DIY 4x4x2 JCP enclosure on a budget!

[Terranaut]

So when I first decided to build my own enclosures for both my male and especially my female JCPs( so yes 2 identical enclosures) I had planned to go all out. Insulate them, custom glass ect. But after a while I thought hell for that money I could just buy one from a custom builder and ship it. So I reconsidered what I was going to do and decided to try to go high quality lowest possible cost. Or close to it. So I bought my wood to start. I will update this thread with progress pics and keep a running total cost in each post. It will take me honnestly a couple weeks to do this as I do work long hours.
All costs in Canadian $$
Ok post 1:
Got the wood and some other supplies to get started.

3 full sheets of 3/4" melemine both sides good. $90
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-183.jpg

Had them cut in half to fit in my van.
I also grabbed these odds and ends to the tune of $67
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-182.jpg
So todays total so far
$157

Stay tuned!!

[Rogue628]

I'm really interested in your project as once we get settled again, I want to build about 4 cages that size and three bigger ones.

Good luck in getting them built with minimal trouble :)

[USMCgunner11]

Best of luck. I like the color, they should turn out nice.

[Terranaut]

Thanks. It should be good. I will break down the design plan tomorrow.

[Terranaut]

Post 2. The plan


So I'm not gonna just hammer something together without a plan.
So what design to use?? Well I looked at what I have used already.
I have "critter cages"
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-184.jpg

The top being a screen is huge problem especially when removing it.
Pain in the but and humidity is a lost cause.
(yes Mac is in one here but only for a few days)

PVC cages are great for humidity!!
But there isn't much of a damn to keep the substrate in when pulling a snake out.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-188.jpg

Vision style cages have a great substrate damn but I hate the sliding glass doors.
You can not properly open it to get your snake out and if they grab it or the opposite side coming out its a struggle.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-186.jpg

So IMHO this is the best design. Nice open doors. Easy access to your snake. Everything stays in. Ect. Now this one has a screen top but mine will have a vent in the back 1/4 way up from the floor. So mine will be all wood other than the doors with a 6" damn at the front.
So my dimensions will be a little different but this is the design model.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-185.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-187.jpg




So stay tuned ;)

[Kingsnakechris]

Nice! I'm pretty curious to see what you come up with, I'll be starting mine next month. Thanks for sharing.

[Brazen17]

You can get lot's of good info on cabinet building online or get a book from Lowe's or Home Depot. Amazon is also a good source how to do it books.

[Terranaut]

You can get lot's of good info on cabinet building online or get a book from Lowe's or Home Depot. Amazon is also a good source how to do it books.

My goal for this is to make a large , highly functional , easy to build ( I mean a 10yr old could do it) nice looking enclosure for stupid cheap. I originaly planned to insulate it with stained oak exterior and slate tile inside. I realized I will have to move these around and eventually build 4 more of the same so cost and the ability to copy it exactly became top priority.





Still haven't been able to get going on this between work and rain.
Also still waiting for my heat panels to arrive .

[MoreliAddict]

This seems awesome, but I think DIY is more expensive than people think.

At the White Plains expo, I saw fully assembled PVC (front-opening) cages at $110 (in America) for a 3' by 2' by 18". Again, fully assembled PVC. And the people at the booth would install the screen top right in front of you upon request.

[Terranaut]

This seems awesome, but I think DIY is more expensive than people think.

At the White Plains expo, I saw fully assembled PVC (front-opening) cages at $110 (in America) for a 3' by 2' by 18". Again, fully assembled PVC. And the people at the booth would install the screen top right in front of you upon request.

All of my costs will be in Canadian$$ at Canadian prices. I assume these will be cheaper to build in the US by a little bit anyway. Try to find a 4x4x2 PVC viv. I asked the guys at Powerhouse how much to make me one and I was looking at over $500 without heat. So my cost should be between $250-$275 each. I am going to do a complete cost total when they are done. 1/2 price and wait until you see my lighting and hide ideas ;)

[MoreliAddict]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-186.jpg
I use the same hides for Spot and that's EXACTLY how he hangs out most of the time.

[Terranaut]

Mick tends to hang out on top of the cool hide or in the warm. He can see our beardie from there and watches her like a hawk but doesn't snap into feed mode. Weird eh!

[Terranaut]

Started the basic cabinet today. I was going to build them at the same time but decided I should warm up on the one so at least the 2nd one looks not half bad ;)
I am no carpenter :) I made some errors but here is the first one screwed and glued with construction adhesive.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-196.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-195.jpg

I will put a dam top and bottom when I find out what size of cheaper standard cut glass or plexi will cost. Cheaper and easier to cut the dams to match the door than the other way around.

[Rogue628]

Looks good so far. :)

What are your plans for the inside? Are you going to leave it all open?

[Terranaut]

I plan to put fake branches in there.
This is then only waste from 1.5 full sheets of material.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-197.jpg

[Terranaut]

Ordered my doors and get them later today. $260 :( well that hurts but I should be able to finish these up this weekend and have snakes in them by next week.
Budget so far:
$90 for wood
$260 for doors
$348 for radiant heat panels
$68 for glue and screws and thermostats
$100 for fake trees and branches. I have pvc pipe to use already so no cost added.
$866 total
$433 for a 4x4x2 with heat and ready to go.
I don't think thats to bad when the local PVC guys wants over $500 for a 3x2x2 without heat.
Also she gets 32 cubic feet in mine vrs 12 in theirs.
Oh yeah. Lighting is going to be just a single 20 watt night light and I have those already too.
Thanks for looking. Finishing pics coming this weekend.

[Brazen17]

Sounds like it is coming together nicely!

[Terranaut]

Ooops made a mistake on my pricing. I bought 3 heat panels not 2 so reduce the total by $110 or $55 each.

[Terranaut]

Heat panels are finaly here. Gonna finish this weekend. Also got some fake plants ect for the inside.

[Terranaut]

Forgot the pic. 80watt. $110 each (I bought 3) $18 for shipping.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-761.jpg

[rullom]

Quick question....where do you get the PVC box to work with or are there sheets or something that you cut to create the box. Where could I buy the sheets. I'm from canada.

[rullom]

Wheer did you find these radian panels

[Terranaut]

Radiant heat panels are from a local supplier. Pm me for details.
What pvc do you mean ?

[Rogue628]

That's just for one enclosure right? Still not bad at all considering how big it is compared to the cost of a prefabbed one.

Can't wait to see it finished! If it's ok, I may use your design when I start building mine. I need 3 on a much larger scale for my burms and my future retic, but it's definitely giving me tons of ideas and seems simple to build.

Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

[Terranaut]

Nope thats for 2. Building them one at a time.
Hopefully get on it today but its mothers day :(

[rullom]

The PVC I was referring to was the sheets needed to make the walls of an enclosure. Do you know what thickness they should be and where to get them in canada ?

[Terranaut]

Not PVC. Melemine. I bought 3 8'x4' sheets for $30 a sheet off a friend who owns a carpentry shop. I can hook you up if it's worth the drive to KW?

[rullom]

the only problem with male mine is it isn't water proof and it will rot....I need high humidity and will have misting system inside so that may not be good of rme. What do you think? I thought someone here mentioned PVC enclosures. But thanks I will keep that in mind if I do the outside with it.

[Terranaut]

Sealed melemine is coated in plastic and very water proof. Anywhere you cut it you must seal. Its easy. When I get a chance today I will post more on here about how I sealed it with pics.

[Lankyrob]

the only problem with male mine is it isn't water proof and it will rot....I need high humidity and will have misting system inside so that may not be good of rme. What do you think? I thought someone here mentioned PVC enclosures. But thanks I will keep that in mind if I do the outside with it.


All my vivs are melamine, from my corns that have 0% humidity through to my GTP which has upto 95% humidity, as said they need sealing anywhere that the interior wood is revealed but the plastic coating is waterproof.

[Terranaut]

Well I sure didn't get as much time on it today as I would have liked. Got it sealed and the door on. Not so sure I like how flexable the door is. Goin to add a strip of something more rigid across the top and bottom.
The sealant turns clear. Its a marine silicone.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1335.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1014.jpg

[rullom]

can you tell me a couple things..... do you pre drill you male mine then screw or are you using wooden plugs etc....or do you just marine silicone it? Can you tell me your brand of silicone please.
Secnod thing is your door. In the past I have not found an efficient way to create a door that is "bug proof" since there are always spots left open due to the hinging system.....I might try sliders this time so I don't have hinge spaces. Any suggestions?
Thanks

[Gungirl]

With a door that large being made of Plexi, I would have framed it. If you sandwich it like a picture frame you will add a ton of strength and still keep it clean looking.

[Terranaut]

Marine grade silicone from Canadian tire. I used industrial adhesive on all the edges I screwed together and used it as a locktite for the screws. I used 2 1/2" coarse drywall screws. I did not predrill or use a dowel. I can stand on the top and shake side to side without anything moving. The door gap is about 1/8" at the sides and 1/4 at the top. The top and bottom get a dam so there will be no gap. Wasn't to worried considering the size of my snake and I hate sliders. This opens up 100% across with nothing for her to grab when she is taken out. Still a couple kinks to work out but this thing is gonna be great.


With a door that large being made of Plexi, I would have framed it. If you sandwich it like a picture frame you will add a ton of strength and still keep it clean looking.

I think I am going to mount a piece of square metal tubing top and bottom to double as a handle.

[Terranaut]

Having some trouble gettin time to finish. Soon I hope. Sorry.

[Bright202]

Not PVC. Melemine. I bought 3 8'x4' sheets for $30 a sheet off a friend who owns a carpentry shop. I can hook you up if it's worth the drive to KW?

Hey Terranaut, I'm interested in seeing the finish product! Any more pics to share with us? Also, if you're able to hook me up with some $30 melamine, I wouldn't mind! :yes:

[Terranaut]

The enclosure is done but until I get the climbing items in the way I want I am holding off posting pics. When its done, my 2 boa vivs are done and my snake room is finished I will post about all of it. The snakes in these are doing great they are just functional and not asthetic which only matters to me anyway.
Where do you live? Canada is a big place :)

[Bright202]

The enclosure is done but until I get the climbing items in the way I want I am holding off posting pics. When its done, my 2 boa vivs are done and my snake room is finished I will post about all of it. The snakes in these are doing great they are just functional and not asthetic which only matters to me anyway.
Where do you live? Canada is a big place :)
Sorry I should have mentioned that! I live in Kitchener!

[shaunyboy]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-186.jpg
I use the same hides for Spot and that's EXACTLY how he hangs out most of the time.

does the doors not lift out these type of tanks ?

the sliding doors in my wooden tanks lift up,inside the top runners,allowing the bottom of the glass enough space,so you can pull the glass out of the bottom runners

look forward to your new build mate

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

That enclosure looks like this now.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1590.jpg

Painted the exterior black and changed out Mick for Dutch. Mick got a 4x4x2.