Supply frustrations!

[momakat]

I went to Home Depot today - wonder what the hiring guidelines for this place is? aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!! Not to mention the price increases - like the tile board at $17/sheet. I guess that the prices are something I can swallow and digest just fine - but the cost of the drill bits for the hole cutter was like sticker shock. Almost $50 for bits that I might use once a year, if at all. And then the guys in that section tell me that the hole cutter won't work for the tile board. aaaaahhh!!!! I am going to find the Lowe's in town and check prices there - I believe in comparison shopping - before making a decision on where to buy things. Who knows - might actually find someone who really knows what they are selling. Will also ask my boss - who has an extensive wood shop - if he has hole cutters. Better to borrow than buy sometimes. hehehe Too bad I can't do this kind of shopping online. lol

[buck2003]

Hey email me the prices and I'll complain for ya!!!

[Cretia]

Try to find a Tractor Supply Company or store in your area. It's kind of a farmers store and I live in the stix so that's probably why we have one. But anyways, my dad found 50 platinum drill bits or something like that on sale for 10$. I remember him telling me they had lots of stuff like Lowes and Home Depot, but for a heck of a lot cheaper. He was all excited...

[JuliusSqueezer]

Harbor Freight has good deals on tools if there is one in your area. Hole saws will work. Drill on the white side and keep it straight.If it gets sideways, it can bind. If you have an even moderatly powerful drill and it binds and comes to a screaching hault, the torque can break your arm. I'm serious so be careful..and it takes a little strength. Practice on a scrap piece but make sure it's secured to something. It helps to wait till the cage is done and then drill it out with the part you are drilling into fixed solid to the cage so it won't spin out or warp back and forth...which will cause it to bind.

[Cretia]

Or... just have a guy do it! Ha! Not saying you can't, but let him break his arm, dang! A guy would be less likely cause they are naturally thicker.

[telefrag]

are you trying to build a cage or something?

[momakat]

Let's see if I can answer everyone.

Buck - tileboard is running $15-17 per sheet. I can accept that. But the hole drill bit and the adapter thing together will be about $50. aack! Prices sure jump from place to place.

Cretia - I wish there was a place like that here. I can remember living in the back of beyond myself and the many different things one could find in supply and feed stores. hehehe But Tucson isn't the 'cow town' it used to be anymore. lol

Julius - yes, we do have a Harbor Frieght here - now why didn't I think of that? I have even gone shopping there for a few things myself. As for the hole saw - I may give up on that and either pick up a jigsaw (although who knows how often I would actually need one) or use my dremmel (sp?) as the hardware guy said to use on the tile board. Just use this bit and go round and round and round until it goes through. Hmmm . . . just how I want to spend a day. LOL But since I really don't have a 'workroom' will definitely be checking out things with my boss and his dad for what they have to use. Oh how I wish I still had access to a drill press - they have so many odd uses and this would be a good time to use one. heeheehee

And Telefrag - yes, I am going to build a cage using the JuliusSqueezer method.

I also plan on taking several pictures to show my first attempt at something this serious. May even take one of the few mistakes I am sure I will be making. hahaha

BTW - what would be the ideal size for a ball python? I have heard 6 sqare feet would be suitable (3'x2') - sometimes I can't believe how active El Cajone is at times in the evenings. I am even considering designing into his cage some 'exercise bars' if possible. lol He seems to love climging on things - any ideas or suggestions?

[Cretia]

Just don't break your arm!! Personally, I might be too scared to try something like that. I've never broken anything. I'm sure it's painful, and I have issues with hospitals, especially the one in this honkey-tonk town. Good luck, and be safe.

[momakat]

Thanks, but I have no intention of breaking my arm or anything else! A broken nail in the process of building this is a worthy sacrifice. LOL As for hospitals - I'll take my old 'little town' hospital over the so-called modern one here anyday!

[Cretia]

Be glad yours is good. Ours has more ridiculous, stupid horror stories that Wes Craven. I mean coming from experience with my friends, my boyfriends mom who is a paramedic and USED to work there, my friend who is in Nursing school and her mom who is a nurse there, and just heresay, it is all ridiculously horrible about our hospital. I'd have to be near death to let them put there hands on me, and if they had to I have a specific surgeon I'd request!