Plywood?

[ubergnomie]

Well my dad finally decided to help me get started on building Rambo and Twiggy's duplex after he saw how big Rambo is getting. He insists on getting plywood. Is that okay? I'm going to have a tile floor and fake rock background. Am I going to need to seal the plywood with something? Is the plywood okay otherwise?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Seven65]

There's nothing wrong with using plywood. It's cheap and easy to work with. I've heard that people have had problems with it warping over time due to the constant heat changes but I don't know how likely that is to happen or how much of a problem it would cause. I was lucky enough to get a free oak display cabinet that I modified into a viv. It used to be for food and was insulated there was the oak on the outside a layer of styrofoam and then a layer of plywood and the inside has arborite on it. I have had no problems with warping but the arborite probably protects it from things like that.

 

[Tigg]

Yeah I would second the warping issue with thin plywood... just be sure to get at least 1/2" plywood and it should be fine!

As far as the sealer, you will have to seal just about every wood you use anyways, especially if you paint/stain the inside.The same sealer that you are going to use on the fake rock backgroung can also be used to seal the wood.

Sounds like a fun little project you've got going there with your dad!

 

[mishelly58]

I bought 3/4" cabinet grade plywood at Home Depot for $29. I stained it and then put 3 coats of sealer on it (polycrylic).

 

[drewdizzo]

I bought 3/4" cabinet grade plywood at Home Depot for $29. I stained it and then put 3 coats of sealer on it (polycrylic).

Seems to me like if you are going to spend $29 on 3/4" plywood that you may as well hit up Lowes and get 3/4 inch MDF with melamine for the same price. That way you don't have to seal it. If you like the look of the plywood better though it makes sense to go for the look that you want. Just my 2 cents. I agree that you should at the very least go with 1/2" if not 3/4" to ensure you don't get any warping.

 

[Seven65]

I wouldn't use anything less than 3/4 personally.

 

[KCLAMBERT]

I am building a cage using wood as well (solid wood though, not plywood). But plywood will work just as well and with several coats of polycrylic will have a pretty tough surface. Plywood is much cheaper than mel. and can be bought in a large sheet ($30-$40 dollars will get you a 4x8 ft sheet). Mel is sold in smaller pieces and is more expensive (by the square foot).

Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out. Some picks would be good.

 

[drewdizzo]

Plywood is much cheaper than mel. and can be bought in a large sheet ($30-$40 dollars will get you a 4x8 ft sheet). Mel is sold in smaller pieces and is more expensive (by the square foot).

Not sure why there everyone thinks melamine laminated mdf is so expensive. It is only $29 at lowes for a 3/4" x 4' x 8' sheet, and a 3/4" x 4' x8' sheet of plywood is the same if not more.

 

[singtoyou]

Hi Andrew,
I am sending this over to you on this other post reply of yours, because for some reason my pm reply
is staying in my outbox and will not send... so this was the only way I could think of to get your ? back to you.
Here is the original message I sent you below. Thanks
Josie


I am heading back home from vacation today. I will be able to give you an exact price then, because
of not being at home to measure the box. But I put in the approx size of the box and I can give you
a pretty good estimate. It is looking like it would be between $12.79 or $14.02 to ship to you. It all depends on the size box I have. And If you pay by pay pal, they charge me around $1.50 so these are the approx prices you are looking at. I will be back home Tuesday and I can let you know exact cost then. If you say you want it. I can have it out to you either that day or the very next day, depending on the time. My post office closes at 4:00pm

Thank You
Josie

 

[singtoyou]

Pm working now.

 

[ubergnomie]

Thanks for the info. My dad and I started today because I have spring break and no homework! Yay! Sadly its snowing =/.
Thankfully we got pretty far, ended up at my brother's house to build it because of the snow.

We'll be working on it more tomorrow but I'm super excited. And I think Rambo and Twiggy are too. :lol: