Melamine

[Skits]

Can I use melamine for enclosures? I see them used for bin racks often but wanted to make sure. If I have humidity in there, will the enclosure mold and/or rot?

[drumcrush]

How to build 4x2 enclosure for $100 - Redtailboa.net (http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/how-tos-tutorials/28742-how-build-4x2-enclosure-100-a.html) I found this a while ago, may help.

[formica]

as long as you seal it properly, it will last a while, also make sure you use one with a water proof veneer


that said, I would not personally recommend melamine as the best or most cost effective option, for any animal which requires humidity over 40% - water is a fantastic escape artist, and once it gets inside any kind of particle board, it does allot of damage very quickly, even if the cracks/holes it leaks through are microscopic, particle board literally sucks the water up

[Derek Roddy]

that said, I would not personally recommend melamine as the best or most cost effective option, for any animal which requires humidity over 40% - water is a fantastic escape artist, and once it gets inside any kind of particle board, it does allot of damage very quickly, even if the cracks/holes it leaks through are microscopic, particle board literally sucks the water up


Mine have lasted for over 13 years now. If you seal them properly you will not have to worry about extensive water/moisture damage.

Depending on how you make the damns and glass tracking but, I find that you'll have to replace those about every 6 years or so.

If you do that, there is no reason why a melamine cage can't last you for years and years.

Cheers,
D

[Lankyrob]

We have three year old melamine vivs. Found that the gtp viv was starting to split but that was totally my fault as i drilled a hole for a cable and didnt seal it effectively. The "low humidity" vivs are strong as the day they were made.

[Skits]

Alright awesome. That's actually the link I found, drumcrush, that made me want to build the enclosures. I'm going to build some for my beardie, uros, skink, rat snake, corn snakes and milk snakes. Not sure if the humidity for the snakes or skink will mess up the wood. When everyone mentions sealing it off, you mean with an epoxy?

[MCB]

Try and get 'trade' quality melamine as the normal retail stuff won't last as long. Double seal every seam with silicon. I know some guys who have copied Greg Maxwells vivs using MDF and lining with contact paper with great success.

[Pirarucu]

Must be very well sealed, or it will warp and crack. Melamine is a particle board which has a coating to protect it from moisture. You have to be sure to seal anywhere the coating is not applied, and anywhere it is broken (drilled holes, etc.) I would not keep any large lizards (or anything else with strong claws) in melamine either, as if they scratch through the protective coating, the particle board will be exposed to moisture.

Also, the material is much heavier than some other materials, even a small cage becomes a hassle to move.

[LarryS]

The link to building a melamine cage at 100.00 is very nicely done, but the material choice drives up the price.

As Derek mentioned in his thread, you can buy full sheets for much less and cut it yourself.

If you have a circular saw you can make a straight edge sled for a few dollars. That and some inexpensive clamps will do the job much more accurately than the yard will.

I prefer using this method for sheet goods over the table saw because of the difficulty with the large pieces.

I do use the table saw once I get the sheet cut down a bit, but my point is that almost anyone can build a cage with minimal tools using the circular saw and sled.

I am fairly certain you could build this cage out of 1/2" PVC for close to 130.00 in materials. (I haven't priced glass in awhile)

[Skits]

Oh okay thank you, I thought sealing it up as in make sure everything is air tight sort of thing. Makes more sense to cover up whatever isn't. I'm still looking around on what to use but I would buy big sheets of whatever material and cut it at home. I like the look of the PVC enclosures, but I'd have to shop around for prices..it won't be cheap to build 10-12 enclosures..

[formica]

Oh okay thank you, I thought sealing it up as in make sure everything is air tight sort of thing. Makes more sense to cover up whatever isn't. I'm still looking around on what to use but I would buy big sheets of whatever material and cut it at home. I like the look of the PVC enclosures, but I'd have to shop around for prices..it won't be cheap to build 10-12 enclosures..

you should be able to get a good deal on PVC for that many - however PVC is not suitable for any animal which requires basking lamps, great for snakes and geckos tho, if heated with a properly setup RHP or heat mats/cable

[aaron_cg]

I just helped a friend do his rack with xpvc. If you can get it, I highly recommend it. A bit more expensive, but in my opinion completely worth it.

[shaunyboy]

all my vivariums are melamine,i sealed all the edges of the vivarium as i built the tank


cheers shaun

[jpsteele80]

Like everyone said, if it's sealed right it should last a long time, personally I don't like melamine because it's to heavy. I like the satisfaction of building my own and making them to my spec's.

[Derek Roddy]

Here's a diagram of the cuts made for my cages. I have these cuts done at home depot.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/derekroddy/Carpets/cagediagram.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/derekroddy/media/Carpets/cagediagram.jpg.html)

As you can see... there is a top, bottom, back, 2 sides and the last remaining 3 inches... I cut in half to make my top and bottom damn/glass track.(which I do on my table saw)
In addition to that cut...on my table saw,

I cut each side to 27" (from 48)

The back and damn strips, I cut down to 46 1/2 (1 1/2 to allow for thickness of the melamine) from 48

Then... I route on a table router for the glass....those 2 damn stips

I coat each edge with wood glue then screw the cage together with wood screws (through pre drilled holes).

After the cage is together I seal all the edges and, have my wife use the melamine finishing tape to do all exposed edges. You put that on with a clothes iron.

That's it.
I made those 8 cages in about 4 days of work by myself. Fairly easy and the more you do....the better they turn out.

Cheers,
D