Viv Furniture Help?

[CTWalker]

Ok sooo....I've decided that if I'm going to be into the whole reptile thing (which I am and have wanted to be since I was a small human, now as a taller human I am able to do so) that I want them to be around my house, not just confined to one reptile room. I have a corn snake, with plans to get more, and several bearded dragons. I've been flipping through all the viv DIY things, several different sites, forums, ect and thought that perhaps it would be best to ask you all...

Basically I want to make some furniture to hold my animals. Two end tables for my snakes and a coffee table for a dragon or two. So...things I need to know are...

What kind of wood should I use? I know a lot of people use melamine paneling but I wanted to try to use something like Pine or Maple, is that ok to use? I only ask because I wanted something a little "fancier" than melamine for my furniture.
What kind of sealant could I use for the inside of the vivs? I want something that's, obviously, non-toxic but also waterproof. Cure time really isn't much of an issue because I'm not ready to rush into putting them anywhere else, this is just a project for me that I'll enjoy doing and that I want done right so I'm going to take my time.
I have designs for the end tables and coffee table already that will include glass on 2 to 3 sides of the furniture, so I also need to know what kind of sealant I can use to seal the space that the glass goes into the wood that is also non-toxic and safe and all that stuff.

So yeah....any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Taterbug]

I like the top grade plywood, I used oak for my dragon cage and will be using maple for the cornsnakes cage. Pine and cedar have phenols than can be irritating or harmful to animals housed in/on it so take care regarding those, I've read kiln dried pine is ok, I would still seal it completely though if used.

Epoxy (like pond sealer) will be the most waterproof, but polyurethane and polycrylic work well to and are more affordable. If you plan to use any damp substrates (like soil) I'd go with the epoxy. The urethane needs abot 1-2 weeks to cure, but they are all safe once cured.

I would seal the glass joints (and other corners) with aquarium grade or 100% silicon.

Sounds like a fun project, feel free to share your progress with us! Something else, hopefully all your critters have docile temperaments. I think my cornsnake would loose it if his cage also doubled as a table, but he is a nervous fellow.

 

[CTWalker]

Thanks for the feedback :3 I'll look around and see what I can find regarding all that and the prices to do so.

The reptiles that I would be putting in these would be very laid back. My corn snake prefers to be on me than in her cage and often follows me back and forth while I'm working around my room haha. The dragon that would go in my coffee table is the most curious little thing and is use to being hovered around. I have a more skittish on and she needs to be locked within a confined space away from a lot of prying eyes, so she's out of that equation for now XD