melamine cage owners???

[HetForHuman]

I was just wondering who here owns melamine cages, i just need some questions answered.
1. what is the thickness of the melamine you are using?
2.what did you use to seal the inside of the cage along all the cracks?
3.would you need to router a part of the bottom out for heat tape if you used a thinner peice for the bottom?
4. could you use a thinner peice for the bottom?, say if you used half inch for the whole enclosre then used 1/4 inch on the bottom.

Thanx any help is appreciated
Tim

[Mark]

1) I use 5/8 most of the time and 1/2 for smalle stuff or backs.

2) I use silicone form home depot.

3) I don't use heat tape but grant VG should be able to help you.

4)I sometimes use a smaller board(1/2")for the sides and back and 5/8" for the top and bottom. I found that 1/2" will flex to much on 4' cages to work well and it is the same price as 5/8".

[Dom]

I use 5/8th as well over the 1/2 .. tends to break less. alwasy pre-drill everything though. A simple silicone and let it off gase for a few nights...

I have used heat cable wich I haves used a router to dig canals into the wood and cover the cable and hole with silicone.. I did this with great results.. never ussed the true heat tape but many ppl have and they simply spli the container over .. isee not why u would need a router for heat tape..

take care
Dom

[Matt_K]

i believe the point of routering out the bottom for heat tape is to allow air to pass through. The last thing you want is a fire being caused by your heat tape and you insurance being nulled cause its not CSA approaved. I know Grant VG doesnt router out his cages and has had NO problems with them. I personally routered out the bottoms of mine cause it just set myself at ease.. I agree 100% with Dom about pre-drilling your Melamine!! Good Luck Tim!! Im sure you will do just fine!!

[Grant vg]

currently i am using 5/8 inch with all sides except for the bottom piece. which was a mistake on my part. it is 1/2 inch i believe.
i find melamine to be the best wood for building for cages, if you cannot afford plastic caging.
Its waterproofness and durability outweigh any other tyes of wood in my mind. no need for coating it with paint and sealers as its already waterproof.

i dont use any recess for my heat tape and have not had a problem. I find heat tape very durable, and it really doesn't get too hot to cause alarm.
I persoannly feel that providing a recess is just for precautionary reasons, as well as "the thought" of having it recessed for ease of leaving the house unattended. I have talked to some old school herpers and they dont use recesses.
its really up to the individual, the less recess, the less hydro you have to pay.
Assuming you wire it corrctly ( i like to use the clips) it should be fine either way you use it.
heating any thickness of melamine, with heat tape is not a problem. the main concern is getting something built that is durable and strong.
your best bet is to build something out of the 5/8 (all sides) and go from there.
Put it on wheels if weight is a problem,
Whatever you choose, you cant go wrong with melamine.
Just make sure you make dams for the cages!!!
This is probably the most important part.
For ailicone , i just use a bath and kitchen sealer from home depot. i use particle board screws for drilling and like the others said, predrill everything!

Goodluck!
PS, if your stacking, the dams are VERY inportant!

[jason h]

I use 3/4inch (yep its heavy) and G.E. 100% silicone, i router out 1/4 inch for the heat tape,and it works wounderfully,

[HetForHuman]

Thanx guys
but Grant what do you mean by DAMS?

and do any of you guys have a picture of what the bottom looks like once routered out??

Thanx a bunch
Tim

[Grant vg]

Dams are litter guards, they're a couple inches high and line the top and bottom of the front of your enclosures... They stop feces and substrate from cooming out of your enclosures, plus they cut down on size of glass needed. heres mine...

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/5dscn0548.jpg

[HetForHuman]

ok well here is what i got done today.
i bought the wood cut all the peices i needed, predrilled everything screwed it all together, might have went a little crazy on the amount of screws i used but better safe than sorry. put in the vents.
now all i have to do tommorow is build the dams, get the tracks, get the glass made, and silicone it all up inside and then done.
it is a 4x2x2.
and im guessing all the labour total was about 8-10 hours.
to me this is pretty good time since it is my fist cge i ever built.
will post some pics tommorow.