building free range stand need help from some DIYers

[jamest0o0]

So I'm not very experienced with this kind of thing. My goal is to make free range stands for my 2 panthers something like this raised garden I posted a picture of below. Could use some advice... Which type of wood would you recommend using and which stain would be best for waterproofing? I want to put my plants straight into the soil instead of using pots, so I was thinking of covering it with pond liner of some sort on the inside. None of that seems too difficult for a newbie like me, but I want to make one change. I'd like for the front side of it to be see-through to view the soil(or all of them, but that might be expensive and unnecessary). Any thoughts of what to use for that? I know of acrylic, glass, and plexiglass.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I would not use a wood that I'd have to seal. I'd either line the box with a rubber pond liner or use cement mixing tubs, above and below; above, with holes drilled for drainage and below to catch the draining water. Polyester film is cheap and versatile and if installed perfectly (unlike my enclosure doors ), it is virtually glareless and perfectly clear.
A simpler, cheaper option would be to get a 4' wire shelving system, use 3 of the racks, put one at the bottom and place cement mixing bins under for drainage and place potted plants on top, them place the other shelves at the top and sandwich your light fixtures between them and use it to hang some hanging plants. The added bonus is that this set-up could be enclosures with painters drop clothes or shower curtains for an actual enclosure.

 

[jamest0o0]

Great post as always @Extensionofgreen. I was actually thinking of using a cement bin, but the ones I saw seemed a little shallow for planting in, I may be wrong though. If I went with the wood and pond liner, (this may be a dumb question), which wood wouldn't need to be sealed? I'd like to have the front panel of the substrate bin to be clear in order to see the soil layers and surface easily. Would the film hold that? I'm not familiar with it. I want to make 3 of these, 2 will be free ranges for my panthers upstairs in a closed room. The other will be sitting underneath my dragonstrand atrium which I plan to use for a future quad downstairs where it's much cooler.

 

[Chameleon Crazy Chick]

I used spareurethane when doing my new cage, it's the stain that they use on boats that is both extremely waterproof and repels all water. Handy dandy. Hope you find something that works!

 

[Extensionofgreen]

If you use a rubber liner, it cancels the need to seal any of the wood. The film is strong enough, but that depends on how you frame and secure it to the front. The film is flexible, so you'd have to to install it perfectly, to avoid bowing.

 

[jamest0o0]

Okay great, really appreciate it. Would there be a paint or anything you'd recommend for aesthetic purposes? And any particular wood you'd choose to go with?

Should be the last of my questions!

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I prefer not to use paints. There are safe paints, probably acrylic paints, but I like to avoid any chemicals I can. I would avoid particle board and treated lumber, otherwise, I use the cheap stuff, which is likely pine.

 

[jamest0o0]

Okay great thank you!

 

[Kyle Kruse]

Teak

Okay great, really appreciate it. Would there be a paint or anything you'd recommend for aesthetic purposes? And any particular wood you'd choose to go with?

Should be the last of my questions!

Teak, Black Locust, Redwood and some others are naturally rot resistant but I don't think anything is waterproof.

 

[jamest0o0]

Appreciate it @Kyle Kruse. I like the looks of those, will have to scope out some prices. I'll be lining it with pong liner, so might just skip out on the sealant altogether.

 

[jamest0o0]

A simpler, cheaper option would be to get a 4' wire shelving system, use 3 of the racks, put one at the bottom and place cement mixing bins under for drainage and place potted plants on top, them place the other shelves at the top and sandwich your light fixtures between them and use it to hang some hanging plants. The added bonus is that this set-up could be enclosures with painters drop clothes or shower curtains for an actual enclosure.

I've been thinking this might be a better option, but I'm having trouble finding the right size. Did you mean the ones that come as a stand, or the wall bracket shelves?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

The ones that come as 4'x18" or 4'x2'. They are usually around $80.