Custom Cage Building

this a basic guide to cage building. no measurements are given because this works with any size cage you would want to build - just add your own dimentions.

The tools I suggest having on hand, though they're not required (especially if you can cut/drill straight):
-tape measure
-square
-Drill Press
-Compound Mitre Saw
-sander
-tape measure
-square

(click pictures for fullsize printable versions)

Side panels are what you need to start with:


then you can move onto the rest:




then the final touches


The turn buttons are completely optional, but I like them because then you can easily remove the glass/plexi for cleaning and moving the cage. I've yet seen anything other than a human capable of turning the turn buttons. No beardie, corn, uro, carpet, pine, or rattlesnake has ever done it.....

and a couple examples




There are plenty of options available to you with a lil ingenuity: swing open doors, insulated side panels, drop in pools, and more...

Choose your wood wisely as well. make sure all pieces are straight. To keep things light weight, use woods like Birch and Maple, and plexiglass instead of glass. Seal well with laminate or marine grade epoxy.

thanx alot! i hope it goes well will be buying supplies tommorrow!
wiill build the frame this weekend and get the glass+slider for next weekend,

my boa and beardie will be happy, Boa leaves 90 gal tank, Beardie jumps in

btw, sorry for the double post,
but i forgot to ask, what are the dimensions of the one you posted the picture of?

Wow that looks fantastic!

the lower picture is 48" wide, 24" deep, and 32" tall (its sitting on top of one 64x24x32)
the top picture is 52x26x26, plus the additional 8" stand

I would really like to know what you used for the silding window? I cant seem to think of what you could use that wouldnt be huge. Smallest thing I could find was stuff you would use for like a sliding shower door.

sliding glass tracks are getting harder and harder to find...

the 1/8" sliding door tracks used to be very easy to find. Sadly, that is not the case
anymore. You can buy the 1/4" tracks at Tap Plastics, Multi-Craft Plastics, and Rockler, but unless you are housing a monitor or very large snake, 1/4" glass is a bit overkill. The 1/4" track, however, is ideal if you want to use plexi.

I have found some online stores where you can still order the 1/8" track. The links are below. You could also do a web search for "KV plastic sliding door track" and see what comes up. Some stores like Ace Hardware can order it for you, assuming that the manufacturer still makes it. (manufacturer of the sliders is Knape and Vogt)

online ordering goes through www.twincityhardware.com
48",60" and 72" lengths, plus they don't have a minimum order