Posted by:
jayf
at Wed May 17 15:21:06 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jayf ]
I do not have a plan but maybe I can help more. First I would decide how you want to heat it. I currently use heat lights, but future cages will use heat tape (space saver and easier to maintain temps).
If you are going to go with heat lights, I would construct it similar to the cage I posted so that the lights are part of the cage and there is no screen to make keeping humidity more difficult.
If you are going to go with heat tape, I would construct the cage the same exept leave out the false celing. Additionally I would make a frame for the floor and skin it with shower board. You can then attach heat tape to the underside in the space created by the frame.
As for the construction it is fairly simple. You need a top, bottom, sides, back, and front. You are planning to use 2.5'(wide and high) which will make for more wasted materials and not be so easy to fit through doorways. I have had great luck with 2'(wide and high). To make the cage this is my basic cut list:
Sides: 2'x2'
Top: 2'x4'
Back: 2'x47"
Bottom: 23"x47"
Front (made of two pieces):
Top: 7"x47" (can be whatever you want or what works best)
Bottom: 4"x47" (again if you want more or less substrate you can alter it but this is what works for me)
This is using 1/2 ply so I subtracted 1" for the thickness of the wood when needed.
Simply screw all the sides together (so that nothing sits on the bottom but rather is attached to its edges) using screws but remember to pre-drill. Wood glue will add to the strength. Then just cut and glue in your track, silicone the edges, and seal the wood (if using plywood) and your done.
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- Jason F.
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RE: New BCC enclosure. - jayf, Wed May 17 15:21:06 2006