help with wood selection

[ilovemypets1988]

hi all, im going to be building a 7ft x 6ft viv stack and it will be turned into 3 3ft and 3 4ft vivs and i was wondering what would be the best wood and if anyone can help me with measurements of the wood as building 1 i can do but working out the measurements is alittle beyond me.

thanx in advance guys and gals

[lady_bug87]

I've not yet built mine but some say to stay away from cedar and pine others say it doesn't matter so long as its sealed well.

If you're staining it choose something you like if you're painting it I think any 3/4in plywood would do

[ilovemypets1988]

I've not yet built mine but some say to stay away from cedar and pine others say it doesn't matter so long as its sealed well.

If you're staining it choose something you like if you're painting it I think any 3/4in plywood would do

thanx hun, i do know about cedar and pine being toxic, i kept snakes for a few years alittle while ago :)

i was thinking either mdf or ply myself

[infernalis]

news flash - Pine lumber is kiln dried, the kiln burns off all the terpines.

All of my cages are framed with pine lumber, and plywood is manufactured from pine laminate.

Pine animal bedding is made from kiln dried wood also, rendering it "toxic oils free"

[ilovemypets1988]

news flash - Pine lumber is kiln dried, the kiln burns off all the terpines.

All of my cages are framed with pine lumber, and plywood is manufactured from pine laminate.

Pine animal bedding is made from kiln dried wood also, rendering it "toxic oils free"

oh i didnt know that, thanx for info :D

[infernalis]

The sap problem is only valid with "green" wood.

I'm not sure where the whole myth came from, probably people blaming the pine for their own bad husbandry.

I see it with herp keepers all over, they fail the animals, and then seek to blame everything from bad food, imaginary diseases, "cancer", birth defects or the alignment of the planets.

I have personally seen more than one snake in a pine tree, I have seen snakes on the forest floor where all the pine needles, cones and broken limbs fall... and they are not in bad health.

[ilovemypets1988]

The sap problem is only valid with "green" wood.

I'm not sure where the whole myth came from, probably people blaming the pine for their own bad husbandry.

I see it with herp keepers all over, they fail the animals, and then seek to blame everything from bad food, imaginary diseases, "cancer", birth defects or the alignment of the planets.

I have personally seen more than one snake in a pine tree, I have seen snakes on the forest floor where all the pine needles, cones and broken limbs fall... and they are not in bad health.

very true, after all, pine trees are usually the most common tree out there.
what would you say is the best way of building the vivarium stack, as tbh i dont have a clue, ill be ordering the wood pre-cut from the DIY store or a timber yard.

[infernalis]

Personally, I use metal racks from the hardware store.

[ilovemypets1988]

i shouldve mentioned that the vivs are for bearded dragons, thats my fault for not mentioning it before hand

[Donnie]

the orchid bark substrate I use for my carpets is in fact pine bark and sold by most pet shops / online reptile shops

for your build it is going to depend on how you want it to look in the end but you want to be going with something at least 18mm thick. maybe take a trip out to b&q and have a look at the different sheets of wood they stock and it should help your decision

[ilovemypets1988]

so i think ive worked out the measurements for the wood i need;

1x 2134mm x 1829mm
2x 1829mm x 610mm
3x 878mm x 574mm
3x 1183mm x 574mm
1x 1793mm x 574mm
2x 2134mm x 610mm
2x 2134mm x 250mm
2x 2134mm x 500mm

can you guys tell me what you think please

[Corey209]

Mahogany is my favorite wood, it has a really nice finish.

[Gungirl]

Oak plywood can look really nice and not cost an arm and a leg.... Its what I used on all my builds.