already made or make one? - Page 2

lostwithin · 05-02-04, 06:43 PM

Hey I just built this cage, it' 4x2x2, (i.e. exactly one piece of melamine) cost me 34$ for the melamine, 3$ for screws, 6$ for the calking, and 2 bucks for the glass track, I already had the glass pains so they didn’t cost a thing, its very easy too work with just go carefully when screwing too avoid cracking the melamine, and seal the cracks inside or it will bubble on you,

Good luck,
Devon

klein · 05-02-04, 06:44 PM

don't know about cutting it, i am pretty sure you can just use a normal fine tooth blade in a saw and it will be fine, but make sure you finish the cut end with something before you put it together, anyone correct me if i am wrong.

From what i read about other people using melamine there are special screws that you need and you need to predrill the holes or else you will crack the melamine ... there are some other threads in the enclosure forum about people using melamine.

Lrptls · 05-02-04, 06:45 PM

nice cage, seems pretty easy and cheap, i dont have glass though where can i get that?

klein · 05-02-04, 06:58 PM

any glass shop you can get glass at ... in Canada, i got quotes of $6 a square foot for 1/4 inch glass.

Lrptls · 05-02-04, 07:09 PM

thanks klein, i'm thinking about making the other 4 cages i need now =)

lostwithin · 05-02-04, 07:26 PM

I have also heard of Pre-drilling in melamine, but I did not, I used long thin wood screws , and went slow with a drill, too avoid cracking, I did not pre drill and it worked fine, but if you’d like too be safe you can.
Devon

Linds · 05-02-04, 07:49 PM

I built 6 large cages myself for $503.86 CDN (which as of today, works out to be $367.40 US). I could've even made them cheaper had I chose a few different materials or whatever else. They are strong as you will find anywhere and I think they look great too

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=27408

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/22cages-finished.jpg">

Melamine sucks all around. Really the only thing going for it is convenience. It is heavy, it chips, the edges are sharp, it isn't waterproof and if the coating gets scratched (and it will get scratched like crazy if you have branches, rocks, or animals with nails) you are screwed, it bubbles, and it can be a pain to work with. I hate all my melamine stuff.

klein · 05-02-04, 07:53 PM

very nice cages linds, nice work

Lrptls · 05-02-04, 08:07 PM

is there something i could use thats almost as cheap as melamine?

V.hb · 05-02-04, 08:10 PM

I have about 4 melemime cages and i have no problems with them. Oh yeah, I house 3 and 5 foot blackthroat monitors in them, that scratch like theres no tommorow, and ive seen no scratches in the melemime. The only part I find chips are the edges if you drop them while building. Unfortunatly iam a clutz, so i did do that, but anyone that is handy shouldn't have a problem. I also keep a group of ackies in a melemime.... No issues there either..

I suppose its a matter of preference.... I always found covering the bottom of melemime tanks with a tarp (that costs under 10 bucks) does a good job at waterproofing the bottom. (which is where you would need the most protection, being it will house a monitor.) You can PM me if you wish to see any photos of my varanid enclosures..

Good luck.

Linds · 05-02-04, 08:26 PM

Well, in my thread is a list of the materials I used as well as pricing for them. I used OSB and it cost me 1/3 less than melamine. The price was right, only downfall is the nooks can be a pain to clean sometimes. You can get some plywoods for cheaper than melamine as well.

I have both the high-quality professional grade melamine (also built professionally) as well as the cheaper stuff you get at Home Depot. In fact, the Home Depot stuff bubbled within two months of use in a relatively dry climate despite being properly sealed. I've seen the stuff wear down over time with lizards or tortoises being housed in them, and also in racks with a few years of rubbermaids being slid snuggly back and forth. I've never had any good experiences with it.

V.hb · 05-02-04, 09:09 PM

you house snakes no? maybe humidity isnt a good idea for melemime.... my humidity is around 50-60%... iam sure yours is higher. From my expierience, ive never had a problem with housing varanids

never tried snakes though.

Lrptls · 05-02-04, 09:12 PM

i was thinking about building 4 more cages for 2 colombian red tails and 2 ball pythons. so if they dont hold humidity i supose i'll need a different material for those cages.

can i still see those pictures V.hb?