4x2x2 Viv

Materials:

3/4 x 49 x 97 S11 White Thermally-fused Melamine
~$38.00 per sheet. Cutting is free at Home Depot, so have it cut there. (1 per enclosure)

They sell a 24"x48" piece of clear plexi glass at my local HD as well.
~$25.00 a sheet. (1 per enclosure)


Grip-Rite #6 x 1-5/8 in. Fine Phosphate-Plated Steel Bugle-Head Phillips Drywall Screws (200-Pack)
~$9.00 ea


DEWALT 1/8 in. x 3 in. Percussion Drill Bit
~$5.00 ea


Pony 3 in. Corner Clamp
~$9.00 ea (Optional)


1 x 2 x 8 Primed Finger Joint Board
~$3.00 ea (a few to frame the door and add a center support. More if you want to frame the outside or do anything pretty.)

Have the Melamine cut at 2' 4' and 6'. This gives you 4 pieces at 2x4 roughly. With the melamine there is an extra inch on the side and bottom. The last 2x4 piece will be 2'1" x 4'1" have this cut exactly in half. You should now have a piece that is 2'1"x2'.5"

Assemble the long pieces as the back, bottom, and top.
Add the side pieces.
Cut a 1x2 to fit the height of the enclosure and add as a mid-cage support up front. (leave enough space for the door.)
Now frame plexi for a door. (or do double doors.)

There are various ways to frame the door in. I went with the most simple solution and made a 1x2 rectangle to fit the opening and then attached the plexi to that. Add hinges and you are good to go.

You can drill circular vents or cut rectangular vents. It's up to you. Various vent types and styles at the hardware store. You could also just drill a 1" hole and cover the outside with screen.

Light fixtures can be added after the enclosure is built. I used a 4' T8 fixture and a double Halogen flood light fixture.


Lithonia Lighting All Weather 4 Ft. 2 Light T8 Fluorescent Unit Shop light
~$20.00
I used a single lamp direct wire fixture. This fixture would work as well if you wanted to add a second normal flourescent for added lighting.


Lithonia Lighting 2-Lamp Outdoor Floodlight
~$10.00
This is close to what I used. You can wire the individual light bulbs seperately to add a switch if wanted.


***EDIT*** Sorry if this is hard to follow. Will update when my brain is working better.

you got any pics of the finished product? i love the DIY stuff i built an oak vivarium with temperd and shatter proof glass.

doe222":1faxn1yv said:

you got any pics of the finished product? i love the DIY stuff i built an oak vivarium with temperd and shatter proof glass.

Click to expand...

Have you got any pictures of yours as well Doe? I built mine with oak melamine and 6mm toughened safety glass... Id like to see what you have done!

yes i will get some more pics but its late and hes sleeping so im not going to wake him. heres a pic after i built it and everything in the was just so i didnt have it floating around my house. dont ask about the corn substrate in the begining of my beardie days i thought it was going to be ok (it was free) but than i did reasearch pointing away from that. if you go into photo expressions at look at the thread beardie bragging there are some newer pics of the interior of his viv you can check out. the top of it holding the screen housing in is the only ugly part. mainly because i wanted to make it a little more easy to remove because i was thinking of making a vented plexiglass top so in the winter it would hold heat better. ill upload some more pics tomarrow. lets take this into msgs so we arent crowding this dudes thread, reply with a pic of yours?

http://i41.tinypic.com/95zadw.jpg