Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I've decided I'm going to start building my own cages this summer. I don't have any carpentry experience, but do have several friends willing to help that have lots. Being monitor keepers, I figured people on here have some good advice on what tools I should go out and buy. I'm not talking fancy stuff, just basics. I plan to frame some glass, but not a lot, and I'm considering tiling floors as well. Is tiling a bad idea? Anyway, as of now I'm thinking drill, circular saw, mitre saw, level, maybe a router, and a tile saw. If anyone else has any equipment that they'd consider indepensible, then let me know. Thanks for everything.

Hey!
Actually, your lack of carpentry skills could mean more tools than what a person with a little bit of carpentry experience could get by with.

Someone with just a little carpentry skills could get by with:
* circular saw
* framing square
* 8ft straight edge
* drill (with apropriate size bits and countersink per screw size to be used)
* hammer (if for nothing else, it can be used to relieve frustration)
* saw horses (could use blocks, the bed of a pickup truck, etc,)

Bonus tools:
* 10" table saw
* miter saw
* router
* screw gun
* rotary tool (Dremel, etc)
* rolls of duct tape & bailing wire (hillbilly style)

Tile flooring isn't a good idea, but you're not the first to think that it would be good. I used to think the same thing until I did a lot of research on a monitor's needs. A soil substrate is considered by most to be the best.

Please don't take offense but I suggest you do a lot of research on what should go inside a cage so you'll be able to build a cage that can best accomodate everything, including the monitor.

Search this forum using terms like "monitor cage" and "monitor enclosure". You can also search Google.

Have a good one!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

actually, I keep my monitors on a soil substrate right now. When I was considering the tile, it was simply as something to put the soil on. I was thinking of tiling the floor and approz 1.5-2 feet up the side of the enclosure. I was also considering a drain for cleaning. I'm hoping my pal the carpenter can help me overcome my inexperience in time, but over the years I've gottne tired of being at the mercy of people with the know-how to build but with little knowledge of what the animal actually needs. If I figure out how to do it myself, there's a lot less explaining to do.

Jump in with both feet and paddle like the dickens. Ha! We all had to start somewhere. Definitely would be nice to have someone guide you as "you" did it, though. A little bit of common sense & you'll be fine.

As for the tile idea, I see where you're coming from but it's still not a good idea. (1) Water will seep thru the grout (I install tile for a living) - (2) Tile will eventually break loose due to the flexing of the cage. - (3) It'll be a fair amount of extra weight, which can cause structural problems down the road, as well as making the cage heavier than needed.

Fiberglass or FRP is the best way that I know to go.

Catch ya later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

thanks, man. I'll do my best. Where are you in Appalachia? I'm in Lexington KY. Not quite Appalachia, but close.