Finished Custom built enclosure!

Here is a project I did a couple weeks ago. I was trying to figure out some things on here (the flexwatt if anyone remembers), but here's the finished thing. My snake decided to take a poop tonight and I happened to get a hold of a digital camera so I figured it would make a great opportunity.

Here is the front of it opened up
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...front_open.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ont_closed.jpg

The hot side, with the thermostat probe under plexiglass
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hot_side.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../cool_side.jpg

And here's a close-up of the corner to show how I did the edging and floor

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil..._up_corner.jpg

That is one of the best customs I've ever seen.

Dude, start a business! :]

Very nice, what kind of wood did you use, and what did you use to seal the wood?

Very nice setup! I definitely think people on this forum would love if you made a detailed plan of what you did!

Really nice cage, where's the DIY? ;) Looks great, very professional.

I like the idea of plexiglass on the bottom of the cage.

Definitely need a DIY

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

That is one of the best customs I've ever seen.

Dude, start a business! :]

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Thanks! I don't think I could start a business, the enclosure isn't holding humidity as well as I had hoped. I hope that changes since spring is pretty much here...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawfulChaos

Very nice, what kind of wood did you use, and what did you use to seal the wood?

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The big pieces of wood are birch, they are like 3/4 of an inch thick I believe. The smaller pieces are just some cheap wood. There is no sealant on the wood, I opted to use plexiglass for a barrier. There is epoxy sealing the gaps in between these.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mitch21

Very nice setup! I definitely think people on this forum would love if you made a detailed plan of what you did!

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I'll work on it... it will be kind of difficult to do since I wasn't taking pictures during the building process.. I think I could get some diagrams up to try to show the steps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadera

Really nice cage, where's the DIY? ;) Looks great, very professional.

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I was planning on making a DIY but I don't think my dad would have been patient enough for me to be taking pictures all day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smith285

I like the idea of plexiglass on the bottom of the cage.

Definitely need a DIY

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Thanks, it was more expensive than I thought it would be ($50 for a sheet), but it allows for the flexwatt to heat through the floor and it keeps a water-tight seal.
The whole project cost about $200 for wood, screws, plexiglass, flexwatt, chains and what not.
BTW this was a birthday present that my dad and I built, I don't want to take all the credit for building and designing it.

That cage is awesome!! I was planning on converting an aquarium, but I think I might just do it right and make a cage (I'm not very handy, but I have a brother who is). You don't have a copyright on this design, do you? :)

What are the dimensions of the cage? I've often wondered that, and opinions seem to vary -- what is the ideal ball python cage size?

I can't tell from the pictures, but did you leave gaps on the side for the heat tape?

Thanks,

Chapskis1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chapskis1

That cage is awesome!! I was planning on converting an aquarium, but I think I might just do it right and make a cage (I'm not very handy, but I have a brother who is). You don't have a copyright on this design, do you? :)

What are the dimensions of the cage? I've often wondered that, and opinions seem to vary -- what is the ideal ball python cage size?

I can't tell from the pictures, but did you leave gaps on the side for the heat tape?

Thanks,

Chapskis1

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The heat tape is 17 inches wide. I made the enclosure about 19 inches deep so there would be an inch on either side so there is enough room for everything and there aren't any gaps.

The height is also about 19 inches, I'm not entirely sure why I did that, I think in case I'm planning on doing a shelf for more floor space. It is 4 feet wide, so the exterior dimensions are 4'x19"x19" Mind you that this is not for a BP, but for a boa...

...and no there's not a copyright yet ;)

Great Job! That is a really nice looking build! :worship:

I am glad you haven't copyrighted the cage design yet -- because I pretty much copied it to a T (except scaled it down to house a BP). I'm not very handy with wood, but I have a friend who builds custom cabinets for a living. He cut all of the wood for me, and I put it together and did the finishing.

I am using an old fish tank cabinet to set it on, and I still have to do some finishing ie; put the door on, put the plexi on the bottom (my friend actually had some "smoked" plexiglas for the bottom -- I am hoping that might help with holding heat.).

Thanks for the great idea! I can't wait until I get it all finished and can then get the snake to add to it!!


[IMG]<a href="http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/chapskis1/?action=view&current=IMG_0658.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/chapskis1/IMG_0658.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]


[IMG]<a href="http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/chapskis1/?action=view&current=IMG_0659.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/chapskis1/IMG_0659.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

Hopefully I added the images correctly!

Okay...hopefully it works this time:

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_0658.jpg


http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_0659.jpg


Think I got it...

Thanks...

Dang that looks really nice, you should have made your own thread for that. I was worried about the plexiglass flexing so much that it would create gaps for liquids to get through. Once you get the door on and floor in you should post a thread showing it off!

I'm glad I could inspire a similar design. It looks very cool so far.

ev477 a Quick question.................
What do you have stuffed under the flexwatt on one side ? And why??

Chapskis........ What are the dimensions of that enclosure ??
That oak looks great!! Is it oak plywood, or regular oak boards??

It is oak plywood, but the front frame is solid oak. I would have liked to make the dimensions slightly bigger, but we were kind of limited for space and $$$; so I made it so it would fit on the aquarium stand that we had. So, it is 30Lx12Wx16H. Basically the same size as a 29g aquarium -- just not quite as tall.

I'll post pics as soon as I get it finished (letting it air out before I put the door on). I'll also get pics up as soon as I have a snake in it!!! (Need to purchase one yet!)

Later,

Chapskis1

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Originally Posted by mohawk

ev477 a Quick question.................
What do you have stuffed under the flexwatt on one side ? And why??

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Sorry, I just saw this message. I have T-shirts stuffed under. They provide insulation to create temperature variation. They are both hooked up to the same thermostat, so one side is insulated and the other side is kept cool without the t-shirts