Cost to make a "Euro viv"

[eyeviper]

So I am tentatively planning my next roughly 75 gallon viv. I need it to fit on a 48" bakers rack. I have looked at Protean vivs which have great prices but with shipping the price quickly makes it not worth it. A 48x18x24 exo-terra wont fit on the rack. SO, I make my own....With 1/4" glass and 1/8" sliding doors any one got a rough idea what it would cost for glass? and does someone have a handy link to those sliding door channels?

[Pumilo]

Right here.
Outwater Plastics - Master 2012 Catalog - page 316
And a few other links for your project.
Dimensions for a Euro Viv
Constructing a Euopean type Vivarium Step by Step
How to Drill your glass
Screen vent construction how to
Building A Glass Vivarium

[eyeviper]

Thanks! I could not find that "Dimensions of a euro style viv" thread for the life of me. So I worked out there is roughly 26 sqft in a 75 without the front doors accounted for and should run about $80 at $3 a sqft (off glassscages.com) for regular pane glass. not bad if you ask me.

[randommind]

Do not forget to factor in the shipping from glasscages.com (if there is any). I was able to find 1/4" annealed for $3.26 delivered to my door from a local window company. Also keep in mind that several companies (outwater plastics included) will require a minimum purchase order. Outwater plastics will require at least a $25 order...enough track and L-profile for about 10 vivs lol.

There will also be a lot of little items that will quickly add up: glass cutter, oil, gloves, wire mesh, silicone, band-aids if you skip on the gloves, sander, ect. But it is a lot of fun and strangely satisfying to construct a glass box!

Also, I HIGHLY recommend getting a smaller piece of "practice" glass if this is your first time attempting to cut glass.

[eyeviper]

Originally Posted by randommind

Do not forget to factor in the shipping from glasscages.com (if there is any). I was able to find 1/4" annealed for $3.26 delivered to my door from a local window company. Also keep in mind that several companies (outwater plastics included) will require a minimum purchase order. Outwater plastics will require at least a $25 order...enough track and L-profile for about 10 vivs lol.

There will also be a lot of little items that will quickly add up: glass cutter, oil, gloves, wire mesh, silicone, band-aids if you skip on the gloves, sander, ect. But it is a lot of fun and strangely satisfying to construct a glass box!

Also, I HIGHLY recommend getting a smaller piece of "practice" glass if this is your first time attempting to cut glass.

Got all the equipment! I make all my glass tops and have made a small cube but it was out of glass from Lowes so cost was off and it was easyyy. This is a much bigger project. Ill probably have them cut the glass to my sizes then ill sand and silicone. I didnt know about the minimum order...Ill have to figure that part out when I get there. Thanks for that info.

[Pumilo]

If you can cut the glass yourself, print out some dart frog pics and head out to your local glass shops. Show them your pics and start begging for scrap!

[eyeviper]

Haha I could give that a go. but scraps that are 2ft by 4ft??

[Pumilo]

Yes. If they have a scratched insulated glass unit they will not bother to cut away the good side for a single pane. It costs them more in labor than to simply cut down new glass. They may have insulated glass units with smudges in them, broken corners, or with a LowE coating when they wanted clear. All of these mistakes still leave one good pane.
There will also be units that are simply made the wrong size. Both panes will be usable on those.
Last year I picked up two units that measured a little over 3 feet by 10 FEET LONG! Do you know how many vivs you can build out of one of those? Exactly, umm, quite a few!
When they see what you are doing, you may find them eager to help. Ask them who manufactures their glass. If they are local, that's where you want to be begging. Virtually every one of my vivs is made of scrap glass from my local insulated glass manufacturer.
As a bonus, that makes all my frogs famous by association. My glass manufacturer is Busick Insulated. Does that ring a bell with any Bronco/football fans?

[§lipperhead]

Hey eyeviper bring one or two of these on up to Richmond sometime!

[eyeviper]

Originally Posted by Pumilo

Yes. If they have a scratched insulated glass unit they will not bother to cut away the good side for a single pane. It costs them more in labor than to simply cut down new glass. They may have insulated glass units with smudges in them, broken corners, or with a LowE coating when they wanted clear. All of these mistakes still leave one good pane.
There will also be units that are simply made the wrong size. Both panes will be usable on those.
Last year I picked up two units that measured a little over 3 feet by 10 FEET LONG! Do you know how many vivs you can build out of one of those? Exactly, umm, quite a few!
When they see what you are doing, you may find them eager to help. Ask them who manufactures their glass. If they are local, that's where you want to be begging. Virtually every one of my vivs is made of scrap glass from my local insulated glass manufacturer.
As a bonus, that makes all my frogs famous by association. My glass manufacturer is Busick Insulated. Does that ring a bell with any Bronco/football fans?

With a persuasive essay like that you have me ready to beg at every glass shop in town! lol. That is certainly very promising, Ill make a few calls and see what I can rummage up. Less spent on glass = more sweet plants and frogs.