Thinking of building a new enclosure

[Kingsnakechris]

I was thinking about heading up to the hardware store and picking up some ply wood and some plexiglass. Was planning on cutting out the viewing sides and installing the plexiglass there and was going to glue on some other material to cover the inner sides. For the bottom I would Velcro on a piece of carpet and just add a few layers of Aspen on top of that. Heating would be easy enough I would cut holes and add guards for some heat lamps.. Any thoughts??

[DeesBalls]

what are you making it for? myself, and gungirl.. and a few others have all build some nice enclosures. let me konw what type or snake you have and i can give you a few ideas.

[USMCgunner11]

what are you making it for? myself, and gungirl.. and a few others have all build some nice enclosures. let me konw what type or snake you have and i can give you a few ideas.

Once my Colombian gets up to size, I was going to make her an 8 footer. Do you have any pics of the enclosures you have built?

Also, plexiglass scratches up pretty easily. May not be the best choice there.

[Kingsnakechris]

I have cal. Kings and will soon be getting a pair of corn snakes. I like the low maintenance species lol. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Kingsnakechris]

Once my Colombian gets up to size, I was going to make her an 8 footer. Do you have any pics of the enclosures you have built?

Also, plexiglass scratches up pretty easily. May not be the best choice there.

What would you substitute it with? I've never done this before just brainstorming...

[DeesBalls]

What would you substitute it with? I've never done this before just brainstorming...

i use plexiglass... if.... IF it does get scratched, plexi is like $2.00 or so (in the US).

some people use tempered glass, which may be better for bigger snakes.. i think.

[Kingsnakechris]

Thanks :D plexiglass should work, they will be in my snake room, no dogs or unauthorized visitors lol so as long as I take care not to scratch it I should be okay...

[Gungirl]

Plexi IMO would be best.. Your snake does not have claws to dig at it and scratch it so don't worry about scratches. If you are worried about strength double it up or by thicker plexi. I have used it in all of my vivs and I have no scratches or anything yet.

[Kingsnakechris]

Thanks everyone for the input thus far, should be starting this in the beginning of next month.

[USMCgunner11]

So long as the scratches are light you can remove them fairly easily. It's the deep ones that wont go away.

[USMCgunner11]

Take progress photos

[Kingsnakechris]

That's what I was thinking... I don't think any deep scratches will happen but as inexpensive as plexiglass is I'm not toooo worried about it..

[Kingsnakechris]

Take progress photos

Will do. I'm not to handy with drills n what not but I can build a nice looking rectangle hahaha

[KORBIN5895]

You can substitute Plexiglas (acrylic) with lexan ( poly carbonate) . Lexan is much stronger and won't crack .

[Kingsnakechris]

Is that as common as plexiglass? I'm probably going to home depot or lowes.. Can I find lexan there?

[Gungirl]

Home Depot does sell Lexan and depending on the prices in your area it might be worth using it. Where I am its about twice the cost of plexi.

[KORBIN5895]

Here lexan is $28 dollars for a 2'x4' ⅛ thick. Plexiglas is $6 a square foot at ⅛ thick.

[Kingsnakechris]

What's the difference as far as quality? Is it more clear?

[KORBIN5895]

Lexan is supposedly 250 times stronger than glass.

[Kingsnakechris]

That's a plus. Will have to see what the bills look like next month, may have to stay with the cheaper supplies at first but will def. Be making more as time/money permits.
I have a prety good idea of how I'm going to go about it in my head, so I'll just go from there. Again thanks for all the input everyone.