Repost from husbandary...help building a custom cage

[Nick]

Anyone here build there own cages, Im really thinking about building one so i can make it the exact way I want it.... If anyone could let me know wat kinda materials you used to build it that would be great... Thanks

[Argentra]

Well, I haven't built them yet, but I have the plans and all the materials.

I plan on making 4 stacking wood cages for my corn snakes 30"x16"x12" with plexiglass doors that open down and flexwatt in cage under vinyl flooring. The wood I have is exterior roof/wall grade 3/4" ply.

[Nick]

i dont want a rack i just want one cage....

[Argentra]

Those plans of mine ARE for one cage...times 4. They will be separate cages stacked on top of each other to save space.

[Nick]

do u have those plans on here or no....and anyone else with cage plans please share...im lookin for some ideas

[Argentra]

I'll have them up on my website before too long, but I don't have them together just yet.

However, here is a great site for how-to on cage building:
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/3x2.shtml

And I know there's a how-to or two floating around in the 'Caging' forum here, just try a search for 'build' or something like that.

[Blue Apple Herps]

Here's a design of mine. This is a step by step guide: http://www.blueappleherps.com/page13/page5/page5.html

It was designed for corns, but make it a little deeper (buy 16" melamine instead of 12") and not as tall and it's perfect for bps.

[Gloryhound]

All of my plans to date are hand written in various note pads. Some of them complete others not. One day when I find a perfect design that I really like I may put it into auto cad or something, but till then I'll deal with it. The biggest part of it all is having a design on paper of some sort. Double checking all your board size calculations before starting to cut stuff. Remember that board dimensions are not always true! (16" laminated MFD board shelving is not 16" wide, it is 15 1/2" wide! ) Measure and lay out everything before you cut at least twice. Cut everything out and be ready for something not to go as planned. Adapt and overcome!

[Crazydude]

I like melamine for cages for most reptiles, but its heavy. Id suggest nothing over 5/8 thick of melamine for a cage or it needs a stand and casters. Birch and oak are also nice, can be stained ext. But you need to seal it, and make sure it looks good, as staining brings out all the blemishes in wood.

For melamine, just screw it together, use edging tape on the edges, and caulk the inside, put heat tape down, the thermostat probe on top, and vinyl flooring on that, then put hinged glass doors on the front, and add decor and your good to go. You may want a few small vents, like 2" round circular vents for air flow, but not too much that humidity is lost.

MY suggestion is draw plans, draw out each cut, factor in wood width, and all that, make a list of materials, and go from there. You can use free programs like google sketchup (just google it), to draw out CAD programs, sketchup is super easy, and fun.

From there, just build.
Im assuming this is for a ball python right? Just currious

[Nick]

Im assuming this is for a ball python right? Just currious

Yep, I plan on gettin one soon and keeping it in a tub till I find time to build a cage but i just want to have everything planned out so when im ready i can just do it