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Enclosure (right half door)

kilhd May 16, 2006 08:47 PM

Well.. I found some pics showing where I attached the door to my burm enclosure I am building on my cam so I thought I would post them. (Please don't be too critical as this is my first ever wood-working project, and am a total novice but I think it's pretty good so far)

The design cut out is nothing special, I just didn't want the boring ole rectangle look.

Another angle, There is plexiglas there, can't really tell, must be really clean. hehe

Barrel bolt lock, and some cheap hinges I found at lowes but I thought they looked good, alot better than the $50 ones to me.

Thanks for looking.

Replies (12)

chris_harper2 May 17, 2006 09:44 AM

Thanks for keeping us posted on the project. Things are looking good.

I had another idea for your flooring dilema. You might look for some rigid insulation board that is the same thickness as your framing. Just cut a piece to fit perfectly inside of the bottom frame members. Glue it down with some latex based construction adhesive. I would probably use a foil faced product if at all possible, especially if you plan to use a RHP to heat the cage. Due to the odd size of your cage floor you might have less waste if you use two layers of a 3/4" product.

The mount your vinyl floor over that, assuming you still plan to use it.

I did this with my bearded dragon cage. I orginally did it to raise the floor height a bit but it ended up making the cage very efficient. A radiant barrier on the floor is a great idea and works well.
-----
Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

bighurt May 17, 2006 11:48 AM

I agree the cage is progressing nicely, I actually like the door cut out despite how unfunctional it really is. Its a nice change from a square hole, although the first time I hi my head on it it would be gone, not th point the cage (I have a bad temper).

Chris, That is a awsome idea, why didn't I think of that.

Even in a cage that doesn't have interior framing it would still be a good idea for use in rooms with less than ideal temps.

Half to put that in the file of ideas!
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

evercraig190 May 17, 2006 02:09 PM

connect the hinges to the plexiglass.. i am planning on building a cage in a week or so and i needed an idea for the door...and your picture helped me figure out what i want to do..although the last time i used a drill on some plexiglass, some holes came out good and some cracked big-time...i was thinking maybe of glue or adhesive, but i know screws would be much better...btw..how thick is the plexiglass?..

Thanks,

Craig Morel
-----
(soon to be the owner of an albino ball)
0.2 normal ball pythons
0.2 normal Redtail boa
1.0 Hypo Redtail boa
1.0 true Redtail boa
1.1 100% Het Albino Redtail boa
1 baby sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 Baby Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Baby Red Uromastyx
0.1 GF Eryn (WC)

kilhd May 17, 2006 03:03 PM

Thanks for comments guys. Chris that is an interesting idea about the floor. I will keep it in mind. I do have another problem now though.( I thought this may happen but not to this extent) After letting the door set in a while. I went to check up on it to find that the weight of the plexiglas has put pressure on the center of the door cause it to bow outward. My first thought was to put a 3rd lock, and hinge in the center. So that's what I did. Well it stopped the bowing pretty much but now when I open the door half way or more, the center hinge pulls on the outside of the door where the hinge is connected to the frame. Eventually it will snap in half I am afraid. Should I remove the center hinge and just let it bow a bit or what? I hate that I have absolutely no clue about wook working things!

And to craig..
I didn't connect the hinges to the plexi. If you meant how did I connect it to the door frame(wood) I put a stream of gorilla glue all around the perimeter, set the plexi in place, and let it dry. After that I screwed it down with 8 screws(pre-drilled holes in plexi) with wood screws. It seems to be very strong now. When I drilled the plexi I went very slow and with caution and got no cracking or damage. The plexi is 1/4" thick. (48x24)

chris_harper2 May 17, 2006 03:17 PM

After letting the door set in a while. I went to check up on it to find that the weight of the plexiglas has put pressure on the center of the door cause it to bow outward. My first thought was to put a 3rd lock, and hinge in the center. So that's what I did. Well it stopped the bowing pretty much but now when I open the door half way or more, the center hinge pulls on the outside of the door where the hinge is connected to the frame. Eventually it will snap in half I am afraid. Should I remove the center hinge and just let it bow a bit or what?

I'm not really sure. I would be inclined to add some sort of wooden handle along the front-top of the door that will also sturdy things up a bit. From the looks of the window cutout you should have quite a bit of leftover 1/2" ply. Maybe laminate two or three pieces together and they cut some sort of swooping handle and glue/screw it on to the front of the cage. I think it could end up looking pretty cool.

You could also add some ribs to the inside but that might be a cleaning issue.

Is most of the bowing near the top of the door?
-----
Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

kilhd May 17, 2006 03:48 PM

The bowing was in the center (top and bottom) outward. It's hard to explain but try to imagine looking at the front of the cage from top point of view and being able to see the door bowing away from the cage and being able to see through the space in between the center of the door and the cage. Does that make sense? To try and fix that.. I put another barrel lock (exact same as other two) on the top center, and I put a small hinge on the bottom center for support. Well that fixed the bowing, but when i open the door half way or more the new hinge pulls on the fame it's connected to and seperates it from the cage, eventually after enough times pulling it will break. I didn't wanna have to call the bud who has helped me and ask for more help but I did.. he says since the hinges need to all be on the same axis I need to use the exact same hinge, and line it up exactly and that will eliminate the pulling. I have to go to work soon so I porbably wont be able to get to that today like I wish. But we'll see if that works.

chris_harper2 May 17, 2006 03:57 PM

Is the door framed from 1/2" ply? I think this is going to be hard to overcome and you really don't want to give a burmese python a weak area like that.

You might consider a piano hinge to support the lower area. Maybe start with that and see how it goes.
-----
Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

kilhd May 17, 2006 04:03 PM

Where the hell do you get a piano hinge? lol

"Is the door framed from 1/2" ply?"
Yes. = /

chris_harper2 May 17, 2006 04:07 PM

You can get a piano hinge at just about any hardware or DIY store.

I typically think they are overused but this is one situation where I think it would be a good idea.
-----
Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

evercraig190 May 17, 2006 04:17 PM

that you have a wooden frame door with plexiglass over it?..if i understand, you cut a frame for the door out of wood and then basically covered it in plexiglass, then you attached the hinges and locks...?

Thanks for the help..

Craig
-----
(soon to be the owner of an albino ball)
0.2 normal ball pythons
0.2 normal Redtail boa
1.0 Hypo Redtail boa
1.0 true Redtail boa
1.1 100% Het Albino Redtail boa
1 baby sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 Baby Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Baby Red Uromastyx
0.1 GF Eryn (WC)

kilhd May 17, 2006 05:02 PM

Chris.. my bud who was helping me just came by on his way home from work.. and funny thing, he looked and saw the bowing and said he would go buy a piano hinge for it. Maybe great minds think alike come into play here? lol I will look for one of those tom. most likely. Thanks for the help.

craig.. Yes, that's it. It's a bit hard to explain but the plexi is screwed, and glued to the door frame from the back side. If that makes any sense at all. hope this helps

evercraig190 May 17, 2006 05:48 PM

do you really think that the screws are necessary or could i just glue the hinges...im sure screws are better but im just curious as to what your opinion is..im thinking of building a 2'w X 2'd x 2'h..its for baby balls and boas...so my point is that the door isnt going to be that big...actually i might end up making the cage 3'w x 2'h x 2'd, so maybe screws might be better...thanks for your help...
-----
(soon to be the owner of an albino ball)
0.2 normal ball pythons
0.2 normal Redtail boa
1.0 Hypo Redtail boa
1.0 true Redtail boa
1.1 100% Het Albino Redtail boa
1 baby sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 Baby Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Baby Red Uromastyx
0.1 GF Eryn (WC)

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