Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am building a chameleon all screen cage. i am wondering what type of wood to use and if i can paint or seal the wood

I am sorry you have to be more specific on where the wood is used.

If we are talking floor any ply will do just fine. You can paint or seal it and will be happy with the results.

Its really based on what you want the wood to look like. So What do you want it to look like?

Lots of options just need you to narrow them down a bit.

Let us know
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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
0.0.10 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
1.0 Child -coming soon-

it is going to be a 4'x3'x 20" its going to be a wood fram with pvc coated mesh the bottom is expanded pvc i want to use 1x2 pin for the frame. i need something to seal the wood so it does not warp it will be on the inside and out side of the cage.

I think you should look into screen window frames. Like those on your home. Essentially you can attach what ever screen to the aluminum frames. Than simple rivet the frames together, along with what ever you will use for the door. I think this will make a much more resilient cage to what you throw at it. I have no pics of this setup but if you send me a PM I think I have some on my home CPU.

Good Luck again I think this would be the best route, but if not we can figure out what would work for you.
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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
0.0.10 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
1.0 Child

Here;

http://www.reptilehavenonline.com/metalcages/mc48.jpg
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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
0.0.10 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
1.0 Child

i am a carpender so i would perfer to use wood i like the natural look better. do you know of any non toxic stain or clear sealant. thankx for all your help

I am a carpenter myself, but I think Chris harper would be better suited to answer your questions on sealants. I will PM him and let him know.

Heres another example of how I would build a cage for you situation.

Good Luck

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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
0.0.10 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
1.0 Child

That's a tough one. My first thought would be some of the more water resitant woods but some of them have oils that may be toxic and/or not allow a sealant to adhere properly. There are also the tighter grained woods that are less porous like maple.

You can buy Envirotex Lite in small quantities that may work well for this cage. Anything else will require you to purchase large quantities and that does not make sense for a cage that needs so little sealing.

Unfortunately Envirotex Lite is very hard to apply to anyting other than horizontal surfaces. The stuff flows out so well that it will be very hard to apply well to the frame of this cage. It can be done but you need to be experienced with its use.

Since you're a carpenter you could try to find a flooring subcontractor who uses some of the various two-component, cataylized waterborne floor finishes. Bonakemi Traffic and Streetshoes XL are the two most common.

See if they can give you a small amount of the premixed product right before you leave from work and hurry home and apply it. This might make it hard to get several coats, however, as you have to mix the stuff and use it pretty quickly. Maybe see if they'll sell you a small amount of the two products and you can mix it yourself. You'll have to be very careful with your measurements in such small quantities.

You could try a single component WB urethane but I don't believe it would last long at all.

As I'm thinking out loud here, I also think you could line the interior parts of your frame with vinyl film or some other plastic that can expand and contract along with the wood you select. Then only the exterior wood pieces would need to be sealed and then your choices are wide open as only the occasional spray would come in contact with the wood.

Vinyl film like that used in the graphics industry is your safest choice as it is flexible enough to withstand just about any level of expansion and contraction. You could also use some of the leftover expanded PVC, but I would figure out a way to attach it such that it can float over the surface of the wood frame. But at that point your wood frame becomes more aesthetic rather than structural, so you'll have to consider that as well.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

thank you. u have been very helpful. if you think of any thing else that will help me out the will be my first diy cage.

No problem, that's why we all post here.

Even though you're a carpenter, I would warn you not to get too crazy with this cage. Chameleon cages with their need to handle a lot of water flow, ventilation plus localized heating often create a unique set of circumstances. Part of the cage can be warm and dry, others cool and wet. These differentials are what can really cause warping problems with wood, as you already well know. It's just that these differentials are a lot more pronounced with reptile cages. Chameleons aren't quite so bad since they don't need huge amounts of heat, but with the ventilation you often end up using a pretty warm element to provide that small amount of warmth and again you have that differential.

I also enjoy working with wood, but recognize that there are times when it is less than ideal. In this case you might take your skills and apply them to a new material. I'm thinking that aluminum or PVC corner angle might be a better material for the design you are considering.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

i don't understand how the pvc corners will give the cage strucural integrity. how would i go about fastening them together.

I have never used PVC corner angle, but it is supposed to be pretty sturdy stuff. Just a bit more flexible that PVC pipe.

I would attach them together with a combination of mitered corners and then create overlap joints with scraps of expanded PVC that are solvent welded on.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

During my research, I have found something that I think might work for the cage. Have you ever heard of Azek Timber Boards?
http://www.azek.com/info.asp Here is the site if you havn't heard about it. Do you think it is a good idea?

I have heard that they are expensive and also that they may offgas more than expanded PVC.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

what do youmean it might give off gases. if you read it some where can u please send me the link

I don't have any links saves. But offgassing means it continues to release potentially toxic fumes for sometime, just like many building products. Some of the exterior rated PVC's are supposed to be worse due to UV inhibitors, etc.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

this is an indoor cage. i also UV bulbs that sit on top of the screen. i have researched this non stop for the past fee days and your the only on who told me about the gasses it would be help full if you starting search point. I'm just trying to get as much info as possible. again thatnk you for all you help.

Chris was just saying that external-use building materials CAN give off chemicals. This may not be something that is documented on the product that you are looking at, since it wasn't made with close proximity to sensitive animals in mind.

When looking at materials for use with reptiles (even when trying to decide which wood sealer or waterproofer to use), sometimes it's trial and error on the builder's part.

See if you can get a sample of the PVC you are talking about, and cut it. See how long it has an odor that you can detect. There are no hard-and-fast answers for building exotic animal cages, and little documentation. Trial and error!

Always best to err on the side of caution with a material that hasn't been tried as a cagebuilding supply yet - if you are going to house chameleons in it, IF it releases undetectable odors due to UV sealers or whatever other protective chemicals are on it, your chams might die.

But Chris has a point - more than likely the material you're referring to will be more expensive than expanded PVC, and PVCx has already been shown to be safe for cage use. If you do wind up using that PVC trim material, let everyone know how it goes, you are probably the first one to attempt it.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com
1.0 Ball Python, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 Green Tree Python

Chris, I have a question. I use plastic lattice to make the walls of my monitors' cages climbable. I believe it is PVC and obviously intended for outdoors. Do you think offgassing could be an issue with that?