Trying to get glass doors in this, but having problems.

[Kinstrome]

I found a wooden closet in a family member's garage that is untouched and looks perfect for the kind of enclosure I'm trying to create. I want to install glass doors that run on tracks to slide open. The problem is that the doors don't touch when they close; they're divided by a beam of wood that also extends a couple inches into the interior space of the closet. I took a few pictures rather hastily, and between them I think there's one good one taken from the inside that shows what I'm talking about:

http://i.imgur.com/8iPiQKY.jpg

If you can see the beam extending upwards, perpendicular to the closed door, that's basically what's standing in the way of me just putting a strip of wood next to the side of the interior and running a sliding glass door track through it.

I'm wondering if it's possible to use a reciprocating saw to cut a slit through the beam so that I can run glass doors through it, but that would be difficult and might end with me mutilating an otherwise useful piece of furniture.

I'm open to trying anything, so long as there is some kind of seal so that the snake isn't held in there just by a couple of doors. (Although with my lack of experience, I'm not sure that having a glass barrier is even necessary.)

I'm also open to any suggestions from people with experience building enclosures for their BPs. I know that a wooden closet isn't what people typically use for reptile habitats, and that it's fairly ambitious, but I'd like to make it work if possible. I can take more pictures if necessary, too.

(Apologies for any mistakes, I'm writing from a phone.)

[Sunnieskys]

First question. What type of wood is that?

[BR8080]

Maybe it's ceder since it was for clothing?

[Kinstrome]

Maybe it's ceder since it was for clothing?

That's what I suspect, since it has a hangar up at the top.

Is cedar a problem for BP habitats? Or for sawing through it?

[jmcrook]

That's what I suspect, since it has a hangar up at the top.

Is cedar a problem for BP habitats? Or for sawing through it?

Cedar is a serious problem for any reptile. If you can't confirm that it is NOT cedar then don't use it.


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[Sunnieskys]

Cedar is poisonous to reptiles. Do not use it. It looked like cedar which is why I asked. Please don't use anything cedar.

[Kinstrome]

I can't turn it around or upside down, and since it looks a hell of a lot like cedar on the inside, I'm going to assume it probably is.

Is there any way to coat the entire interior with PVC liner and use aquaria-safe silicone to nullify the danger of cedar wood? Or is the problem more complicated than that?

Because otherwise, I'm going to (once again) have to look for a new piece of furniture on craigslist or a consignment store to house her in. If I do, is there any other wood I should avoid?

[Sunnieskys]

If it's cedar I would not even risk your snakes health. If it were me I would find another piece of furniture.

Harmful wood includes: cedar, pine, eucalyptus, wood with thorns and chemically treated wood.

Someven if if you seal it, it wouldn't be safe.
Hope that helps.

[Sauzo]

Most softwoods are not good for snakes which include Pine and Cedar. It's not the wood itself, its the phenols or oils in the wood. Kiln dried pine is fine for example. You could probably use a sealer and be fine but personally i wouldnt chance it.

Why does it have to be a piece of furniture? Better off with a PVC cage.

[Kinstrome]

Okay. Trust me, I don't want to risk her health.

I went this route because consigned (or free) furniture is inexpensive, spacious, and attractive. I'm open to other types of enclosures that would be spacious enough to house a pretty large terrarium (the closet was about 60" × 40" × 20"), as long as I could afford it.

Another draw was that the closet had locking doors, so that I could both keep her safe and keep her hidden if phobic guests arrived.