is the wood the flex is attached seperate ,and sits on the wood floor of the enclosure? or is it actually the floor that slides out? nice idea bill if you use glass and sandwhich the flex between isn't that bad i thouhgt the flex is suppose to have some kind of air flow ? im glad i saw this now this weekends build is going to be changed hope you dont mind bill ,but i too have wondered what i will do if one goes out and since now i'm building stacks it will be a pain to change one out .but not no more thanks
 
Ok I decided to use glass for the pull out 1/4 " ply warps :bawling: Jim It's on a grooved track 1/4" between the Flex and the glass floor and 1/4" between the pull out bottom and bottom of the tank so there is enough for air flow. never really liked the sandwiched thingy will update as I go....Heres a few more Pics
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What are you going to do about feces, urine, or spilled water dishes running out through the gap?
It's a neat idea though.
 
Clay,All joints and gaps are going to sealed with fish tank sealant.the floor in the pics are just laid in for now, before I put them in I'll run a bead around all 4 sides.then lay in the floor (but not before sealing the tank ) In theory it should work. Hope so anyway
 
I had to think about it, but I think I understand. You're going to have a sealed "window" in the floor of the cage, and the flexwatt will be attached to another, sliding piece that fits in below the fixed window.
Am I understanding it correctly?
 
SIRS said:
im glad i saw this now this weekends build is going to be changed hope you dont mind bill ,but i too have wondered what i will do if one goes out and since now i'm building stacks it will be a pain to change one out .but not no more thanks
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Jim, Sorry I missed this when I first read this, on racks I would go with a front slide out (ie) If you have a wall of racks and one of the racks in the middle goes out, you have to pull the rack out.Just a thought, and feel free to use my idea after all we are here to help each other and share ideas. Right ?? :raspberry I have a ton of theory's and as I put them into effect I'll post them here. :)
 
Ok This theory will only work for a single 4' tank so I'm thinking of a front slide draw I'll get back on how it works for stacked tanks or racks :)
 
i too been tring to figure out how to do this on the stacks im building in fact im a a stop till i can ...so hope you can figure it out bill ...lol..cause of now i have no idea
 
ok i think i understand it ..but how is the floor made? is it framed out does it have and center supports?i can picture how to do it in my head but to put it in the enclosures is another thing ...lol...how mine are made is i framed it all out in 1x2's wit hjust one center support on the floor .so what i think im going to try and do is cut out a piece of the 1x2 in the back since you cant see it then attach something to it that will support the flex i use tile board so that might work since its thin enough ..ok now its coming to me how to do it ..sorry im trying to typwe and think at the same time ..ok im not doing the cut out oh heck im going to go try something now ..thanks for the ideas bill keep them coming i will check back after i eithere mess it up or come up[ with something
 
Jim, what your going to do is take your floor (ie) the first piece of plywood=1/4" or 1/2 which ever you prefer...I like 1/4" after all is said and done it weighs 7 Lbs Complete.... frame it out with the 1x2 as follows
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then you lay your next piece flooring minus the size of the glass that lays over the flexwatt.....
 
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oh OK i got it ..I'm much better with a visual then words ..lol...what supports the floor that is over the slide part? and the wall ? since you can remove it i cant see how you would be able to secure it hope that makes sense ....well now I'm in a dilemma should i trash the 4 stack that is almost complete and start fresh .or do i finish this one and do the next one how you explained it decisions decisions ..what i thought about doing since this stack is almost finished and it doesn't seem to be away to make what you did work now ...unless i take most of it apart ..anyways i was thinking to put the floor in last after walls and stuff and instead of putting glue down just screw the corners and such then fill the screws with silicone so if i do need to fix the flex i can take out the silicone and just unscrew the floor ? what you think? BTW great idea bill i am so going to do that on the next one ,which now i see this i will probably go and make it sooner then i thought ..on a side note bill the two girls i picked up from you are doing great ..the little one need a attitude adjustment but its a good ...thanks for the help and all bill
 
you need to run track front to back that will hold floor/glass up..I'm sorry I'm not a drawer person LOL It works better in my head.....When this is all said and done I'll have my boy do a step by step ....This looks like it may work it holds a 93 temp on the hot side and 82.5 on the cool...
 
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I do see your point. I Like Duct tape it is after all the all purpose tool.. :rofl: And Ive been doing this (building cages) for a very long time and I have never had a piece burst into flames(yet) :rofl:
 
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