savannah monitor cage design

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by nepoez

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.

[DeadlyDesires]

they will claw through the plexi glass over time im sure of it.

[DiscoPat]

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

they will claw through the plexi glass over time im sure of it.

This and they will go to the corners and bend them out to squeeze out which can hurt them or they will escape. Avoid plexiglass.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by nepoez

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

If you chose that, go to your local scrap yard (recycler of scrap metals) and ask for old road signs, often sold by the pound, right now it's about 50 cents a pound for aluminum, so it will still be a little pricy, but a lot cheaper than going to a meatl dealer and asking for virgin sheets. (sold by the square foot and a lot more expensive)

However, polymer resin is far lighter, just as strong, just as permenant and about the same price as the scrap aluminum.

I got a whole stack of that metal once in a trade, it was conveniently in my way anyhow, so I used some of it on my cage.

Had I been forced to pay my way, I would have chosen polymer resin... But since I have a pile of aluminum, I used that for free VS buying poly resin.

[Danimal]

That size is very convenient. All you need for panels is 3X- 4 x 8 sheets ( have 1-1/2" cut off of one end of 1 sheet so the final dimension is 48" X 94-1/2 ) and 2X 48X48. Homedepot has pre cut project panels. **The reason I suggest this instead of just cutting a full sheet in half is that you need 48 inches on the side panel. If you cut a full sheet in half, the kerf will leave you slightly short, not a deal breaker but my OCD won't let me do it. Plus you won't have to depend on the accuracy of the home depot guy.

Here's a graphic

[infernalis]

Most plywood has an extra 1/4 to 1/3 inch to compensate for kerf loss.