Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking into building as the title states a coffee table enclosure. The dimensions will be approx 3'x4'x3'. I will have a 3' height for the inner measurement of the enclosure, it'll probably be fitted with feet raising the overall height slightly.
What I'm looking for is insight from people with build experience; opinions on side opener vs. top, lighting, etc. I'm currently thinking that flex-watt will be my best choice for heat source so I don't have lots of lights sitting on top, making it look ugly(this will be housing either a Dumeril's boa, or Mad. ground boa). I have access to a fully stocked wood shop and have done a fair amount of woodwork previous to this.
My first concern is for the comfort/safety of the animal this will house; but I do want it to look nice enough to be in the middle of my living room. Any thing I've not touched on please feel free to ask/comment on. Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Richard.

When I think coffee table enclosure, I think glass at least on the front and top, if not on more of the sides. So that said, I'd go with flex watt. I'm building some enclosures right now that I used 3/4 ply (cabinet grade) to frame it with, and maple for the face and doors. I'm staining everything, the inside is getting a coat of West Systems 2 part epoxy, and the outside is getting a standard cabinet shop lacquer treatment (one coat of sealer, two coats of lacquer). With boa's, you'd probably want to go with something extra water proof... but I'm not a boa guy...

If you are going to go the all glass route, I'd be sure and use a hardwood. That way you have the strength to support all the glass, as well as minimizing any expansion/contraction problems since you won't have as much material as a typical "shell" design.

Another thought (just typing them as the come) is to have it open from the top. It seems like that might be the best idea if the coffee table is going to sit rather low. I would imagine you could do this pretty easily with hinges on the inside, maybe a recessed catch or latch (I'm thinking about keeping it flat on the top).

Hope this helps. Take pics, and update us.

~Johnny

Man that's a lot of good information, I really appreciate it. Your ideas will be added to the plans for sure. I was planning on using hardwood of some variety for most if not all of the build, I also really like the glass idea, that'll make it extra sturdy and it wont scratch up as easily as plexi would.
Top opening for sure, I was also thinking of at least one side opening just in case I ever want to get in the side for whatever reason. I'm also playing with the idea of a drawer underneath to store snake stuff, not sure about that yet.
I plan on having a pretty nice piece of furniture when I'm done, the snakes needs come first of course, but I do want it to be pretty enough to sit in my living room.
I'm working on all the lighting and cords being hidden as well then I'll just poke a hole in my carpet and run power to it underneath for super stealth awesomeness.

When I think Coffee table I envision the top larger than the carcase. By making a larger width frame for the top, you can do several things.....

1) Allow the frame to "overhang" the inside enough to conceal the lights.

2) Allow the top frame to have a recessed drawer key lock to latch the door shut. While keylock is not necessary, it is an attractive solution to a necessary latch method.

The top could be piano hinged to one side with optional lid braces to hold it open.

The carcase could/should be framed to have windows as well. Set up from the floor to prevent the inevitable poop in the crevice look.

Beveled glass??? would be way sharp!!

A thicker (than standard 3/4" top would allow a rectangular opening with a 1 - 1.5" wide lip, then the glass is secured with four pieces making a picture frame, screwed from below.

To hide wires, "build" one or more of the vertical 3/4" stiles from two 3/8" thick pieces with slots cut in the faces to be glued together. Make it over-sized and plane down to final thickness after gluing. Also, make it 6" too long to allow for planer snipe near the end.

A drawer under the cage would be a GREAT addition, also would allow another "door" to access a compartment with thermostat and other electrical controls. Lights could be wired to touch sensor

Sounds like a fun project and feel free to contact me directly for details on what I'm describing or additional design help.
-----
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

>>I'm looking into building as the title states a coffee table enclosure. The dimensions will be approx 3'x4'x3'. I will have a 3' height for the inner measurement of the enclosure, it'll probably be fitted with feet raising the overall height slightly.
>>What I'm looking for is insight from people with build experience; opinions on side opener vs. top, lighting, etc. I'm currently thinking that flex-watt will be my best choice for heat source so I don't have lots of lights sitting on top, making it look ugly(this will be housing either a Dumeril's boa, or Mad. ground boa). I have access to a fully stocked wood shop and have done a fair amount of woodwork previous to this.
>>My first concern is for the comfort/safety of the animal this will house; but I do want it to look nice enough to be in the middle of my living room. Any thing I've not touched on please feel free to ask/comment on. Any and all information is greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Richard.

-----
Mark

Sorry, forgot to add that these are made by Cages By Design. Nice work, yes?
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Mark

yep, thats exactly what I'm after. I saw those online and then saw the price. After a short period of black out I decided to make my own. If anyone has plans for table style enclosures they've built in the past and wants to share then I'll be your best friend

check out craigs list for ideas get on and search for coffee tables and fine pictures like this

lol needless to say i looking into it my self a little...

i did the same thing with an entertainment center

got this used

and turned it into this

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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)

now thats what I'm talking about lol, I spent most of the weekend at yard sales looking at coffee tables

Most of what you will find second hand is made with lower cost materials. May look really nice but is quite often made with particle board with wood grain contact paper. If you do not seal very well and get any leaks, the particle board will swell and loose structual strength. Includes scratches through the contact paper.

Point being to go with modifying a pre-made coffee table, you may need to fully line the interior of the cage with something really waterproof.
-----
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

I agree with you there, I was looking at some mylar or something similar to cover the entire inside part of anything that looked cheap.

yeah ya do have to be picky like i went to look at this one i saw it for $30 and just couldnt pass it up but after looking at it it was very poorly built the whole thing woobled like you wouldnt believe, i just had to had to say it doesnt work for what i wanted it for, but i love the design and shape..... shoot now thinking back i should have picked it up either way it would have been worth the $30 just for those glass pieces

ya know what though IMO its still worth looking for nothing else but ideas. even though the one didnt work out i love the shape and hope that someday i will be able to work something like that into a design of my own.
-----
-Stephen-

0.1 Fiance (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)

I agree, I'm still looking at coffee tables online, and in local yard sales. I've found several shapes that made me say "ohh, that would be cool."

Thats actually a really sharp table, I'd have bought it for the glass and rebuilt the rest lol.