GliderCENTRAL

switching from rep cover to landware cloth....

Posted By: eterrell84

switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 01:49 AM

now that its about time to replace my screen, i have decided i would rather try the landware cloth. i can get it, but just not sure how to go about this. i have a BASIC 520 rep pvc frame. would it be easy to add a door, and then just cover it in the cloth? and advice? jsut thinking about it, but will plan on doing this in the next few months...
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 02:34 AM

Sorry, I don't know anything about repts, but I am sure someone will come along that does. Good luck.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 02:43 AM

Do you have the Apogee frame or a PVC one? I converted my rept to a landware cage just a few months back. The door was the hardest part - well, that and the insane amount of zip ties! I can get you some pics if you need some ideas.
Posted By: Kimberlyann

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 02:46 AM

I don't know a lot about reps, but I do know a few things about the pvc cage. You can make a door out of pvc. Look at the instructions for the pvc cage on justforfuzzies.com. The door on our cage doesn't even use hinges, but zip ties and eye hook closures. We just took the front off ours and customized it over the weekend (pics to come soon). The instructions are step by step with pics, which is easier than me trying to tell you. A piece of advice though buy landware netting, not landware cloth, there is a difference. landware cloth is very thin, and we had to take it back and exchange it. And a few zip ties, 1,500 or so.....MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 02:16 PM

lovely1inred, i would LOVE some pics! i have a pvc frame that we built for the 520 cover, so its pretty flexible on what i can do with it. where on earth did you find 1500 zip ties and how much was it? cheaper to order them online?
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 03:16 PM

how much netting would that take?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 03:46 PM

I did the same thing with my 260 rept but I didn't like it. My rept cover had some holes so I tried using the landware. It was difficult to clean so I stopped using it. My rept cover has been repaired and it's back on the rept.
I think it would take about three rolls of the landware cloth to cover your 520 rept. And it will take LOTS of zip ties. It was a pain to put all of those zip ties on and then the ends had to be trimmed to make it safe. We put the ends of the ties on the outside of the cage so my gliders wouldn't get hurt on them.
I plan to reuse some of the landware for my gliders to climb on in the glider room. I will probably make a few toys with the rest of it.
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 03:57 PM

what did you mean by not very easy to clean? did it stink worse with the hardware cloth on it or something? i guess ill have to take it outside to clean it, which will be no fun frown but id like something FIRM to clip things on to, and with cats in the house now i want a better barrier. cats watch em a lot, but i would feel better with it being a little tougher to paw at. cats are declawed so no worries, but still, I DONT want my gliders stressed out bc the mesh keeps moving!
Posted By: CandyOtte

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 04:13 PM

Landware is thicker that the pet screen type fabric, but it is not stiff enough to prevent it from moving if your cat paws at it. It is still quite flexible.

If you need a cage that will not move when your cats lean or paw at the cage you need a regular sturdy wire cage.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 04:23 PM

It smells about the same as any other cage, but with all those little squares, it's difficult to wipe down. You would have to be able to take it outside to clean it and it would be best to use a scrub brush instead of trying to clean each individual square with a cloth or a cage wipe. Mine was too big to fit thru the glider room door so I had to clean it in the room rather than taking it outside.
i was also concerned about the edges of the plastic being sharp enough for my gliders to get cuts on thier feet.
The screen will move a bit if your cats lean against it. Landware is flexible. It won't move as much as a regular rept cover tho. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't do it. I had a spare metal cage so I moved my gliders back into the metal cage.
I spent over $100 for the landware and zip ties. I will reuse the landware in the glider room for my gliders to climb on and for making toys.
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 04:28 PM

well, i CANT afford a big metal cage, and i already have the ovc part done, so ill probably go ahead and try, but i might downsize it a bit. cut off like a 1/4 of it, that way i can still get IN it, but make it easier to take out to clean. i know it fits out the door, and its only 5 foot from the door, so it shouldnt be to hard.
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 04:31 PM

just oredered 2000 black 4" zipties off ebay for $20 including shipping! not bad for the prices ive seen at lowes! only like 500 ties for $15 at lowes!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 04:37 PM

That should be better than the way I had to clean it. It will save you a lot of time if you can take it outside for cleanings. And being able to get inside it will make it easier too. Mine is a 260 so it wasn't roomy enough for me to be able to move around very easily when I got inside of it to clean it.
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 05:09 PM

yeah, well, mine SHOULD end up being between the 260 and a 520, i only have 4 gliders, so losing that small of a space shouldnt matter right? i jsut cant handle ALL of that if im gonna take it outside to clean it every few days!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 05:24 PM

I'm not an expert on cages, but I think that would be plenty big enough for four gliders :-)
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/16/10 11:18 PM

okay yeah, i just got the zip ties, and im gonna go to lowes to get the net!
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/20/10 03:35 PM

i got 3 rolls of hardware net, and 2,000 zip ties! any last minute advice before we do this tomorrow? anything people WISH they would have done different so i know what to avoid?
Posted By: CandyOtte

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/20/10 06:09 PM

GLOVES!

zip ties will be hard on your hands
Posted By: Dancing

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/20/10 06:24 PM

I got blisters on my hands from doing the zip ties. OUCH.

Also, when you cut the "tail" off the zip tie, use a "fireplace" lighter (the long ones) and melt the cut ends of the ties. Just cutting them leaves them sharp. While my cut ends are always on the outside of the cage and I'm not worried about the gliders getting hurt, I do have some scars on my arms I got when carrying a cage outside to wash. So for both your safety and the gliders, burn (melt) the cut ends!
Posted By: eterrell84

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 12:05 AM

wow, ok, ill burn the tips! thanks for the advice! i bought some pliers to help tighten all the zip ties, maybe that will save my fingers a tad!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 04:00 PM

One thing I would do, is "start" the zip tie, and go o the next, then once I had 5 or 6 in a row I'd zip them all down together. That made it seem a little less tedious to me. And I am going and buying a fireplace lighter today!!!! I've cut up myself and clothes on those ties!

Oh - if you need to undo a zip tie, be very careful. I stabbed my hand with the end of the kitchen shears a couple times trying to work under the zip-ties to cut them - it does not feel good.
Posted By: xoerikae

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 04:03 PM

be careful if you use pliers! i have a huge scratch on my glass where i popped myself in the face a few times, lol.
Posted By: nancy1202

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 08:04 PM

You can also use one of those retractable razor blades to cut off the sharp end of the zip-tie. It's quick and easy and cuts flush with the part it sticks out of. I've used cutting pliers or toenail clippers to remove zip ties.

Last year I made a cage with landware mesh and pantry shelving. It looked good, and had extra support on the floor and the top, but I couldn't get the smell completely out of the mesh when I cleaned it. I used a vinegar solution and hot water. Maybe some of you can offer some pointers for cleaning? dunno
Posted By: dizzyblue

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 09:26 PM

Me and my mom had a tag team thing going on when we did zipties i would thread them all through from me inside the cage and she would zip them together
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: switching from rep cover to landware cloth.... - 11/21/10 10:17 PM

Nancy, do you have a pressure washer? The zip-ties make a host of nooks and crannies, which can make it very difficult to get everything out of the cage. Also, I would check and make sure there are no holes in the PVC that waste product could get in that way.
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