Plexi glass doors and stain for the outside of the cage...

[argolupin]

ok, i am seriously wondering how to make doors that open from the center and swing open out of plexi glass. I have all my plans drawn up, but am having trouble figuring out if i should put wood around the doors (i mean arouns all the edges of each door) and screw the hinges on that way (and the latch so my neices can't open the cages with out me in there) or if i can screw the hinges straight to the plexi glass.

also, can i use a stain on the outside of the cage, or paint even so long as i leave the wood/cage outside for a couple of days to let the fumes disapate, i don't want it to hurt my beardie or other critters, but i want it to look decent...

 

[LennyTheLizardKing]

ok, i am seriously wondering how to make doors that open from the center and swing open out of plexi glass. I have all my plans drawn up, but am having trouble figuring out if i should put wood around the doors (i mean arouns all the edges of each door) and screw the hinges on that way (and the latch so my neices can't open the cages with out me in there) or if i can screw the hinges straight to the plexi glass.

also, can i use a stain on the outside of the cage, or paint even so long as i leave the wood/cage outside for a couple of days to let the fumes disapate, i don't want it to hurt my beardie or other critters, but i want it to look decent...

Another good way to have your doors is use real glass on tracks like this, real glass is usually alot cheaper than plexi and it doesnt scratch..

I also stained the exterior of my viv

 

[argolupin]

I don't want sliding glass doors because there is no way for me to really lock it. I have 6 neices and a nephiew (2 just turned 2, 2 just turned 3, and 8 yr. old, a 15 yr. old and a 16 yr old) i trust the 3 eldest to not get in the cages if i ask, but i plan on having the cages in the main room and if i run to the bathroom i don't want them accidently letting someone out. I plan on making the same exact cage for my 3 foot ball python... i also don't want to use glass because i don't want one of them to fall into it and get hurt (I can just see their parents now if something were to happen.........)

 

[Trogdorpheus]

Well, there is a way to lock them from the front with sliding glass doors, for example something like this
http://www.taylorsecurity.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=371&ItemId=1475

BUT, if you're dead set on plexi (which will get scratched to hell, I just made the switch to real glass myself) then yes you can screw hinges directly to it. HOWEVER, there's a catch, you have to predrill holes that will full clear the screw. So pre-drill holes for the hinges, then you can secure them with the regular screws there. If you want to attach a handle or some sort of locking mechanism, then you'll have to predrill that too, and probably use screws/bolts to attach it because you can't get anything secured into plexi with just regular screws.

I started out with simple plexi doors like you're wanting to do, then switched to a wood framed door with real glass. Just took a router and made the frames so that they come together and the glass slides right in.