Building a custom enclosure (work log)

[Wizard]

After getting your advice from this thread, today I started building my enclosure. First thing I had to do, was to paint the woods with a material that protects them from humidity and the developing of fungus, bacteria and moss. This material is ecological and does not harm the cham.

Please feel free to comment/suggest anything from your experience.

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

nice brush cant wait too watch it in progress! i can tell already by that protective shine that it's going to be beautiful!

 

[beeze]

Lookin good so far keep us posted.

 

[Benton1576]

Latex gloves, a must have for any DIY enthusiast, and murderers!!! lol. Ill be watching this thread closely as im wanting to build my own vivs so inspiration is what i need. Good job so far pal.

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

Latex gloves, a must have for any DIY enthusiast, and murderers!!! lol. Ill be watching this thread closely as im wanting to build my own vivs so inspiration is what i need. Good job so far pal.

really? im a diy enthusiast, so i agree latex is a must.. but i've always found the big yellow rubber gloves better for...... welll.. ha.

 

[pssh]

I don't like latex when I'm working with unsanded wood. Rough parts tend to catch the gloves.

 

[hondataeg6]

mind sharing the name of the product youre using on the wood?? is it waterproof??

Thanks

 

[Benton1576]

I agree pssh, I prefer to use gardening gloves, althought they let paint, varnish etc soak through if your a messy worker but much better than the latex. Anyway, im sure this wasnt started to show off his gloves or brushes!

 

[pssh]

I've heard that the stuff they use on boats is great for the job! can't get much more waterproof than that.

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

ive read multiple times that boat varnish/sealer works awsome. but when ever i go to build a new cage, i cant find anything around with low VOC. i would guess cure time would be a lot longer.

 

[Cainschams]

Looks like it will be one bad cage! Cant wait to see the finished product!

 

[Wizard]

Lookin good so far keep us posted.

Sorry for not updating for a week. I was ill for two days, and than I had to cover the lost time in other thing, so this went back.

i can tell already by that protective shine that it's going to be beautiful!

Actually, this is just the protective. Shining material is going to be applied next.

Latex gloves, a must have for any DIY enthusiast, and murderers!!!

No idea for the second one. If I'll use them in the feature, I'll let you know

I don't like latex when I'm working with unsanded wood. Rough parts tend to catch the gloves.

Yes, that is correct. However, they are very cheap, so even if the are ruined, you can always recycle it and get a new one

mind sharing the name of the product youre using on the wood?? is it waterproof??

I've heard that the stuff they use on boats is great for the job! can't get much more waterproof than that.

ive read multiple times that boat varnish/sealer works awsome. but when ever i go to build a new cage, i cant find anything around with low VOC. i would guess cure time would be a lot longer.

As pssh says, it is like the stuff they are using on the boats, and wooden constructions near beaches. The only difference this one has, is that you have to dilute it with water, so it is safe for the animal. You can say it is an ecological product. Unfortunately for you, it is a greek product, so I really can't help you with the name of it

I agree pssh, I prefer to use gardening gloves, althought they let paint, varnish etc soak through if your a messy worker but much better than the latex. Anyway, im sure this wasnt started to show off his gloves or brushes!

I think gardening gloves make you "clumsy"... You cannot do precise work. The best solution is those that surgeons use, however they are costly and I do not think they deserve the extra money for this kind of work.

Today I had to varnish the woods. Time consuming procedure since you have to paint twice, and leave them dry for 6-8 hours in between. The varnishing material is from the same greek company that I bought the other one, and it is also diluted with water, and safe for the animal. It protects the wood from water/moisture.

The only drawback those materials have, is that they do not last in time, as the other chemicals do, however the priority here is the cham. You can apply this stuff once in 2-3 years if it is needed, depending on the conditions of the cage. For example, mine will be somehow dry, since I am going to have a Veiled Cham, that lives in Yemen dessert, so maybe I have to paint it again in 4-5 years.

For those of you who have cham that live in Madagascar, and the climate needs to be moisture, maybe you have to paint it every 2-3 years.

The point is, that this procedure protects the wood, so it is going to last for years

 

[Wizard]

After letting the woods dry well, it was time to cut them into pieces. Unfortunately I had other stuff to do in the morning, so I had to work night and outside with cold and wind... Not the best conditions...

 

[Wizard]

Back again...
I had a major problem with my pc, so I need to fix this first before anything else. Unfortunately I lost some pictures in the middle, but at least that was the only loss after a RAID failure

So, next step was to fit the woods into the plexi cube. For those of you wondering, it is 5mm thick plexi, 58x56x70cm. I didn't made this, it was ordered to a specialist, I just made the drawings and the payment... The cost was €120. It is open at the top, and has some holes in the bottom for the water to drain, since I am putting live plants in there. The door in front is lockable and gives me easy access to the bottom of the cage.


On the top side there will be metal/plastic mesh for good airflow.


I am leaving some space in the bottom. I need to put a basin there in order to collect water from the plants. Also there will be a UPS unit, so if I need to leave the cage unattended for a few days, I wont have to worry about power supply.


It is starts getting shape... The horizontal woods are to secure the plexi cube from moving, and to hold the mesh later.


I had to use those metallic holders (I don't know the name...) in order to hold it better than screwing the woods together, and they are better if I need to make modifications in the future


Here you can see better the space I need for a small UPS. I also placed wheels in the bottom for easy moving. First to easy clean under the cage and second in the summer it is going to moved outside since the conditions are good here.

 

[Mr Wilson]

Your cage is looking really great!! I love the idea with the wheels. Makes for cleaning your house so much easier than moving the furniture around haha. What will you be using as the basin to catch the water?

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

i was wondering what you and this cage have been up too. looking great!!

 

[Wizard]

I love the idea with the wheels.

Me too. I just hope they can stand the weight, because it would be too late when I 'll realize if they don't...

What will you be using as the basin to catch the water?

I am going to steal a plastic one from my wifes' laundry

 

[harry7890]

looks really good makes me want to build one haha but i cant no room and i already have a viv set up for a cam haha keep posting pickkys

 

[Klowne]

Good looking enclosure. I'm about to be building one for my cham and definetly am seeing some things I like. I hadn't thought about the plexi bottom like that, but might have to steal that idea.

 

[Vegas Chad]

Cool... Keep it up!