6x2x3 enclosure build progression

I have been busy this week building a large plywood enclosure for my ball python. Since I mentioned something about this build a while ago, and I know I'll be taking pictures along the way, I thought I'd start up a progession thread for it.

I bought the wood for it last week, and then fired up my circular saw for the first time, with some help from my dad. I like to see how things (tools especially) work in person before I personally use them, plus having a second pair of hands to help me move things around was nice (im not strong :'c).

The pics so far:
https://i.imgur.com/BX4atwu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DBk8FPe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/a4HtQvy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BaSXtwG.jpg

I started sealing the inside with drylock today, but ran out (I only bought a quart to start, silly me) before I even finished a first coat, so no pics of that... yet. :)

I am also aware that for most people, this size enclosure is considered overkill, especially for a ball python. Mazikeen is already nearly 4 foot long at 2 years, and I wanted an enclosure that would hopefully last her the majority if not all of her lifespan. She's fairly active at night and does occasionally bask under her current UVB setup in the early mornings before going back into hiding, so I'd like to provide her with the opportunity to complete those behaviors on a less cramped scale.

I'll be back with more pictures when this thing is sealed.... and maybe stained. We'll see.

That looks great. It looks like you thought this out a bit before hand and did some planning. Great job. I'm curious to see how the drylok works out as I went with pond shield myself for the 3 I built. Glad to hear you did this with the help of your father. As a father I enjoyed having my daughters help me out, though they are a bit younger (under 10) and couldn't do it themselves. I look forward to helping them with projects as they get older. The time spent on a shared project was great. Are you planning to stain the outside? Drylok is not needed there, though I did seal the air holes I made. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

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Originally Posted by gunkle

That looks great. It looks like you thought this out a bit before hand and did some planning. Great job. I'm curious to see how the drylok works out as I went with pond shield myself for the 3 I built. Glad to hear you did this with the help of your father. As a father I enjoyed having my daughters help me out, though they are a bit younger (under 10) and couldn't do it themselves. I look forward to helping them with projects as they get older. The time spent on a shared project was great. Are you planning to stain the outside? Drylok is not needed there, though I did seal the air holes I made. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

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Thanks! I've planned this build for a little over a year now, so I'm glad it shows. Depending on how drylock works out, I may try pond shield in the future. I plan on adding a bead of silicone around the inside seams as well. I do want to stain the outside, just need to find one that I like first.

I am glad that my dad was willing to help me. He doesn't entirely understand the whole snake-keeping thing, but he tries.

Inside sealed, outside stained. Poly coming soon, then doors, heating and lighting equipment, furnishings... the list goes on.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2b0b2981fa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fa541965c5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8e6ddc02ff.jpg

Looks great. I love seeing homemade projects come together. What are you plans for covering the air holes so no escapees?

Man that’s major overkill for a ball python [emoji23] No doubt that he will love it though! Personally I’d put the ball in something smaller and put a boa, blood or retic in there. You could always divide it too, or just have a mansion for your bp haha


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Originally Posted by gunkle

Looks great. I love seeing homemade projects come together. What are you plans for covering the air holes so no escapees?

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I've put in 2-inch stainless steel soffit vents, which you can sort of see in the pictures. There's some on the inside, to prevent pushing them out, and eventually after the poly there will be some on the outside to give it a cleaner look.

This is definitely for my ball python. If you were to see her activity level at night in person, you'd understand why.

Coated it in triple-thick polyurethane today, and now it sits for two days. I'll flip it on its back and poly the bottom after that, then let it sit for another week. I'm getting the glass track next week, so hopefully we'll be able to measure for the glass and get that cut at a local glass shop. After that, electrical shopping ahoy.

No new pictures since it looks basically the same as above.

I have attached the door track and bought glass, only to realize that the glass place cut one of the panels wrong. It was after hours by the time I noticed so I'll have to wait til Monday to get that fixed. The other panel does fit correctly, just didn't feel like taking pictures with only one piece of glass installed. Maybe next time.

Now I can move on to the heating elements and lighting! :D

Glass fits, lock tested, plus my dad's race car in the background. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9b687ac0cc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2fac584b32.jpg