need help plz mainly advice

[tweet0302]

So i want to build two vivs out of wood an i never built anything before so i don't know what I'm doing so i would like to know can anyone give me a list of materials i need the thing is I'm on a budget so cheaper the better thanks in advance just so y'all know I'm a female so i don't have any tools but i could buy the simple stuff like a hammer i would have to home depot cut my wood and glass i want to build 4*2*2

 

[Luthien]

Well I've never built my own Viv before but I did buy a home made one off a guy when I got my first beardie. It's just a wood frame with light fixtures in the 2 front corners, he used plexi glass instead of real glass and I have ceramic tiles for the floor. There is mesh across the top for air flow and a normal slide latch keeps the 2 doors shut (the doors make up the whole front of the Viv.

 

[tweet0302]

Can i use glue to make it stand or nails are better

 

[Soulwind]

Here's one thread for homemade viv: http://www.freewebs.com/crossfireenclosures/

There's others, just google "crossfire enclosures" or "crossfire bearded dragon"

And of course there's many other threads out there about custom vivs that can be found with a little googling.

Making your own viv will require quite a bit more than just a hammer though.

 

[tweet0302]

What i mean is i can get the simple tools all that other stuff like saw, an table i can get a drill hammer screw driver if needed sand paper

 

[ju5t1n]

It will be tough without a skill saw. I made a 4'x2'x2' and a 4'x2'x1'6". For the 4'x2'x2' I used half inch plywood 1/2"x4'x2'(I need 5 sheets) and 1" or 1.5" wood screws every 6-8". Nail's will probably split the wood. I drilled pilot holes then screwed them in.


I put the bottom down screwed the back in then the top. After that I measured on the left side back to the front on the bottom, then back to the front on the top. Then on the Right side back to the front on the bottom, then back to the front on the top. They were off slightly so I had to cut the sides out a fraction of an inch.
Oh man this is sounding confusing...
Basically all my measurements were right in theory but in reality the wood is slightly smaller than what it's displayed as. I wish I took pictures on the build process.

I bought 5 of these. 1 bottom, 1 top, 1 back, 1 for the 2 sides cut in half minus 15/32" because it's of the back is 15/32"(2'x1'11 15/32" x 15/32"), 1 for the front two pieces 4" up and minus almost an inch left and right so it will fit inside (4"x3'11"x15/32").
http://www.lowes.com/pd_7706-99899-...rentURL=?Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo=
2 of these.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_11220-1638-...pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=acrylic+sheet&facetInfo=
Couldn't find this on the website but it's an "Acrylic Cutting tool"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCeHx-vvJ7k
2 of these. To put the plexiglass in as mickey mouse glass tracks. I used the 1/4" ones I'm going to try the 1/2" next build.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_215769-3767...1&currentURL=?Ntt=aluminum+channel&facetInfo=
And an outdoor paint to seal it.

Here's a google sketch up of my measurements if this helps.
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=49f9040e103abd3cfe287e9b97e73eda

The top vivarium is 4'x2'x1'6" with lights on top of the vivarium, the bottom one is the 4'x2'x2' with the lights inside the vivarium.

Good luck! If you live close to me Long Beach, CA, send me a Private Message I can have one built in 1-2 days.

 

[tweet0302]

I live in buffalo ny