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What are your thoughts on converting a dresser into a snake cage. My plan is to find one at least 41" high, 30" wide 20" deep (this is minimum...I'm hoping to find something a little larger). My main concern is how to make the front door, I'd like the entire front to be visible. What would you use? Plexi? or glass. would you just set it on hinges? or run a track? I've got the heat & lighting figured out but I'm not sure how to do the front. Any suggestions?

thanks a ton!!!

Randy

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"Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way"--James Hetfield

First off, nice pic!

>>What are your thoughts on converting a dresser into a snake cage. My plan is to find one at least 41" high, 30" wide 20" deep (this is minimum...I'm hoping to find something a little larger).

If you already have one that would be fine but if you plan on finding one then building a cage into it I recommend against it. In converting a dresser you would take nearly all the front facia away eliminating most of the strength in the piece right off. I am assuming of course you are planning on a front opening cage I would.

Second when you do finally finish modifing it to meet your needs, then comes the sealing and finishing the edges and installing the lighting. Now I am not saying its impossible infact I admire your attempt. I myself often perfer cages that fit into the room rather then become a sterile object. I'm just letting you know there will be some work.

My main concern is how to make the front door, I'd like the entire front to be visible. What would you use?

I would cut out the entire front facia meaning the strips if any that run between the drawers then all the drawer runs and interior hardware. After this you will know if it is structurally stable. Then comes the primary finish work meaning sanding and prepping the edges and the interior. At this point you should also have decided what you are going to use to protect the interior.

If the unit is made of a hardwood, staining and polyurathane would work but if its made of pine or other soft wood you may consider a marine epoxy or a fiberglass resin coated interior. This can be done for hardwoods as well but softwoods are more suseptible to water damage. Also the lower 3-4" of wood on the sides and the bottom are the only thing that really needs high moisture protection. But if this is for a lizard species or could be used for one in the future a light coat of polyurethane won't hold up.

Also you didn't mention a bottom in the dresser already will it have one? Most don't! That would also need to be taken care of before finish work is to begin.

Plexi? or glass.

Acrylic scarches real easy I would go glass on track easiest route IMO.

I suggest that unless you are an experianced carpenter you think of a different type of enclosure IE melamine, plastic or ply. Converting something that is already assembled will take time patience and a gentle touch. On the other hand if you build from scratch you can get better construction, more of what you want in the enclosure, and better sizing to meet you req.

Good luck
My 2 Cents
Jeremy

Let us know if any further questions arise.

thanks for the advice. I myself am not overly experinced the carpentry but, I have somehow convinced a buddy of mine who is that it would be a good idea for him to help me build such a thing. It'll eventually be for the pair of Beauties either them or my JCP. At any rate, I basically only want a single "nice" furniture-type cage so that it just looks better for display. Everything else will eventually be house in rack units. I do plan on finding one that is made out of hardwood (yeah, I know...heavy heavy heavy...) and was thinking polyeurythane for a coating. thanks again for all your help...

R

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"Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way"--James Hetfield

i dont think this is a bad way to go as long as the starting piece is not expensive. as far as strength once the drawers and unneeded pieces are removed, that is what 1x2s are for. i would suggest framing out the opening not only to give a stable base for mounting whatever type of door you will use, but also for structural support. as far as lights go most people who convert pieceis into cages tend to either use a cage around the lights or to just leave them in there. i how ever do not like the look nor feel safe with this way. i have in the past used 1x2s again to frame out a box for half or all of the celing to use as a false celing to guard the lights. the difficuly with this is being able to access them. easiest way is to place a door on the front or back of the cage (most times you will have to replace the cardboard like thin backing of dressers anyway). as far as putting in a floor, you most likely will have to do this also but should not be difficult. there are many of ways to do so, one would be to use L brackets so you dont need to refinish the outside from any holes, just use short screws. as far as the door goes personally my preference is sliding bypass doors with either glass or plexi, depending on the animal. but you could also use framed hinged doors as well. i think the most difficult part of turning something into a cage is to make your modifications appear as though it was supposed to be like that. most of the time projects like this dont retain their furnature quality. depending on your skill and confidence id say go for it, worst that can happen is you have a cage that doesnt look so good but works. in addition, finding molding that is the same or works with the existing piece helps to cover up added parts and make the transition into new parts more smoothly and appear to fit with the original piece.

Any given dresser will have to be treated a bit differently depending upon it's design and condition.

Regarding what type of door, I would go with what you prefer. But I'd also wait until you find the dresser you plan to use.

If you do go with a sliding door system there are some things to watch out for.

For one, if the dresser is too narrow overall then you might not have much of an opening for general husbandry, cleaning, etc.

So if you find a 30" wide dresser and the face frame makes for an opening only 26" wide, you won't have much room when you open the door. In this case if you only overlapped the glass by 1" you would only have a 12.5" wide area to stick your hands in to grap the animal, remove the water bowl, etc. That's not very much.

Hope my math is okay. My allergies are annoying today so I'm not very sharp.

On the same note, you want to avoid the glass doors being more than twice the height of the width. With the above example that means a door no more than 25" tall.

So if the dresser were quite tall you would may have to add very tall upper and lower lips to make the doors short enough. In the case of a 41" tall dresser it won't be so bad, especially if the dress is raised off the floor a bit.

Regarding a hinged door, the main concern is having a large, awkward door that needs to be swung out of the way whenever you open the cage. You may also need to strengthen up the dresser to handle a large door that is all the way open.

In either door case you can make mock-ups with cardboard. Use masking tape for hinges and see if the door is so big it's awkward. Likewise, cut two pieces like they are glass for sliding doors. See if only having one side open is enough room for cleaning.

Most of this really depends on the dresser.

I can write more once you have it.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

I would like to ask you something here... are you planning on this being a cage for the entire life of the snake? If so, i'd say this is way too small. vietnamese blue beautys grow to be around 8-9 feet long. You will need a cage at minimum of 6 feet long, preferably 8. Your snake really wouldn't be comfy in that size enclosure (30" long x 20" deep x 40" high) through maybe a year and a half of age.

also, at 30" long you're probably looking more at a chest of drawers vs a dresser. I will also agree with the others, a dresser/chest of drawers really isnt the best route to go. Good idea, however.

Thanks guys for all of the information. Basically I'm hoping to either build or convert a single cage into a nice looking 'furniture' quality display cage. If you guys have any other ideas that might be relatively simple, let me know. Who knows, we'll see...I have to think about this more...

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"Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way"--James Hetfield

>>Thanks guys for all of the information. Basically I'm hoping to either build or convert a single cage into a nice looking 'furniture' quality display cage. If you guys have any other ideas that might be relatively simple, let me know. Who knows, we'll see...I have to think about this more...
>>
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>>"Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way"--James Hetfield

Just a quick note on the "other ideas". You said your friend has some carpentry skills and if they are good enough you can use cabinet grade ply for a cage. Just design the front to look as a piece of furniture and run a molding around the edges. I would definitely examine your front access needs as posted by chris earlier that is crucial.

hope it helps
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Chris, my wife Mary
a dog, two cats, two birds, six snakes
oh and three kids