Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok...so i went to home dePOT and the guy told me that regular plywood contains both cedar and pine. If i use the regular plywood and seal it with polyurethane, will that be ok to use for a herp cage? if not, what wood do you guys recommend. I don't have a lot of money, but i do want to do what is in the best interest of my new herp. Please respond ASAP

Thanks folks
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2.0 Physignathus cocincinus (Chinese Water Dragons)
0.1 Physignathus Lesueurii lesueurii (Australian Water Dragon)
1.1 Pogona vitticeps (Inland Bearded Dragon)
1.3 Hemitheconyx caudincinctus (African Fat-Tail Gecko)
0.5 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Gecko {2 normals, 1 albino, 1 blizzard, and 1 jungle})

I've used birch plywood, and it is very nice stuff to work with. Costs more, but the results make up for it. Also, Chris Harper has posted here about not using a plywood floor, but instead making a frame on the bottom (I used some 1x2's) and use expanded PVC for the floor. I agree with that entirely. Not only does that make the cage lighter in weight, but also gives you the moisture-proofing where the cage needs it most. Then you can simply seal or paint (my opinion is that paint is easier to touch up when needed, plus it can look awesome) the rest of the cage interior with water-based paint because it cures much quicker than polyurethane.

If using a circular saw, try a 40-tooth carbide blade for plywood.. makes nice smooth cuts.

Another option is the laminated pine planks that they have - they come in 22 1/2 widths by 4 or 6 ft.

Good luck with the project.

there was a big table top type thingy that I used for the bottom and built the frame on it. I just needed something for the sides....
so I'm going to assume that regular plywood is fine.

what type of paint should I use for the inside?
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2.0 Physignathus cocincinus (Chinese Water Dragons)
0.1 Physignathus Lesueurii lesueurii (Australian Water Dragon)
1.1 Pogona vitticeps (Inland Bearded Dragon)
1.3 Hemitheconyx caudincinctus (African Fat-Tail Gecko)
0.5 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Gecko {2 normals, 1 albino, 1 blizzard, and 1 jungle})

I think regular plywood is fine, but I agree with Mark that the advantages of birch/maple plywood are well worth the upcharge.

Regarding paint, that's a tougher question. Let me get back to you later.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Okay been a while since i've posted on this subject.

Birch plywood will give you a much smoother finish on your cage than pine will. The home depot here actually carries a birch/rosewood mixture called Homer Ply that only runs about $25/sheet. Check into that, it'll give you a finish very simliar to birch, and much better than pine. Any plywood will be fine to build your cages.

Painting - PRIME IT! I can't stress that enough. What I use is the Behr interior primer. It seals your wood up and makes it ready for paint.

If you want a good long durable finish, use an oil based primer and paint. However, you're looking at about 2-3 months before you cage will be useable. I'd just go with a latex paint. It's water based and will stop smelling within a couple weeks. However, MAKE SURE you are getting a latex topcoat and primer, not an oil based primer. Use the Behr primer in the purple can and you'll be fine on a latex primer.

Use Behr interior SATIN ENAMEL finish. You go to home depot they also have cheaper satin enamel finishes, some are 100% acrylic and some are a poly vinyl acetate mixture (PVA). Acrylic and PVA are the types of glues in paint, essentially. Acrylic is much more durable and holds better. You see a $10 can of 100% acrylic and a $20 can of 100% acrylic, there are a lot of differences. One in this sense, however, is the $10 can may have about 1/4 cup of acrylic, the $20 will have a full cup. They're both 100% acrylic, but this is how they market it to screw you over into buying the cheap stuff.

Also, looking at the enamel finish. Enamel is nothing more than the way they mix the ingredients in paint to give it a hard durable finish. I like Behr, used it to paint my whole house with. Satin what I use in cages. It gives a very minimal sheen. USE 2 COATS FOR THE INTERIOR OF A CAGE. you'll thank me later for that.

However, with an enamel paint, you can not touch this up. Reason is the shine won't match the rest of the deal. Other than that, it's fine.

Give it about 2 weeks to outgas (stop smelling.)

Uhm... i think i've pretty much told you what you need to know on the paints, and then a lil more also
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne