augsburg1530":428ce said:No, we are not using melamine but are using 1/2" furniture grade plyboard instead. We will stain and seal the plyboard to match our household furniture. Our Home Depot carries white melamine, but I thought melamine would make a viv that was too heavy. After staining and sealing, we will make a tile floor for easy cleaning. We will be sure to properly cure the stained wood to ensure there are no residual harmful fumes before letting our dragon, Spike, live in it.
I borrowed some viv ideas from this guy, http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/3x2.shtml where he uses a melamine floor and plyboard top and sides. I figured since we were going to make a waterproof tile floor, we wouldn't need melamine. I'll let you know how that works out.
Eric
ewstokes":ee175 said:I dont know if I really agree with "made easy". I followed the instructions very easily off the crossfire directions for my enclosure project. I also saw more clearer instructions and less confusing pictures. I always commend crossfire for making that site.
I dont know if I agree with the black interior. The exterior being black looks cool, but I would have made the interior white to help brighten up the cage. The cage looks unbearably dark for the beardie, and I dont see it doing the best job simulating daylight.
I made my cage like the crossfires but a step up and with a cooling system in between the two cages. Instead of your "black version". Mine is the "oak version".
Here are my instructions, again, not as detailed as the crossfires.
Here is a picture of my final cage.
augsburg1530":c70f6 said:Jaystation3,
I have all my viv pieces cut out and am staining the wood today. I have a question about the ventilation. Yours, and the crossfire pics, both show the ventilation at the top of the viv. I am wondering if there is a reason for putting them at the top rather than closer to the bottom. Since heat rises, if the vents are at the top, the hot air at the top will vent out. If you put the vent closer to the bottom, it seems like having the vents at the bottom would be more efficient because the rising heat would form at the top and work its way down rather than venting out the top and being gone.
Does that make sense?
Eric
augsburg1530":a42ff said:Dude,
I think you are onto something about being able to regulate the cool side, see that's why I ask people who know more than me
I will keep things the way the plans suggest.
Thanks for your quick reply. I am heading back outside to apply another coat of stain, then tomorrow will put everything together. I will take pics when done to add to the ongoing collection on this forum!
Thanks
Eric
dvandriesen":30ca5 said:I like how you updated my cage setup. IT looks really good the parts that i had trouble describing was the wiring which you seemed to do a pretty good job with. I may change my wiring sometime to how you did it but either way i had a negative and a positive and it has been running fine for quite sometime. I like the black you have also. Hopefully with both are how-tos people will have some nice enclosures for their dragons not these dinky ones we see alot of people housing full grown dragons in. By the way what is the difference between the wiring and my wiring ???
atl4747a":040e7 said:Do you just allow the lights to hang so the are within the 12 inch range or is there something else Im missing me and my husband are getting ready to make one but Im worried about the lighting and one more question could you use a mesh screen on the front instead of glass or plexiglass? Thanks
JayStation3":543cb said:atl4747a":543cb said:Do you just allow the lights to hang so the are within the 12 inch range or is there something else Im missing me and my husband are getting ready to make one but Im worried about the lighting and one more question could you use a mesh screen on the front instead of glass or plexiglass? Thanks
No the lights are fixed to the top of the enclosure with screws. I use a variation of wattage and height of basking spot to get the right temps. For example I am using a 75 watt spot light with the basking spot up 5 inches off the bottom of the cage - Temps are around 102-108 dead center in the basking spot, then ihave a second spot for her to get with in 6 inches of the UVB bulb...
As far as the screen front, I dont see why it couldnt be used, but you have to remember that the humidity in side the cage needs to be as low as possible, the "enclosed" space that the dragon lives in should be as desert like as possible. With an open front, it might be hard to keep the moisture and humidity out of the cage, just something to think about. If you live in a dry place - then it might not matter, but if humidity and moisture is a big problem inyour area - then you might want to just stick to the plexiglas/glass front.
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