rrrrr
10-07-05, 07:29 PM
Hey all. Basically, I want to build a 5 cage bookcase style enclosure, and I need some advice, and just generally a sounding board to bang around ideas. I'm not terribly inclined in these things. I have built some 3X2 sliding glass melamines that turned out pretty good so I'm not exactly incompetent.
Basically my goal is to build a 4 shelf "bookshelf" where each shelf is 4wX2dX1.5h. The whole unit would then be 4wX2dX6h. The top shelf would be partitioned into 2 2x2 cages. My current plan is to use sliding glass doors on each shelf, although I'm not sure how that works for the top cage with the divider.
If the difference in cost is not bad, I'd like to make it nice enough to put in the living room, but I'm happoy with an OK looking rack for the snake room if it comes to that.
First concern: materials. I think melamine is too heavy. Maybe I do melamine for the sides and front, and use plywood on the back? Would I be better off using plywood all around? How thick would it have to be to prevent sagging? Would 4X2 melamine shelves tend to sag?
Second concern: the front. Assume for the moment I do the front and sides from 5/8" melamine. Building the open bookshelf is easy. I dont quite know what to do with the front yet. One idea is to take a 6X4 sheet of melamine and cut out the 4 cage openings and use it like a face-plate on the front. Nice thing about this is it giives a seamless 1-piece front with litter dams and all. The cons are, the cut-outs wont really be the right size for anything else. Another idea is to make each shelf 23 3/8" deep instead of 24". I could then use a 6" x 48" piece of melamine centered on each shelf to bring the front out flush with the sides, and provide a 3" litter dam for the upper shelf, and a 3" hangy-downy part (what do I call that...valance?) to attach the upper track for the lower cage. I guess I'd have the glass cut to cover the full 48" if I did this.. I could even combine this idea with 5" x 6' side pieces on the front to cut the width down to 3', and save on glass a little bit.
Third: heating. My initial thought was heating pads adhered to the bottom of each shelf. I have a few concerns with this. One is, the heating pad will be exposed to view, which will detract from the asthetics if I do put this in the living room. Also, will an exposed heating pad on the ceiling be a problem for the snake below? My gut says no, but I would like opinions.
Fourth: planning my cuts. How much is lost to the blade? I know I cant get 4 2' cuts from an 8 foot sheet, but I dont know how much loss I have to plan for. Do melamine and plywood sheets come perfectly square, or do I lose a small bit to a squaring cut?
Fifth: finish. If I go with wood rather than melamine, is g1s good enough for display? My gut feel is that the back can be g1s, but the rest needs to be g2s. Maybe I can make the shelves out of g1s since only short people will see the undersides. Is stain/varathane safe for use in a reptile cage? What are my other options?
Anyway, everything in my current plan is subject to change. Feel free to chime in with any ideas...different door designs...materials, etc.
Basically my goal is to build a 4 shelf "bookshelf" where each shelf is 4wX2dX1.5h. The whole unit would then be 4wX2dX6h. The top shelf would be partitioned into 2 2x2 cages. My current plan is to use sliding glass doors on each shelf, although I'm not sure how that works for the top cage with the divider.
If the difference in cost is not bad, I'd like to make it nice enough to put in the living room, but I'm happoy with an OK looking rack for the snake room if it comes to that.
First concern: materials. I think melamine is too heavy. Maybe I do melamine for the sides and front, and use plywood on the back? Would I be better off using plywood all around? How thick would it have to be to prevent sagging? Would 4X2 melamine shelves tend to sag?
Second concern: the front. Assume for the moment I do the front and sides from 5/8" melamine. Building the open bookshelf is easy. I dont quite know what to do with the front yet. One idea is to take a 6X4 sheet of melamine and cut out the 4 cage openings and use it like a face-plate on the front. Nice thing about this is it giives a seamless 1-piece front with litter dams and all. The cons are, the cut-outs wont really be the right size for anything else. Another idea is to make each shelf 23 3/8" deep instead of 24". I could then use a 6" x 48" piece of melamine centered on each shelf to bring the front out flush with the sides, and provide a 3" litter dam for the upper shelf, and a 3" hangy-downy part (what do I call that...valance?) to attach the upper track for the lower cage. I guess I'd have the glass cut to cover the full 48" if I did this.. I could even combine this idea with 5" x 6' side pieces on the front to cut the width down to 3', and save on glass a little bit.
Third: heating. My initial thought was heating pads adhered to the bottom of each shelf. I have a few concerns with this. One is, the heating pad will be exposed to view, which will detract from the asthetics if I do put this in the living room. Also, will an exposed heating pad on the ceiling be a problem for the snake below? My gut says no, but I would like opinions.
Fourth: planning my cuts. How much is lost to the blade? I know I cant get 4 2' cuts from an 8 foot sheet, but I dont know how much loss I have to plan for. Do melamine and plywood sheets come perfectly square, or do I lose a small bit to a squaring cut?
Fifth: finish. If I go with wood rather than melamine, is g1s good enough for display? My gut feel is that the back can be g1s, but the rest needs to be g2s. Maybe I can make the shelves out of g1s since only short people will see the undersides. Is stain/varathane safe for use in a reptile cage? What are my other options?
Anyway, everything in my current plan is subject to change. Feel free to chime in with any ideas...different door designs...materials, etc.