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Old 04-09-13, 12:00 PM   #1
nepoez
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savannah monitor cage design

Hi all,

I'm now starting to design the cage for a savannah monitor. It will be 8x4x4. Here's a rough design I made, I didn't draw the screws in, but the wooden pieces are all there plus the "glass".

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Old 04-09-13, 12:20 PM   #2
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

I would think its easier to use plywood with regards to retaining heat and moisture as opposed to only boards and support beams. Maybe just make the dirt box with board and a simple frame with plywood, insulation in the middle.
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Old 04-09-13, 02:19 PM   #3
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

so are you planning on just using boards then? no plywood or OSB? if you are as was mentioned above you will have a lot of cracks between those boards and it will be harder to keep your humidity correct in there you will have to line the inside with something no matter what. with the glass, make sure its thick because it will break easily

Last edited by infernalis; 04-09-13 at 03:16 PM..
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Old 04-09-13, 06:39 PM   #4
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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so are you planning on just using boards then? no plywood or OSB? if you are as was mentioned above you will have a lot of cracks between those boards and it will be harder to keep your humidity correct in there you will have to line the inside with something no matter what. with the glass, make sure its thick because it will break easily
Why did you say the same thing I said again?
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Old 04-09-13, 06:45 PM   #5
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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Why did you say the same thing I said again?

because what you said confused me i wasn't sure if that was what you were saying or not..
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Old 04-09-13, 07:06 PM   #6
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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because what you said confused me i wasn't sure if that was what you were saying or not..
I'll try to be more clear, usually I'm thinking in one language, and writing it in another, so the grammar will be kind of off.
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Old 04-09-13, 09:24 PM   #7
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

hey guys I'm kinda confused. Trying to make a good cage this time so gotta get it right.
Each piece of that cage is gonna be made of 4ftx1ft planks as shown in the video. What material it is I don't know yet I just know it's gonna be some kind of wood from home depot.

So you mentioned boards and blanks and OSD, etc I have no idea what we're talking about(I'm not very handy at this point). So please educate me, and make no assumptions of me knowing anything.

and yes I'll be lining that with something for water proofing etc..

thx
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Old 04-10-13, 12:34 AM   #8
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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Originally Posted by nepoez View Post
hey guys I'm kinda confused. Trying to make a good cage this time so gotta get it right.
Each piece of that cage is gonna be made of 4ftx1ft planks as shown in the video. What material it is I don't know yet I just know it's gonna be some kind of wood from home depot.

So you mentioned boards and blanks and OSD, etc I have no idea what we're talking about(I'm not very handy at this point). So please educate me, and make no assumptions of me knowing anything.

and yes I'll be lining that with something for water proofing etc..

thx
Considering what I just read, I too am a lousy carpenter, I can tell you from experience, plywood (sheets of wood) is easier to build a box from than planks are any day.

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Old 04-10-13, 07:04 AM   #9
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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Considering what I just read, I too am a lousy carpenter, I can tell you from experience, plywood (sheets of wood) is easier to build a box from than planks are any day.


cool. So if I could find sheets of plywood that is 4ftx2ft then I could spend less time making each face of the box.

I'm thinking of lining the soil parts of the cage with heavy duty plastic sheets for water proof. Then cover each side with a hard plastic material to prevent the monitor from ripping the lining.
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Old 04-10-13, 07:45 AM   #10
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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cool. So if I could find sheets of plywood that is 4ftx2ft then I could spend less time making each face of the box.

I'm thinking of lining the soil parts of the cage with heavy duty plastic sheets for water proof. Then cover each side with a hard plastic material to prevent the monitor from ripping the lining.
I assume transportation of 8 foot long sheets is out of the question?

Anyway, yes.. Home depot (and many places) will cut the sheets down smaller for you.

As much effort as you are putting into sealing the bottom, why not just use a paint on resin sealer? it will last for a lot of years.
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Old 04-10-13, 12:10 PM   #11
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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As much effort as you are putting into sealing the bottom, why not just use a paint on resin sealer? it will last for a lot of years.

i agree with this, plastic will get ripped over time, promise lol.. they can claw their way through everything.
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Old 04-10-13, 05:13 AM   #12
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

Is this the new one? Or pics of the older one during construction
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Old 04-10-13, 12:26 PM   #13
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

Hm... I got a problem with chem coatings. I got my temp cage setup in the basement already so the sav is there. For me to build a 8x4x4 cage I need to build it in the basement, at least assemble it there. And coating that stuff in the basement will be bad for the health of the lizards, and people who are down here too. If I coat the new cage else where, I won't be able to move the cage through the door to the basement as the cage is too big..

Can a monitor claw through plexy glass? Maybe I can use that to protect the lining, so each face of the box, starting from the outter later would be
1.) Wood
2.) Heavy duty plastic lining
3.) plexy glass
4.) soil
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Old 04-10-13, 12:27 PM   #14
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

or instead of plexy glass to protect the plastic lining I can use aluminum sheets as u do?
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Old 04-10-13, 12:36 PM   #15
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Re: savannah monitor cage design

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or instead of plexy glass to protect the plastic lining I can use aluminum sheets as u do?

Hi, you can use FRP (fibreglass reinforced plastic) on the bottom and sides up to substrate level, it comes in 8 x 4 ft sheets just like plywood, and I`m fairly sure they would cut it to size for you.
As far as building the enclosure, why not make it in two halves; the top is basically just 3/4 inch plywood joined at the corners with some steel angle brackets (very cheap and much stronger than screws), and a sliding plate glass front (or a ready made window).
The bottom half which holds the substrate will obviously need 2 x 4 inch framework.
Doing it that way means you could make it in another room, and easily get it through the doors before putting it all together.
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