Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to Lowes today and saw Formica sheeting that is essentially the same thing as the coating on melamine boards.

What I thought of doing is adhering the Formica sheets to the inside of my plywood cage with contact cement. I'm going to use 3/4" oak plywood. Does anyone think this is a good or bad idea?

I figured it would be end the battle of deciding between plywood and melamine because you would get the best from both:

1) the strength and rigidity of plywood
2) the water resistance of melamine

has anyone ever done this? Once cured, will the contact cement be safe with a boa?

thanks,
dj

Just my opinion but I would use the Melamine, less work and cost. Plus if you are just making a box out of one or the other without any supporting frame work melamine is straighter and easier to glue & clamp or glue-clamp and nail together.
If you do it the other way the fumes from the contact cement disapate with time after it cures.

I agree that it sounds like a lot of extra work with little gained.

One thing you should be aware of, contact cement is very temperature sensitive. If you put heat tape on top of the formica or have a ceramic heater near the formica, the glue will come undone.

Contact Cement drys through a process of evaporation so once the solvents have evaporated, they will be no danger to your animal.