New Cages

Hey All.

I know its been a looooooong time since I last posted anything. I've just been so swamped.
Since last being on here, I've gotten married, moved into my own place, started working 12+ hours a day, and finally started making tracks into building 2 new cages.

Specs:
14" high on the interior. 12" high with substrate;
Currently 24" deep. 22" once completed;
Approximately 3'6" across. Interior will be around 3' 3" once completed;
Heated using Flexwatt;
Floor will be made of tile;
Most materials salvaged from work;
Lit interior;
Total cost so far: $30 for 2 14" lights and 6 3" vents.

So far I've spent 2-3 evenings over the space of 2 weeks getting to the stage I'm at.

From the last cage I've learn't not to build so tall, these cages are a full 6" shorter on the interior. I've also learn't not to vent the cage too much or it won't hold humidity.

I framed these cages, clad the exterior and then filled the spaces in the frame with styrofoam. This serves two purposes, first it'll keep the cages warmer meaning I won't need the UTH so high and won't require heat lamps. It also provides a base for me to build decorative walls using grout.

First: Basic Plans

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...ko/Cage1-1.jpg
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...ko/Cage2-1.jpg

Second: Cage interior so far

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2220017.jpg

Third: Vents and light switch. I wired in a wall switch, in the previous picture the blue box in the back of the switch.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2220019.jpg

Fourth: Light

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...P2220020-1.jpg

Fifth: Light in the dark

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...P2220021-1.jpg



Both cages are identical so I only posted the pictures of one. The only difference between them is vent layout as they are designed to sit side by side.

I'm still working on plans for the front and doors.

Looks good! whats gonna be going in em?

Not bad! Where do you get those vents?

If those are like the vents I used to use, might wanna check how sharp the fins are on the inside. Mine were pretty sharp and I saw it as a potential hazard so I put them on from the inside of the cage so the animal wouldn't be exposed to it.

now I don't use vents, I always taped them up anyways, gotta love michigan I guess lol

I got a ball python going in each of the cages.

The vents are from lowes. $11 for 6. I couldn't find anything cheaper other than much larger vents and I don't want to cover the vents with duck tape like I did on the old cage.

And the insides of them are rather sharp, but I'm going to remedy that by grouting the edges of them when I grout the walls.

I use a product called Titebond to cover the styrofoam prior to grouting, its like elmers on steroids. We use it when spraying crete on decorative caps so I figured it'd work well for my application. It seals the styrofoam and provides something for the grout to grip to as well. It should hopefully work on the exposed frame too so I can cover them.

Please keep us updated when you grout and finish it.

I'll do my best.
I'm making these cages as the snakes final home, so currently they're going to be a little big so it looks like i'm going to be spending my free time creating "clutter" to fill them lol

Selection of styrofoam "clutter"

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2251074.jpg

For now, this is the only piece I've grouted

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2251075.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2251077.jpg

I covered it in Titebond, let it set up for a day and then mixed up some grout. I used sanded because its what I already had and I actually put it on quite thick. I only had a little but of cracking, but that was hit with a second layer of grout.
Now all I need to do is seal it. Any ideas on a safe grout sealer for snakes?

Today I completed the floor structure for the cages. All thats left to do is the front and the cages will be built, leaving me to just tile and texture the insides.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270067.jpg
I cut a piece of wood out of the floor of each cage to the size of the heat mat.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270070.jpg
Routed a couple of notches into each board for the flexwatt clips to rest in, providing me a level UTH.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270072.jpg
Drilled 1/4" ventilation holes so excess heat doesn't get trapped and build up, then covered the shelf with foil to reflect heat and also keep the flexwatt from touching bare wood. This worked well for me on the first cage I built about a year ago so I repeated it.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270078.jpg
The door in place on the bottom of the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270079.jpg
Hinges doing their jobs. I used a simple deadbolt catch to keep the door from opening.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270080.jpg
Flexwatt in place, small notches allow the wires to come out from the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270081.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2270082.jpg
The floor with concrete board attached. This is for the interior of the cage and the tile will stick to this.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2271069.jpg
The cages taking up more room than I had anticipated.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2271071.jpg
Coating walls and ceilings of the cage with Titebond to give the grout something to grip too.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P2271072.jpg
Both cages Titebond-ed and drying.

In a couple of days I will start with the grout hopefully.

Picked up my perspex for the windows to the cages yesterday.
Top Tip: Go to Lowes and ask them to sell you some scrap perspex. I got $30 worth of perspex for $2. All in good condition and all a good size. Just split over 4 sheets, but that ain't a problem.

Using Great Stuff, I filled the gaps between the styrofoam and wood framing. I also padded the corners

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P3021069.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...o/P3021070.jpg

In a couple of days, I will trim and sand the great stuff to make smooth transitions from framing to styrofoam and also to round out the corners. I figured round corners will make for easier cleaning.

I also picked up a bag of Shur-Crete today from Sherwin Williams. Its a spray concrete/acrylic powder that we mix with water to texture swimming pool decks here in Florida. I figure the acrylic properties in it will allow for more flex than grout.
After the Great Stuff is set and cut, I will start to spray the texture. Tomorrow, however, I hope to set tile on the floors of each cage.

I also got the guy at Sherwins to give me a "sample" of tint they use to tint the paint to add to the shurcrete for built in color.

WakoNako:
This is looking great! I'm very interested to see how this all works out for you. It looks like a lot of planning and work has gone into this project. Your snakes are lucky to have such an actively dedicated owner.

That looks great! it seems like you have done lots of planning and thought of everything ... (until it is set up anyway at least that has always been my experience I always miss something) I love titebond III. Works great, on steroids it is more like comparing a smart car to a dump truck.

Awesome job I am sure your animals will love it.

Apologies on the lack of updates, but thats due in part to a lack of progress.
We've been swamped at work and the little time off I get is just enough to sleep eat and relax.

This last week though, I managed to tile and grout the floors of the cages.
Spray the insides with deck concrete.
Connect the floor to the walls.
Seal it all with one coat of water based sealer. 2nd coat goes on tomorrow.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0421111515.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0421111516.jpg

The cages are all but finished!!
All thats left is to install the plexi and a spring latch and move the snakes in (after adding substrate, hides etc)

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0501111205.jpg
Substrate barrier

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0501111341.jpg
To make the windows in the doors i used a router table to groove the back side of the doors to the thickness of the plexi. The inside was then cut out. The plexi will be siliconed to the wood in the groove making the door flush on the inside of the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0501111510.jpg
Door installed.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...0502112250.jpg
Cages as they sit now for temperature testing while all the sealers dry for the week.