I need some brotherly(or sisterly) assistance!

[darla]

I'm finally building my veiled a new pad. I'm technically carpentry impaired, so forgive my crudeness. If you remember I got him a month ago from someone and he has MBD. He's on the road to recovery and I think he is 2x the size he was when I got him. On to my building... I have a 4x2x2 frame built. I can make it wider if I need to because I don't have it put together yet. Of the 4 feet tall I also have it 2 feet off the ground. My questions:

1. Can I use the hardware net? I just bought it specifically for this cage, then I see where it is bad. Can someone tell me why it's bad?I'm planning on using it on the 3 sides. The back and bottom is wood. And the top is aluminum screen so the light won't burn.

2. Can someone sort of point me in the direction on how to make doors. The ones I tried to make are now in the trash and the only thing I learned was what not to do. I tried to make some like I see on here but apparently there is more to it than meets the eye. I can't miter cause all I have is a silly jig saw.

Thanks
darla

 

[pmdavalos]

can we some pics?

do yo have any pics of your work?

 

[ohiocham]

IF you want to make something easy for now...check out my thread called 35 dollar enclosure. Its made from pvc and plastic garden netting. The nice thing about it is you can make door panels and as long as you pre-drill holes you can attach hinges and latches to it. It wont be like....TOTALLY the best....but it should work out for you.

Matt

 

[darla]

Ohio, I checked out your enlosure and that was pretty cool. I could tell that it would be way beyond my capabilities right now. And here is a pic of what I have. NO LAUGHING! I worked real hard on this. I know that I could have done a much better job...but hey this is as good as I can get. This will be the back and I have another one like this but minus the wood piece.

 

[ciafardo 4]

u could just save ur self some time and order a reptarium they r cheap and easy to keep clean big apple herp sells them a 65 gallon is about 38 bucks i think they also have 100 gallon bout 70 bucks check them out

 

[ciafardo 4]

65 gal is$ 30 100 gal is 69$

 

[darla]

I have 2 reptariums already. One is 18x18x24. The other is 24x24x36, They are just not big enough. Besides I'm so close to being done that I don't want to quit now.

 

[spatulars]

That back piece doesn't look bad at all. Is hardware net metal 1/4" square fencing? If it is metal, it is bad because the chameleons can damage their rostral processes and/or casques and toes by rubbing up against and climbing on the metal. Not to mention that stuff would eventually rust. Since you already have it, you might be able to find a can of spray-on vinyl or something of that sort to give it a safer coating and prevent rust. Not sure how viable an idea that is, I've never heard of it being done before. I used green plastic poultry fencing that cost around $12 at Lowe's. It was easy to cut and easy to staple to the sides. If you are able to exchange the hardware net I would, if not, try to safely modify it.

Doors are the hardest thing for me to make as well, the only experience I have with woodworking was as a child lol. It's easier when you use lighter wood, like 1x2s. That's what I did, but it still sagged with 4 hinges. You don't have to make the board ends a 45 degree angle. You can connect them together with straight cuts and use L brackets to hold it together. That way you won't have to worry about not having a nail gun. If you have a drill, you should pre-drill the holes for your screws. Countersinking (drilling a space for the screw head) helps keep the wood from cracking as well.

 

[pmdavalos]

I have 2 reptariums already. One is 18x18x24. The other is 24x24x36, They are just not big enough. Besides I'm so close to being done that I don't want to quit now.

have you thought about all the misting that takes place in the cage.i just want warn you that wood and water don't mix.i would suggest to use a plastic coated wood board.

 

[darla]

I did not get the metal hardware net. It's plastic 1/4" but it seems to be heavy duty. I'm not going to use it for the top on account of the lights. I bought water sealant for the wood, so maybe it will work? I used this wood because I already had it.

 

[spatulars]

If it's plastic, it's fine. The crickets could possibly chew through it if they were loose for a long time. I don't know about you but I don't have extra loose crickets in my cage. Sealant will do the trick for the wood.

 

[darla]

I haven't been feeding him crickets, and I have been using the cup feeding method. Once I get this thing built I'll use a bigger cup. He seems to have grown 4" in the last 2 weeks, is that even possible? I have been feeding him roaches, silkworms, horn worms, and super worms.

 

[spatulars]

Cup feeding solves any possible escape problems, so you'll be set. I'd say it is possible for your chameleon to grow that much, they grow fast at young ages.

 

[lanceman]

I find piano hinges work very well for doors they come in several lengths i usually use 3 foot lenghts i can hang large glass doors with those even use two sided tape if u have surfaces that it can stick to or screws predrilled. for keeping them closed i like to use the magnet deals u can get at any hardware store . (u see them on entertainment units lots).

 

[darla]

I have stopped construction for now as I am way beyond frustrated. I now know why hardware net is bad. It's not straight no matter how you put it on. I give up for now.

 

[ciafardo 4]

250 reptirarium is 30in x 30in x 72in and its only 80 bucks thats big enuff for me and im 275lb gorilla

 

[darla]

Sounds good but I don't have 80 bucks right now. I just went school supply shopping and that came up a hundred bucks! Jeesh! I haven't even been shopping for clothes yet. Good thing I have a boy who is not interested in clothes yet.

 

[darla]

Here is where I am today. My house is so small I had to stand on the window sill to get the pic I got, forget about full size shots. I'm all crookedy, but hopefully it will work.