"raden" wrote in message
...
In message , Dee
writes
details snipped

Thanks Folks,

The resident will be a snake. So no water and no weight problem.
Glazier still insists I use plate glass.
It will be in a public area.
So I guess just buy the right sizes (overlap reminder well taken Andy).

For a vivarium or whatever it's called

Here's how I would do it

Get your base to be the size you require
height will be height of long sides + thickness of base (of course)
end panels cut to height -base thickness x width - (2 x thickness of long
sides

Work out how you're going to get cables in for lighting and heating, how
you're going to ventilate the thing etc

Get the exposed top four surfaces ground or "desharpened" in some way (you
don't want to cut yourself when reaching in

Don't use Locktite, use clear silicone, but make sure it's silicone, not
cheapo sealant, if in doubt, you can get it from RS or from a pet shop
which does aquarium stuff. The reasoning behind this is a) the cut edge of
the glass isn't necessarily truly flat and the silicone will take up any
unevenness and b) silicone gives you a bit of time to get everything right
before it starts setting

Work out how you're going to hold it together while it's setting. You need
to hold it tightly in position for 24 hours. I use string and and pieces
of wood - twisting the string to tighten it with the piece of wood to keep
it taut as commonly used. You can also use cramps, but don't forget to
insulate it from the glass with some cardboard or something so you don't
crack the glass

Get an assistant for the next bit - not essential, but very advisable

put string or whatever under the base close to the edges

put a 3-4 mm bead of silicone all around the top edge of the base and one
edge of a side panel (the one which will mate with the long panel), place
the long panel and the one end panel on the base in succession (this gives
you a rigid enough structure to work from). Placing the other two panels
is just handle turning.

Tighten the string or whatever compression means you intend to use

leave for 24 hours, remove tensioners

remove the excess silicone with a stanley blade

assemble the top
I would advise using something like foam padding between the body and the
top, just in case you accidentally slam the top down and shatter the lid

Job done

--
geoff

Thanks Geoff, they are just great instructions. Exactly what I need.

One question please. You say silicone - not sealant?
A quick look today in the DIY store shows rows of 'silicone sealant'.
Costs around £3-5. Are we talking about something else?
Do you know any brand names I can look for?

Dee