How to build a 4 ft by 2ft Cage

JDouglas · 08-31-04, 03:24 PM

How To Build A 4ft by 2ft by 1ft Cage

A larger version can easily be built by increasing the dimensions.

Tim_Cranwill · 08-31-04, 03:32 PM

Very nice!

Bartman · 08-31-04, 05:11 PM

Great post! Thanks for sharing

Ptindy · 09-03-04, 10:17 PM

Yes great post, where did you get the vents?? I can't find anything like that here and Calgary. Thanks, Mike

ChunkyMunky · 09-08-04, 11:13 PM

Looks great! Thanks for sharing. I might have to steal your design in the near future. Later.

Dan.

bistrobob85 · 09-09-04, 12:00 AM

Me too... very useful thread, thanks JDouglas!

Got_Herps? · 11-11-04, 03:27 PM

Hello all,

I'm having trouble finding a place to buy Melamine panels. Do you get them online or do you have a local distributor? The Lowe's and Home Depot don't seem to stock them here in Saint Louis. Thanks for any info.

-Paul

Tim_Cranwill · 11-11-04, 03:35 PM

Really? They seem to be at every hardware store I go to. Have you asked one of the employees? They are in the lumber section as well as the shelving section where I shop.

Asian Jon · 11-11-04, 04:46 PM

Sweet design!!Where do I ge the glass and have it cut?

rwg · 11-11-04, 04:58 PM

Look in the yellow pages under "glass". Seriously, there should be dozens of glass shops. Any that advertise "home" or "residential" glass will cut to order for you.

Roy

K1LOS · 11-16-04, 12:50 PM

Wow, what more could you want? Perfect step by step instructions. I don't even need a cage and i'm itchin to go start building one. Thanks a lot

Geoff

Invictus · 11-16-04, 04:07 PM

Very good step by step, there's only one critique I have, based on my own experiences... I notice you put the sides flush against the ground, beside the floor panel. In doing this, you are depending on the screws and the top panel to hold the weight of the cage. Something you may want to try is to put the sides ON the floor panel, as well as the back... this way the side and back entire walls support the load of the cage top, and anything you stack on top of it. Diagrams below for futher clarification:

Greg West · 11-16-04, 04:17 PM

I agree with Ken. This is how I build all of my cage whether glass or wood. You are building a stronger cage when you are using the bottom panel as supprt for the rest of the cages. That way the screw or the silicone is just holding it together, instead of holding it together and holding the rest of the cage up.

Greg

JDouglas · 11-16-04, 04:28 PM

I also agree that it would be stronger built Ken's way and is an easy adjustment to make. Instead of cutting the bottom board you would cut 1.5 inches off the back. We have many cages stacked up but all are the same size so weight is still distributed onto the back and sides causing no problems. Stacking a few narrower cages on top could be a problem because the weight would be supported only by the screws in the sides and back.

peterm15 · 11-16-04, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Asian Jon
Sweet design!!Where do I ge the glass and have it cut?

Quote:

Look in the yellow pages under "glass". Seriously, there should be dozens of glass shops. Any that advertise "home" or "residential" glass will cut to order for you.

Roy]

you gotta wtach that though... its quite expensive...
my dad owns a glass business and ive worked there for years... when they are asked to do that they charge you like $25 per cut 2-3 cuts per peice and materials... they charge a min square footage.. if its not larger...

try plexy.

upsides... it wont break, cheaper. can get it at hardware stores, you can cut yourself, can be drilled. for locks

downsides. scratches very easily and over time it dis-colours.

if your looking for a display peice however youll need glass..

in this case, some home hardware stores DO cut glass. it is cheaper than a glass company believe it or not. but if you have an old tank that is busted or something take it apart... either build the cahe around these measurements or cut the glass yourself... you can get glass cutters from hardware stores...