Habitat - Indoor :: a good idea for hardware cloth

[daredevilgirl013]

Ok so I had asked my dad to help me build something to help hold the hardware cloth in place since michelangelo has a new dock and if he wants to get out he can (which I don't like that idea...) so I had gathered up some wood boards and was getting ready to make this when my dad came up with a good idea..use clothes pins to hold the hardware cloth in place. So later on today we shall see how well this idea works and I'll let you guys know. But clothes pins are a lot better compared to tape (I was using tape to hold down the hardware cloth on his old tank)

[Spookster]

Carprentry staple gun would work, or you could use u-shaped nails like these which are what I normally use to tack down wire mesh.

[daredevilgirl013]

I didn't want anything that would go through my tank wall (don't have boards under this or anything) I just attached the hardware cloth with clothes pins to the tank edge. I had to cut areas for the filter but that was no big. I think it'll work well. If you guys want I can get a picture of it later.

[steve]

Oh, I read it as you were attaching the hardware cloth onto some wood boards. There are stronger clamps out there... binder clips for one:



Hardware stores also sell some utility clamps... they are not expensive. I think those will have a better grip than clothes pins.

[BullDog]

Hardware cloth is that mesh grid made of plasiticy stuff, right? That's a good idea... I'm working on upgrading my tank, and I might not be able to get a proper lid. I like the idea of the binder clips... But you'll want to make sure you put the clips close enough together, so he doesn't try to squeeze between them

[steve]

Hardware cloth is metal, which is useful if you have basking lamps resting on top of it. They do sell a plastic alternative to hardware cloth, though it wouldn't be as effective in keeping out predators in an outdoor setup.

[BullDog]

I see. Thanks for clearing that up I have the plastic one, but I'm not using it anywhere yet.

[daredevilgirl013]

I was going to attach this to wood but my dad came up with the idea of clothes pins. Actually I don't think binder clips would work. I put the clothes pins between the holes in the hardware cloth which holds it down pretty well and was able to clamp fine. If i did those binder clips I don't see how I could get them on there.

Also with plastic hardware cloth, we have that here as well and we used it as netting on the pool. My dad asked me about using that. I said no because of the uvb and uva lights. I said it would probably melt the stuff and he agreed. So I would go against using it.

[marisa]

I've used both wire and fishing line to fasten the sides of the hardware cloth together. The wire is tedious to work with (you have to bend it between the squares), but the fishline works well.