Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thought I'd share the latest update on my cages. I started fresh, so this is where I'm at.

2 verts, and 2 cubes. All are 3/4 lumber core plywood with a birch veneer. Face and doors are solid maple. Doors have been routed for glass. No hinges or catches at this point, just the "construction" phase is done right now. The backs are 1/2" of the same ply, but not attached right now, to aid in sealing the interior. Enjoy.

Lets try that again...

Okay, really, I can do this.

Wow, fancy shmancy, lol. Beautiful work!
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Mark

Thanks Mark, hopefully it'll look better once the finish work is done!

~Johnny

Looking good - eventually

Do you plan on squaring up the routed corners for glass? Or are you going with plexi?
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks, yeah, building is the easiest part, the devil is in the finish work! I'm not sure about the corners, going with glass for sure, but I think I can order quarter rounded glass. If I can't, I've left enough room that square cornered glass will fit, or worst case I can chisel them the rest of the way. Of course quarter rounded glass is preferred.

Wow,thats real furniture grade work, nice.
What product will you be sealing it with ? Bob

Thanks Bob, all these positive comments are keeping me motivated to getting this project done! I have almost as many ideas for cages as I do reptiles I'd like to keep in them, haha!

The plan is to seal the interior with Dry-Lok concrete/mortar waterproofing sealer. And the exterior will be stained with a lacquer coat on top (pre-catalyzed mixture). There is a post a few threads below of me kicking around a few different ideas on my sealing method. This is what I finally decided on. These cages are actually my "prototypes", haha. One day, I'd like to try and sell some of these at some local shows (I am located in Texas, so plenty to choose from).

Those are looking great. Good work.

Larry
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Larry Stroud - Fort Pierce, Florida

They look very nice. You've learned the basics and then some at your new job.

As far as Drylok, the stuff is cheap and does make for a durable and water proof finish. However, the surface is highly textured and is not the easiest to clean and it is also not very attractive.

I sealed up an old plywood bearded dragon cage with it and then topcoated with some flat black paint. Made it look a heck of a lot better but it's far from the most attractive finish. I think it would detract from the beauty of your cages.

I suppose you could use it for your personal cages but I'm not sure I would sell them that way. If it were me I'd sell them unfinished and maybe list Drylok as an option. Have one display cage with a nice and high end finish but leave the finishing to your customers. It would save you a lot of time and your customers a lot of money.
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Currently keeping:

3.5.5 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)
0.0.3 Rhynchophis boulengeri
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae
0.0.3 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus
1.1.1 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)
1.0 Morelia clastolepis
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Chris, thanks for this bit of crucial information. Admittedly, I haven't used the stuff before, although I was planning on testing it before using it. I didn't realize that it was textured, one of the main reasons I didn't want to use a truck bed liner. I guess it's back to the drawing board for me...

I could leave them unfinished, but I like the idea of a "plug and play" product, which is also why I decided against flexwatt. I know with this sort of product, nothing is ever completely plug and play, nor would you really want it be. Eventually, I plan on going with a "layered" finish, either some sort of vinyl or PVC-X sheeting on the interior. But, I haven't done all that much research on that subject... I'll save that for another day. Thanks again!

~Johnny

Nice looking cages! I would recommend west systems epoxy (marine grade epoxy) for sealing the insides. About as durable a finish as you can ask for and it would give you the option of leaving it clear so you can see the woodgrain through it or you could color it. It isn't to hard to use but, it might take some practice to get a nice glassy finish if you want the clear look. The stuff isn't cheap but it is pretty reasonable when you start comparing it to stuff like FRP or other plastics that you could line it with.

cheers
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Steve

I think West Systems is a good option as well. They make a hardener (207, I think) that makes it much easier to get a smooth and water clear finish. The hardener is slightly more expensive than their standard harderns but since it flows out better you can get away with thinner coat(s) which makes it cheaper overall.
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Currently keeping:

3.5.5 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)
0.0.3 Rhynchophis boulengeri
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae
0.0.3 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus
1.1.1 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)
1.0 Morelia clastolepis
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Excellent idea gents, Ill be sure and do some research on that tonight. The Boss has a few accounts with different vendors, maybe one of them carries this product, and I cant get a discount .

Ill keep you posted,

~Johnny

wow very nice work they are looking great. i am totally jealous is that your wood shop? do you work out of there or just hobby?

i work for a cabinet company and we have a super nice shop but i dont have access to it other than at work... i moved from mass to new mexico a couple years back and didnt bring anything with me so my dad have a nice little garage set up wood shop but of corse thats 2,100 miles away, and i am here with no woodworking tool at all. hence i am super jealous lol
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-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (Babe)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
1.0 norm corn (Jake)
1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
0.1 ball python (Bella)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)

wow very nice work they are looking great. i am totally jealous is that your wood shop? do you work out of there or just hobby?

i work for a cabinet company and we have a super nice shop but i dont have access to it other than at work... i moved from mass to new mexico a couple years back and didnt bring anything with me so my dad have a nice little garage set up wood shop but of corse thats 2,100 miles away, and i am here with no woodworking tool at all. hence i am super jealous lol

Thanks. No, not my shop, although I wish it were. That is the cabinet shop where I work. It's a pretty small scale cabinet shop, actually we do more furniture than anything. Tables, stand alone cabinets, etc. It's a small enough shop that I can tinker with other things, and the boss doesn't mind. Thanks for the comments, hope you can change your woodworking situation one day, haha!

~Johnny