How does this look?

[boidlover]

Here's a very SIMPLE diagram I drafted in XARA..

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2177carpetenclosure.jpg

Let me know what you think..
I use plexi because I've got distructive kids.. safer for the snakes..
Thanks

*EDIT* fixed URL for gallery

[peterm15]

nice..... just dont use lexan... its way to overpriced
look a little harder and youll find plexi... most ppl seem to get lexan though

[boidlover]

I've got to get some permanant homes for my two coastal carpet pythons and I didn't want to go buy HUGE rubbermaids. So I went out and got the kid at home depot to cut the melamine because 2 4'x8' pieces don't fit in the back of a Sunfire... well he cut them all nice and only charged me for 10 cuts when he made 24.. only the first 5 are supposed to be free... *shrug* anyways.. I thought they looked a little off when I was bringing into the house. Something just didn't look cut right. I was feeling that hot so I didn't build right away. Well 5 days later and I'm well enough to build. So I head down to the dungeon, get all my tools and needed supplies together http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2177the_supplies.JPG
and then start putting pieces together to "have a looksee". Staples in the rough 'raw' edges work wonders to hold it together in a NON permanant/damaging basis.
Well the bottom, back and top (behind the pole is a small stablizing piece) seem fine.. now for the sides.. http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2177something_wrong.JPG

Anyone else see what was wrong??





The kid cut the sides an inch shorter than the bottoms, backs and tops. The bottoms, backs, and tops all measure 32"x23" (all is 1/2 inch melamine). The sides are 31"X23"... they are SUPPOSED to be 22"X23". HOW do you mistake 22 inches for 31?!?!?!?!? *sigh* so now I've gone and checked all the pieces and all four sides are that same 31"X23".. Now I've got to take a saw and cut that crappy melamine and get sawdust all over the place.. worst part is I can't find either my jigsaw, circular saw, OR my tiny little 4" hand hack saw!

[Oni5000]

In my experience, I find the guys running the saw at Rona do a better job at cutting and have yet to be charged for cuts there, even when I had them cut all the wood for my rat rack (well over 30 cuts)

Try fitting a big piece of melamine in a little toyota tercel sometime ;)

[boidlover]

I'd go to the Rona here, but sadly they are even worse than the Home Depot kids.. Rona is great for anything but cutting and melamine.. they never seem to have it in stock when I need it.

[Mystic Lizzards]

home depot has screwed up my gecko racks as well they don't seem to know what a tape is used for

[oscar]

all those tools and you dont have a circular saw boid?!?! i think i know what you should ask your wife for this xmas. ;) when i moved into our new house this summer, the first tool i took out of storage was my circular saw.. ok, maybe it was my cordless drill.. but it was a close second.
invest in a decent circular saw and you'll pay for it in time and cut charges in no time.
good luck w/ the rest of your project. :)

[chameo_liz]

I am not going to name any stores but there are a couple that cant even cut staright, I have had them redo several cuts in the past, and dont ask any of the people(not only kids) to cut MDF basboard cause they like to just snap it and not cut it

only from experience keep and eye on what they are doing and measure every piece for yourself before you leave.

Kris

[DragnDrop]

Get a Rotozip.
Being of the female persuasion, my toolbox has my trusty Rotozip, reversible drill, a hammer, 10 screwdrivers, duct tape, silicone and WD-40.
Even with my Rotozip I can cut straighter than the guys at the local HD here.

[bob2004]

I agree with chameo, make sure you measure all cuts before you leave.
I wouldn't go over 20" in depth mine is 19" and seems awfully high. What were your total cost? (always higher than expected right?).

[boidlover]

oscar, unfortunately my wife doesn't exsist.. I'm a female.. and I DO own a circular saw, I PAID for something.. I want what I PAID for..

dragndrop, had a rotozip.. ex stole it.. it's on my xmas list :)

as for total cost.. I'll be adding everything together tonight.. I think it's about $100 for the three of them (instead of having the long pieces cut I just got two 24x48 pieces cut into four pieces, so I've got enough extras now to a smaller enclosure too) I'll be posting pics and costs of the whole thing in a couple days.. just waiting for the first one to be finished (ran into a problem with the doors and wiring)m shouldn't be more than 5 days.

*EDIT*
It's actually 5/8" melamine.. the black stuff was 1/2" I'll post the exact measurements and such later.

[oscar]

oops.. lol.. sorry about the wife comment Boid. still so used to the vast majority of online users being male. goes back to when all users were not only male, but complete geeks too.. lol

anyway, i was just suggesting that instead of trusting someone else to do something right, you're probably better off doing it yourself. typical of all things in life unfortunately.

hoping to see your pics soon.