My future display

[CaptBogart]

Now I'm getting really confused. Lol.

I first started with the idea of using OSB board then I was told melamine is better. Now melamine is bad? I don't know what to use anymore.. except someone told me about using stuff called expanded pvc or something? He said it would create a lighter, better quality product.

Brian Barczyk (BHB Reptiles/snakebytes.tv) uses melamine racks and has over 30,000 snakes. I would think that is fine.

Personally, I just use osb, cheaper and not nearly as heavy.

Melamine board is fine, if your tub/shower surround isn't tile, it's melamine. The melamine that isn't considered safe is the epoxy like stuff that's painted on. It's a liquid that gives off fumes, but processed sheets are ok.

 

[petpro553]

Brian Barczyk (BHB Reptiles/snakebytes.tv) uses melamine racks and has over 30,000 snakes. I would think that is fine.

Personally, I just use osb, cheaper and not nearly as heavy.

Ive not had any problems with melamine, but my guys are in tubs and not directly on the stuff.
You are correct in the fact that it is HEAVY!!! My racks are on castor wheels simply because they weigh alot.

 

[raynefyre]

Personally, I just use osb, cheaper and not nearly as heavy.

My concern with OSB is how to seal it so the wood doesn't absorb stains and bacteria. And at the same time, having the sealany safe for my snakes.

 

[snakepunk]

I don't seal my racks

Is it the best way–no.
Is it relatively safe–yes.

Now if I were to build the entire cage out of osb, that would be a different story. But the snake are in plastic boxes, and they usually don't poop on the ceiling above.

Like I said, I would prefer using melamine, but it's very heavy and more expensive. Maybe someday I will use it, but for now my 250 keepers don't seem to mind.

Some of my racks are even built using particle board. I wouldn't recommend using it though. Particle board (which is what is under the coated melamine) is heavy and tends to warp, preventing the boxes from easily sliding out after a couple of years of use.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

To the OP: Oooh! I need full dimensions on that, and how many sheets of what I'm going to need (for the most recent modification). I LOVE how that looks, and that looks like it would be a perfect boa rack!

 

[Shiari]

I thought that melamine was deemed unsuitable for use near pets, because it was toxic and could cause renal failure. That, and isn't it unsuitable for use near heat sources for long periods of time, because it causes the melamine to decompose? Hm...

Melamine is unsuitable only if they're eating it. Melamine was the culprit of the kidney-damaging crystals in the 2007 pet food recall. However, that was a form that was powdered and mixed into the food instead of a protein source so that corrupt peoples could save money. Melamine like on my bookcase and in my vivs is not going to be harmful to my pets.

 

[Asbit]

raynefyre...the only thing I would consider changing in your last modification is the bottom door opening down. You will then have to reach in past the entire door to get at things, causing you to possibly have to lean on it to reach stuff in the middle.

I love your plan but the change I would make is have the bottom door open up and on a slider then it will recess into the bottom drawer along the top and out of the way. You can put a stopper on the slider or make it shorter than the entire depth of the drawer so that the door recesses with a small portion sticking out and that way it will not catch on any wiring running along the back of the cabinet.

 

[Asbit]

Sorry for the double post...I have also read where many DIY's were simply sealed on the wood with a good sealer and then each seam was caulked. Thus making them water proof and easily cleanable to prevent bacteria growth. As well for the warm end some people have placed a UTH directly on the wood and then put a piece of Plexiglass over it and sealed it all around its edges with silicone.

To avoid large holes in the back of the sections they then cut the end of the UTH cord off and fed it and a thermostat prob through a small (then siliconed hole) and put a new plug end on the UTH.

Just a few other ideas...I know that is how my custom make snake housing is going to be done.

 

[Jay@PJCReptiles]

Hi Rayne, I like both of these ideas as they seem very functional. You have some great display areas as well as having room to keep babies in smaller bins and space to store other necessities.

You can tell that you put a lot of thought and time into your idea. I have a couple of suggestions you might want to use. First, if you are planning on using some kind of substrate in the display vivs you might want to install some kind of "bib" or "lip" at the bottom fronts of all of them to ensure the substrate will stay in the viv and not fall onto your floor.
Second, you might want to use some sort of PVC board such as Versatex. This product is ammune to water and is very easy to use. Melamine is good but this is a little better product as it will last longer and have no issues with humidity/water whatsoever. It is made of recycled plastic and is non-porous. Again, these are just suggestions. I really like your design and would be more then happy to have one or two sitting in my living room displaying some of my own "personal choice" animals. One other question I have, what program did you use to design your idea? Once again, great job.
:cheers:

Jay

 

[Buzzard]

I like the plexiglass idea as a bottom and you could make a small lip for the front out of it. 5'9 is starting to get tall. Watch how high up you have a display cage. You might wanna invest in a good Wet/dry vac and step stool. But I love the layout......

 

[raynefyre]

Hi Rayne, I like both of these ideas as they seem very functional. You have some great display areas as well as having room to keep babies in smaller bins and space to store other necessities.

You can tell that you put a lot of thought and time into your idea. I have a couple of suggestions you might want to use. First, if you are planning on using some kind of substrate in the display vivs you might want to install some kind of "bib" or "lip" at the bottom fronts of all of them to ensure the substrate will stay in the viv and not fall onto your floor.
Second, you might want to use some sort of PVC board such as Versatex. This product is ammune to water and is very easy to use. Melamine is good but this is a little better product as it will last longer and have no issues with humidity/water whatsoever. It is made of recycled plastic and is non-porous. Again, these are just suggestions. I really like your design and would be more then happy to have one or two sitting in my living room displaying some of my own "personal choice" animals. One other question I have, what program did you use to design your idea? Once again, great job.
:cheers:

Jay

Thanks for all the nice comments!! Everyone's helping so much it's amazing.

I was planning on using a lip for the bases of the cages, I think I'm gonna need to do a section drawing.

Also THANK YOU SO MUCH!! for telling me what the plastic/pvc sheet stuff is!! I keep being told to use it but I couldn't find it or even a name for it. You're awesome!! Lol.

Third I use the program AutoCAD 2009 for all my drawings and designs. It's pretty easy to use once you figure out how the program works and the commands. If you're interested I could hook you up!

5'9 is starting to get tall. Watch how high up you have a display cage. You might wanna invest in a good Wet/dry vac and step stool. But I love the layout......

I'm 6' tall so I don't see this as being a problem, but yeah I can see what you mean. Lol.

 

[raynefyre]

Ok, here's some more drawings of the design.. I'm using 1/2" material.

I cut through the center of the design to show how it looks this way with the doors and stuff. The next one is zoomed in on a single display case, with the latch and hinge drawn in.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/75/l_9d16006390aa46778a0146d1beb3070d.jpg

Still working out the details, but eventually I will get to a cut list and drawing instructions. Lol.

 

[raynefyre]

Second try at the second pic...

 

[Asbit]

I really love the idea of incorporating the hatchling rack in the first drawing...my snake room will most likely be a basement living room we use as a play room at this time...so things need to look nice.

 

[Buzzard]

I like the lips. Very nice.

 

[raynefyre]

Okay, I switched over from using AutoCAD 2009 to Google Sketchup (which if free to anyone who wants it fyi) to render it as a solid piece of furniture. I want it to be black with a white inside for the displays so they pop out at you (an idea given to me by a friend). The clear display windows are tinted blue just so you can see them there. I'll get a cut list and stuff going once I have time.

 

[Iceman00]

Great plan and design. I built a viv using many ideas and suggestions from the DIY posts. For heating I used an UTH directly attached to the smooth side of a ceramic tile then I used the grommets the UTH came with to raise the tile and sealed around it. I can't remember where or who's idea but it works great. You can also use Flex Watt heat tape or Flexible heat ropes. All would require a thermostat.

 

[raynefyre]

More pictures.

For Asbit. I redrew the first design concept in 3D.

And just because I got excited and carried away. Made a huge entertainment center style one with a wood finish.

Ideas and comments are all still welcome! I'm just messing around with my design program until I find something I absolutely fall in love with. Peace.

 

[Asbit]

Hey thanks for the extra renderings...love the look of the entertainment one, would need to scrap the doors on the upper middle section where the TV would be. Then for the side sections could you do the doors so they recessed on a slider in along the outer wall of those compartments? What kind of dimensions did you give it? I really have to kick my son in gear as he still has done nothing to render me any designs yet!

 

[raynefyre]

Hey thanks for the extra renderings...love the look of the entertainment one, would need to scrap the doors on the upper middle section where the TV would be. Then for the side sections could you do the doors so they recessed on a slider in along the outer wall of those compartments? What kind of dimensions did you give it? I really have to kick my son in gear as he still has done nothing to render me any designs yet!

Right now the entertainment center style model is 6'2" tall x 8'1" long and 1'6" deep. The bottom cages are 36" long x 18" tall x 18" deep. The outer cages on the top level are 18" long x 36" tall x 18" deep. I wanted to make vertical cages for arboreal species. The large center cage on top is 3'11" long x 36" tall x 18" deep. I wanted to provide a very large tank for a massive pet, possibly for my fiance's future frilled dragon. The cubbyholes are set within a 18" long x 36" tall x 18" deep region. Each hole is 11.25" long x 8.5" tall x 18" deep. These I planned for housing multiple babies per cube or possibly larger yearling containers.

I was thinking about framing the glass (?) doors with wood to make them look cleaner and more refined. I also might put in a middle strip in between the two center doors of the large upper cage too for support. I don't think I would ever put a TV near my snakes, too many vibrations with how loud I play my music. Lol. I thought about adding recessive sliders to all (?) the cage doors as well, just not quite sure yet how that would work. It would definitely get rid of cumbersome doors while cleaning though.