Starting my build early

[Spo0led]

I REALLY liked the styro idea so decided to try it. I planned on doing it sometime in Jan or Feb but my wonderful girlfriend told me to just do it now. So before she could finish the sentance I had plans going through my head and was looking for the keys to head to Lowe's. I bought all the supplies I think Im going to need, 1" Styro 8x6 ft sheet, wood, screws, wood glue, aquarium silicone, ect...

Got all the wood precut, styrofoam precut...so I was hoping I would have most of it done tonight.....WRONG!!!

Shoulda listened to Ernest on that one..."What else can go wrong?"

It all started out good then i started realizing the at Lowe's cut the wood wrong. But Im making it work...I have a small electric saw and will just go buy another board or 2 tomorrow and cut it myself.

Anyways...heres the pics.

Mostly everything cut.




Lowe's kids!!

My batteries ran out on the last little bit..but THE BOYS are playing so its just an excuse to wait til half time. Im going to use The Huntsman's idea and move the outter two supports in to make it flush for the side supports. I will do that either at half time or after the game.

[BigPaPaErnest]

Re: Starting my build early

Like i said man...NEVER ASK yourself that!

Lookin good so far man!

[Spo0led]

Re: Starting my build early

Like i said man...NEVER ASK yourself that!

Lookin good so far man!

Thanks. Im hoping to maybe get the top and bottom done tonight. I dont know why the framing looks crooked but its not..i swear..

[BigPaPaErnest]

Re: Starting my build early

I dont know why the framing looks crooked but its not..i swear..

You need to stop using your hand cover up one eye and standing on one foot as a LEVEL!

[Spo0led]

Re: Starting my build early

You need to stop using your hand cover up one eye and standing on one foot as a LEVEL!

Its worked every other time!!

[H_Moss]

Re: Starting my build early

You need to stop using your hand cover up one eye and standing on one foot as a LEVEL!

You forgot and tilting head sideways....lol

[Spo0led]

Re: Starting my build early

You forgot and tilting head sideways....lol

THATS why it didnt work!

[Boa Amarali]

Re: Starting my build early

Have you decided how you're going to finish off the outside ?

So the framing doesn't show ???

I'm not convinced I like the framing style shown in the video either

Can't make up my mind, I need to put some thought into a possibly better
method of framing and then finishing the outside as well

Vents on top for Heat lamps work but then this
prevents stackable caging doesn't it ??

As far as your cage , looks like you're off to a good start

[Reyes81487]

Re: Starting my build early

looks like you off to a good start.

[H_Moss]

Re: Starting my build early

Have you decided how you're going to finish off the outside ?

So the framing doesn't show ???

I'm not convinced I like the framing style shown in the video either

Can't make up my mind, I need to put some thought into a possibly better
method of framing and then finishing the outside as well

Vents on top for Heat lamps work but then this
prevents stackable caging doesn't it ??

As far as your cage , looks like you're off to a good start

For the outside try 1/8" luan, it comes in a 4x8 sheet, light weight and you could stain or paint for a nice finish. It is the stuff interior doors are made of
As far as the stackable issue you could make like a pedestal of sorts that would lap down on the lower and up on the upper enclosure raising the upper one off the lower. Not sure how high you would need to go but all you need to do is take a 2x4 and center it on a 1x6 for 3 1/2" clearance. You would need to make it into a "band" that ran all the way around the perimeter on the enclosure 1x 6 is 5 1/2" wide leaving a 1" lip sitting down on the lower one and 1" up on the upper with 3 1/2" space in between that you couldn't see. If you need more space go up to a 2x6 with 1x8 outside board for 5 1/2" clearance and so on. with that light a cage you could use all 1x just make sure the outside board is wider than the inside so it caps off the lower cage and cradles the upper one and would still look good. Hope that wasn't to confusing let me know if you need to and we could always do pictures...lol. Good luck and was just kidding around in the above post
Harmon

[bterrill]

Re: Starting my build early

looks crooked because the carpet sits higher than the tile/lanolieum(I know its wrong lol) on the other floor so the carpet pushes it up.

looking good though. I tell you what, some of you guys sure do follow through quick on stuff. My idea of "Ya I'll try that out" == some months from now because I'm lazy. Looks like you went right out to fiddle lol.

Good luck -- I thought this was a neat idea also.

[Spo0led]

Re: Starting my build early

For the outside try 1/8" luan, it comes in a 4x8 sheet, light weight and you could stain or paint for a nice finish. It is the stuff interior doors are made of

I saw that while I was picking up supplies and I thought about using it. I probably will when its finished. I need to go back today to pick up some more wood and I'll check on price.

For the door Im going to use The Boaphiles idea ...

Mainly because I dont want to spend the money on another piece of plexi. I already have one thats 18x24 so Ill just use that. I havent decided but Ill probably hinge either the whole thing as one door or split it and have one plexi door and one solid door.

Ideas?

[ron petri]

Re: Starting my build early

About the space for heat lamps on top and stacking another on top. If you look in that video the posts on the bottom for legs. you can make those on top and close it in with a door in front to acsess the lamp. the door and walls made of thin plywood. I was thinking of incorperating this foam Idea into my own build. I want to make a cages by design type with the crown molding and such, BUT I run 150 watt infrareds on my two 55 gal tanks. Id have to make the height taller (tanks are 18") on the build making my spot a bit cooler BUT what about the spot on the foam will it heat, melt, fume, anything ?

[The Huntsman]

Re: Starting my build early

Thats awesome spooled. Sorry to hear about those bad cuts though. Hope there isn't too many other snags.

[Boa Amarali]

Re: Starting my build early

For the outside try 1/8" luan, it comes in a 4x8 sheet, light weight and you could stain or paint for a nice finish. It is the stuff interior doors are made of
As far as the stackable issue you could make like a pedestal of sorts that would lap down on the lower and up on the upper enclosure raising the upper one off the lower. Not sure how high you would need to go but all you need to do is take a 2x4 and center it on a 1x6 for 3 1/2" clearance. You would need to make it into a "band" that ran all the way around the perimeter on the enclosure 1x 6 is 5 1/2" wide leaving a 1" lip sitting down on the lower one and 1" up on the upper with 3 1/2" space in between that you couldn't see. If you need more space go up to a 2x6 with 1x8 outside board for 5 1/2" clearance and so on. with that light a cage you could use all 1x just make sure the outside board is wider than the inside so it caps off the lower cage and cradles the upper one and would still look good. Hope that wasn't to confusing let me know if you need to and we could always do pictures...lol. Good luck and was just kidding around in the above post
Harmon

Sounds like a possible way around the stacking. I like using Luan
(underlayment) on my wood cages for the back piece. It makes
a big difference with weight.