New Cages

[WakoNako]

Hey All.

I know its been a looooooong time since I last posted anything. I've just been so swamped.
Since last being on here, I've gotten married, moved into my own place, started working 12+ hours a day, and finally started making tracks into building 2 new cages.

Specs:
14" high on the interior. 12" high with substrate;
Currently 24" deep. 22" once completed;
Approximately 3'6" across. Interior will be around 3' 3" once completed;
Heated using Flexwatt;
Floor will be made of tile;
Most materials salvaged from work;
Lit interior;
Total cost so far: $30 for 2 14" lights and 6 3" vents.

So far I've spent 2-3 evenings over the space of 2 weeks getting to the stage I'm at.

From the last cage I've learn't not to build so tall, these cages are a full 6" shorter on the interior. I've also learn't not to vent the cage too much or it won't hold humidity.

I framed these cages, clad the exterior and then filled the spaces in the frame with styrofoam. This serves two purposes, first it'll keep the cages warmer meaning I won't need the UTH so high and won't require heat lamps. It also provides a base for me to build decorative walls using grout.

First: Basic Plans

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/Cage1-1.jpg
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/Cage2-1.jpg

Second: Cage interior so far

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2220017.jpg

Third: Vents and light switch. I wired in a wall switch, in the previous picture the blue box in the back of the switch.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2220019.jpg

Fourth: Light

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2220020-1.jpg

Fifth: Light in the dark

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2220021-1.jpg



Both cages are identical so I only posted the pictures of one. The only difference between them is vent layout as they are designed to sit side by side.

I'm still working on plans for the front and doors.

[Marica]

Looking good so far. What type of doors are you thinking of, sliding or swing? Also, what design program did you use to create those plans?

[natedog]

looks kinda like google sketch up

[WakoNako]

I used sketchup to make the plans. The door i'm thinkin a swing down door

[marvelfreak]

Looking good and sounds like it going to be a sweet cage.

[shaunyboy]

looking good mate

i look forward to pictures of the finished article

cheers shaun

[Marica]

Thanks, thought it looked like SketchUp. Look forward to updates and seeing the finished product.

[WakoNako]

Selection of styrofoam "clutter"

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2251074.jpg

For now, this is the only piece I've grouted

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2251075.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2251077.jpg

I covered it in Titebond, let it set up for a day and then mixed up some grout. I used sanded because its what I already had and I actually put it on quite thick. I only had a little but of cracking, but that was hit with a second layer of grout.
Now all I need to do is seal it. Any ideas on a safe grout sealer for snakes?

[derekcm87]

Looking good!

[mld]

I've only make one for a bearded dragon, so its much dryer there and I used modge podge which I wouldn't recommend for a humid area. What about a grout sealer that is non-toxic!s

[WakoNako]

Today I completed the floor structure for the cages. All thats left to do is the front and the cages will be built, leaving me to just tile and texture the insides.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270067.jpg
I cut a piece of wood out of the floor of each cage to the size of the heat mat.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270070.jpg
Routed a couple of notches into each board for the flexwatt clips to rest in, providing me a level UTH.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270072.jpg
Drilled 1/4" ventilation holes so excess heat doesn't get trapped and build up, then covered the shelf with foil to reflect heat and also keep the flexwatt from touching bare wood. This worked well for me on the first cage I built about a year ago so I repeated it.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270078.jpg
The door in place on the bottom of the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270079.jpg
Hinges doing their jobs. I used a simple deadbolt catch to keep the door from opening.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270080.jpg
Flexwatt in place, small notches allow the wires to come out from the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270081.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2270082.jpg
The floor with concrete board attached. This is for the interior of the cage and the tile will stick to this.

[WakoNako]

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2271069.jpg
The cages taking up more room than I had anticipated.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2271071.jpg
Coating walls and ceilings of the cage with Titebond to give the grout something to grip too.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P2271072.jpg
Both cages Titebond-ed and drying.

In a couple of days I will start with the grout hopefully.

[WakoNako]

Picked up my perspex for the windows to the cages yesterday.
Top Tip: Go to Lowes and ask them to sell you some scrap perspex. I got $30 worth of perspex for $2. All in good condition and all a good size. Just split over 4 sheets, but that ain't a problem.

[WakoNako]

Using Great Stuff, I filled the gaps between the styrofoam and wood framing. I also padded the corners

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P3021069.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/P3021070.jpg

In a couple of days, I will trim and sand the great stuff to make smooth transitions from framing to styrofoam and also to round out the corners. I figured round corners will make for easier cleaning.

I also picked up a bag of Shur-Crete today from Sherwin Williams. Its a spray concrete/acrylic powder that we mix with water to texture swimming pool decks here in Florida. I figure the acrylic properties in it will allow for more flex than grout.
After the Great Stuff is set and cut, I will start to spray the texture. Tomorrow, however, I hope to set tile on the floors of each cage.

I also got the guy at Sherwins to give me a "sample" of tint they use to tint the paint to add to the shurcrete for built in color.

[WakoNako]

Apologies on the lack of updates, but thats due in part to a lack of progress.
We've been swamped at work and the little time off I get is just enough to sleep eat and relax.

This last week though, I managed to tile and grout the floors of the cages.
Spray the insides with deck concrete.
Connect the floor to the walls.
Seal it all with one coat of water based sealer. 2nd coat goes on tomorrow.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0421111515.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0421111516.jpg

[Reptile_Reptile]

good stuff

[sickvenom]

Can't wait to hear what kind of temps you will get with these.

[WakoNako]

Update! Finally! lol

Today I didn't get much done... time is a real limiting factor lol

I decided to work on the vents today. Originally the idea was to have 3 in each one and leave the back open. I reevaluated that decision as the edges on the insides of the vents that would be on the interior of the cage were kinda sharp. So I went out and brought 6 more.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111655.jpg

The Vents will sit back to back through the ventilation holes. Unfortunately, thickness of my walls is only 1.25" and 2 vents back to back are 2".
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111655a.jpg

Out came the grinder to take at least 3/8" off of the backside of each vent.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111705.jpg

It took 3 vents before I figured out the best way to hold them while cutting them, but I finally figured this 2 clamp system and I had the remaining 9 done in the same time it took me to do one.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111708.jpg

Halfway there.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111715.jpg

All cut to size.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111720.jpg

I decided to seal the interiors while I played with the vents.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111733.jpg

Using silicone I placed the vents in the holes.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0426111740.jpg

[WakoNako]

The cages are all but finished!!
All thats left is to install the plexi and a spring latch and move the snakes in (after adding substrate, hides etc)

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0501111205.jpg
Substrate barrier

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0501111341.jpg
To make the windows in the doors i used a router table to groove the back side of the doors to the thickness of the plexi. The inside was then cut out. The plexi will be siliconed to the wood in the groove making the door flush on the inside of the cage.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0501111510.jpg
Door installed.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/0502112250.jpg
Cages as they sit now for temperature testing while all the sealers dry for the week.

[sickvenom]

very nice!

[Coffee Black]

Very nice. What did you use for design in those first pics?

[mykee]

Nice design, I am a little concerned about the flexwatt sitting on aluminum foil though.
That's crazy dangerous.

[sickvenom]

Nice design, I am a little concerned about the flexwatt sitting on aluminum foil though.
That's crazy dangerous.

i'm guessing the idea is for heat reflection. the next cages i build will have the holes drilled in the bottom, then routed out, like you do with your racks, then the flexwatt, then vinyl tile on top of that.

[stephanbakir]

Post pics of the cage once its all set up with snakes:P nice job

[WakoNako]

The foil and flexwatt is fine. I've done it in all my other cages. When putting the flexwatt in the cage I place it shiny side away from the foil

[HDreptiles]

Very nice cages.

One question. Where did you find those vents? I walked around Home Depot for an hour the other day and still wound up having to build my own. Those were the exact ones I was looking for.

[WakoNako]

Lowes. Near the roofing/gutters. With all the attic vents

[stephanbakir]

Gona need to pick some up :)

[HDreptiles]

Thank you. I am for sure going to have to get some.

[WakoNako]

Just so ya know, the inside of the vent is finished kind of rough. I don't think it would do the snakes harm but i wasn't 100% sure, hence the reason I doubled them up and put them back to back

[HDreptiles]

Just so ya know, the inside of the vent is finished kind of rough. I don't think it would do the snakes harm but i wasn't 100% sure, hence the reason I doubled them up and put them back to back

Thanks for the info. I am going to have a fake rock wall in the next 2 cages so that should not be a problem. I will just do it thick enough that it will cover it up.