Questions for the experienced cage builder.

I'l not add too much my experience is as a boat builder but so far the big issue that has a simple solution is the bottom. Heating through 3/4 inch wood of any kind takes tons of power wood is a fairly good insulator that works for you in the upper end of the enclosure but if you planned on using belly heat it is not really much help. I'd recommend the bottom being 1/4 PVC (not expanded just regular ) it heats reasonably well is strong (it does bow a bit) and can be held in place with mechanical fasteners (screws) and can be cut with woodworking tools (with a bit of practice it melts if things run too fast.) That is my 2¢.

On a small hi-jack has any one ever built using a stress skin panel for the upper body of the enclosure? I have a bunch of Brynzeel 32mm mahogany marine ply sitting around and it is just begging to be a stress skin enclosure.

Thanks for the tips everyone. @kitedemon, the heater will be inside the cage, on top of the wood an underneath some glass or tile. I just get nervous whenever wood and a heater are touching, but maybe I am paranoid.

I will check for the asian birch, thanks for the recommendation. I want to avoid melamine because of the weight.

I'd like to create something simple, with the emphasis on being easy to access/clean, and that looks decent and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I will look through the link to see that I have the right non-toxic materials for the job. I have not used autocad, nor do I know what it is...I'm just going to build a box without a top, and make that the door. Add ventilation holes and drill holes for the wires and voila! Snake cage.