Quick laminate cage I threw together

[kelzerman]

Threw this together from some scrap wood, glass, and hardware I had laying around.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/11987255035_7239f31f2e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/11987255035/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/11988068166_000e0130bb_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/11988068166/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/12035342196_8012529e64_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/12035342196/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/12034816533_b9b070df51_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/12034816533/)

Dont mind the dirty glass :( lol need to clean that still.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/12034568445_5747b3fb5d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/12034568445/)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/12035356136_4cb27f762f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51129064@N02/12035356136/)

[lady_bug87]

Cool I wish I had stuff like that laying around lol

[Terranaut]

Looks good...bet it's heavy :)

[kelzerman]

Looks good...bet it's heavy :)

Thanks. It's not too bad. Definitely a two person lift due to size.

[LarryS]

Looks great!

How did you make the opening for the window, looks like you used router? I like the rounded corners. Nice!

[kelzerman]

Looks great!

How did you make the opening for the window, looks like you used router? I like the rounded corners. Nice!

I kinda cheated. I mean yes it was a router. A rather large one. The door was cut on a CNC.

[LarryS]

I kinda cheated. I mean yes it was a router. A rather large one. The door was cut on a CNC.

I'll have to admit, Matt and I enjoy building all of the templates and jigs to make the cages but...........boy would we love to have cnc!

[kelzerman]

I'll have to admit, Matt and I enjoy building all of the templates and jigs to make the cages but...........boy would we love to have cnc!

High precision machining is the way to go ;)

I will say the end product is far less personal. :/

[mclund]

I think the we could really get creative with a cnc. nice looking. Larry and I built a couple out of MDF when began. They looked awesome, but what a crap-load of work. We painted them with automotive paint. Here is one we donated to a local eco center, before paint.

[mclund]

How did you treat the cut edges? Edge banding?

[kelzerman]

I think the we could really get creative with a cnc. nice looking. Larry and I built a couple out of MDF when began. They looked awesome, but what a crap-load of work. We painted them with automotive paint. Here is one we donated to a local eco center, before paint.

That's really nice! I bet they looked nice after they were finished. Do you have a picture after painted?

[kelzerman]

How did you treat the cut edges? Edge banding?

Ya know I was going to go with a PVC edge banding. I decided to laminate the edges. Just over cut the lam used spray contact on both the lam and edge. Then just routed and filed the excess.

[sharthun]

Looks great!!!!! ;)

[mclund]

That's really nice! I bet they looked nice after they were finished. Do you have a picture after painted?

This is the only picture I could find. It has a couple of old guy's in it. lol

[lady_bug87]

I think the we could really get creative with a cnc. nice looking. Larry and I built a couple out of MDF when began. They looked awesome, but what a crap-load of work. We painted them with automotive paint. Here is one we donated to a local eco center, before paint.

What are the benefits of Using automotive paint?

[LarryS]

What are the benefits of Using automotive paint?

It depends on what you are comparing it to.

Most do not release any harmful vapors once cured. This is also true of many spray can paints. Always check with the manufacturer and MSDS.

It also leaves a smooth gloss finish. We sealed and sanded the exterior of the cage so that once painted it looks like one piece. It was a lot of work. I think this cage is what caused us to switch to plastic.

Kelzermans choice of melamine covered material is a great way to go, and as evident in his work, they look great too. If properly sealed these cages can last a long time.

[LarryS]

That's really nice! I bet they looked nice after they were finished. Do you have a picture after painted?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/misc009.websizedjpg.jpg

[KORBIN5895]

That last pic is amazing.

[formica]

nice work kelzerman! nice and clean, like the front door aswell, how big is it? whats going in it?



loving the divided one too Larry & Matt, opening from the sides rather than the glass is a nice idea - the gloss paint really sets it off, looks like its made from metal and could be sat in lab somewhere

[kelzerman]

Kelzermans choice of melamine covered material is a great way to go, and as evident in his work, they look great too. If properly sealed these cages can last a long time.

No melamine ;) the surface of melamine is not very strong. I went with a high pressure laminate. Its a formica brand laminate. (This is why I asked you formica in an earlier thread)

I love the way you guys finished that cage. The relief of all the hard edges looks really good. And I give you credit for painting with auto finish on mdf. We farm out some of our work that we need painting and it is hard to find a good finisher. At least around here.

nice work kelzerman! nice and clean, like the front door aswell, how big is it? whats going in it?

Thank you! it is 4'x2'x2' It will be housing my young Lavender retic.

[LarryS]

No melamine ;) the surface of melamine is not very strong. I went with a high pressure laminate. Its a formica brand laminate. (This is why I asked you formica in an earlier thread).

My add strikes again, I do remember you mentioning that now.

That thing should last forever!

[kelzerman]

My add strikes again, I do remember you mentioning that now.

That thing should last forever!


I completely understand!

[Terranaut]

Just to let you guys know even mechanically curing auto paint (least chemical realeasing type) will still release limited VOC's for as long as 12 weeks after it is cured. Even water borne doesn't cure until the cars are long gone from us. I worked in an automotive manufacturing paint shop for 13 yrs. But that being said it is very strong and durable with little to no cleaner retention. Great choice as long as a post dry curing period is used.

[formica]

Just to let you guys know even mechanically curing auto paint (least chemical realeasing type) will still release limited VOC's for as long as 12 weeks after it is cured. Even water borne doesn't cure until the cars are long gone from us. I worked in an automotive manufacturing paint shop for 13 yrs. But that being said it is very strong and durable with little to no cleaner retention. Great choice as long as a post dry curing period is used.

i know nothing about autopaint...what decreases its cure/outgas time? same usual; heat, low humidity and air movement?

[Terranaut]

i know nothing about autopaint...what decreases its cure/outgas time? same usual; heat, low humidity and air movement?

Yup yup and yup. Direct sun exposure is the best. Did you know that "new car" smell is all of the foams in the interior releasing gasses. Some of them are considered carcinogens. Many labels read " known to the state of California to cause cancer"
So the new car smell is bad bad bad.

[kelzerman]

Looks good...bet it's heavy :)


I don't have a scale to weigh it, but I got the specs on 11/16" particle board with p-lam on 2-sides and it is 3.165 lb/ft2. The enclosure is a total of about 38 sq ft so do the math... about 120lbs. I don't know how correct that is. I didn't get the specs for the weight of the laminated board. This is coming from a colleague of mine who swears by his numbers