I used clear silicone to seal edges.
How to build a custom cage for your chameleon
1. Cut a backboard to desired height and width of cage.
2. Have (2) pieces of oak plywood for the cabinet sides, and then cut a toe kick on front of the bottom pieces to prevent stubbing of toe on wood.
3. Cut a dado above your toe kick for the base of cabinet, and cut a rabbet on back of base pieces for the backboard to place into.
4. Cut a rabbet on the back of oak plywood sides for the backboard to be placed in.
5. If your backboard is ¾” then you will need to make a ¾” rabbet.
6. Place pieces together before gluing to check correctness.
7. First put glue in dados and smear to cover surface.
8. Place base of cabinet into the dados and clamp snuggly.
9. Allow glue to dry before removing clamp.
10. Then place backboard into rabbets and clamp, if possible use a staple or nail gun to add extra hold.
11. Cut facing strips for the front of cabinet using oak. You will need (2) pieces the length and width of the sides, (2) pieces the length of space between the sides of cabinet, and (1) piece the height of the space between the top and bottom pieces.
12. Screw all pieces together and check the fit of facing to the cabinet before gluing.
13. Apply the facing to the front of cabinet by using spread out glue and clamps.
14. After the glue on the facing dries make a facing for the top using the same method as the front but without the middle piece.
15. Use a forestner bit to cut a hole for screw to lie in.
16. Glue, screw, and clamp facing onto the plywood top.
17. Then you must make a drain out of two pieces of oak plywood giving each piece a descending angle for water to run down.
18. I am not going to explain the drain because it was the hardest part for me to figure out, and it requires many tools and steps.
19. After putting drain in I coated very well with Spar Varnish to waterproof it. Use at least 4-6 coatings more the merrier.
20. Then you build sides and I used a pocket saw for the top and bottom piece and put together a rectangle for sides.
21. Rabbet the back of the sides to fit against the backboard for extra stability.
22. Attach sides to back and top of cabinet.
23. At this point all wood for top half should be Spar varnished.
24. Attach screen using squeeze stapler.
25. Attach the boards running between sides of cage to stop door. Spar varnish this also. Use a forestner bit to inlay the screw head and I used a 9/64” bit to pre drill hole to prevent splitting and ensure accurate piecing.
26. Silicone the drain edges making sure there are NO cracks.
27. Make the top of your cage and add screen. Spar varnish the wood.
28. Make cabinet doors.
And that is how i made a custom cage. Not every step is in this but if you ask i can answer.
JULIURS i used a funnel and drilled a hole on bottom of the waterproof drain and counter sunk the funnel in to wood and put bucket under drain inside cabinet.
Congrats! I bet you had fun buliding that huge thing.
