Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello I just built a cage out of MDF with contact paper liner on the inside. I was wondering if anybody know how hot you could get it safely I do which the cage to catch on fire and I am still in the planning stage as far as heating light set up. Thanks

I would think that it would be fine for 115 degrees but I would like your experences on this. Let me know.

What type of diurnal lizards are you keeping? Don't you worry about scratching of the paper?

Needless I have had my melamine cages up to the 115 mark and they are composed of a similar material as the MDF. I can't speak for the contact paper as I havn't any on me.

I would think that anything above 120 or so may be a bit drastic and we are not talking direct contact are we? If so I don't think 115 will be a problem for a hot spot only.

The auto ignition property of MDF is 425-475'F

Good Luck
-----
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
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

If you are using the Contact Brand contact paper, it is manufactured by the Kittrich Corporation out of California. I can't get any info online regarding anything about ther products as far as MSDS and such. But if your paper came with some sort of company information, IE a contact number I recommend you call and ask them obout the Autoignition properties of there product. The temp at which it will ignite, this will tell you if 115'F or even higher is an actual concern.

Take into account that the autoignition property is the point in which it will self combust if another product begins a fire within your enclosure the product will burn at a much lower temperature.

Other information on the MSDS will tell you what chemicals are a hazard when exposed to temperature or to material changes. For example when in a dust state MDF can cause an inhalation hazard do to the Formaldehyde with in the product. This dust may also present a severe explosive hazard if the cloud contacts an ignition source. Lot of info on the MSDS that the customer doesn't know but is required to know by law.

Good Luck
-----
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
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Good idea I didn't think about the MSDS. You know if have to provide a few of them at work dealing with refrigerant every once in a while. But it didn't even cross my mind.

I think that I will test it out for myself also, but fore I use it. 115 sounds reasonable to me. (Besides if it blows up then all that work was for nothing anyway, right?).

Thanks again.