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Anyone heard of/tried this DIY cage resource?

timebider

timebider

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I was surfing around looking at DIY cage designs (I need to make a few large arboreal cages for some Asian rats) and happened upon this page:

http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com/

I don't know what to think - though the whole "infomercial" flavor of the page, testimonials and all - isn't making it easier to reach an opinion.

Anyone tried this? Have any insight?
 
I have it. It's not all that impressive, and you can get similar plans on the net for nothing. Had a few nice little tips, but other than that, meh.
 
Thanks for the info! I was considering it in hopes that it would come closest to what I really need - a "How to Build Reptile Enclosures for Dummies!" :dunce:

Granted, the six-drawer rat rack I built is way better than the two my teenage neighbor made for me, but it still lists like a ship in a storm. (My son christened it 'The Leaning Tower of Rodents.') :eek: Still haven't figured out how to stop every fifth or sixth screw from binding, and if I could find 2x2s that weren't warped all out of shape, well....that'd be amazing. :rolleyes:
 
timebider said:
Still haven't figured out how to stop every fifth or sixth screw from binding, and if I could find 2x2s that weren't warped all out of shape, well....that'd be amazing. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Pre drill your screw holes to prevent the binding.
It's better to rip your own 2x2s from wider boards on a table saw. The big home centers like Lowe's rarely have decent 2x2s.
 
Clay Davenport said:
Pre drill your screw holes to prevent the binding.
It's better to rip your own 2x2s from wider boards on a table saw. The big home centers like Lowe's rarely have decent 2x2s.
Click to expand...

Table saw? :eek: You're giving me WAY more credit than I deserve. I actually did pre-drill the holes on the exterior pieces using a wood borer, but it didn't occur to me to do it on all the pieces (i.e., the pieces to which I'm screwing the exterior piece). Maybe that would make a difference?

My Leaning Tower of Rodents is a perfectly square thing of beauty from the top halfway down, but then the legs grow gradually farther apart thanks to warped boards. Clay, does your advice mean that wider boards have less tendency to be warped? How difficult is it to rip them evenly? How much do table saws cost? :confused: I do need to find a better way because my snake cages have to be both sturdy/escape-proof and done SOON!
 
Pre drilling the holes both helps prevent binding and makes for a tighter joint.
When doing this use the screws you'll be using as a guide to choose the proper bit. I hold the bit up to the screw and judge the diameter. What I like is a bit that's basically the same size or just slightly smaller than the shaft of the screw, not counting the threads. That way the threads still have wood to bite into to hold.
The more dense the wood the more important it is to pre drill.

With the 2x2s, you have to consider the usual use for those boards. They are rarely used for anything cosmetically important in normal construction, they usually just serve as a piece to nail to.
Due to their narrow size, they are much more prone to warping as they dry out after cutting.
Taking any 2 by board, 2x4, 2x6 etc, and ripping it into 2x2s always gives a much more usable board. Just choose good straight 2x4s to begin with.

You can probably get a table saw suitable to do the occasional project for $100 or so.
The way I rip my 2x2s is I use the edge of the board to set my guide, then lay the board flat to rip it. Be extremely careful doing this though, a mistake can cost a finger, because they'll be in relatively close proximity to the blade.
The reason I use the edge of the board to set the guide is, as you have probably noticed, a 2x2 isn't 2 inches by 2 inches, it's 1.5 x 1.5. Using the edge of the board gives you square pieces to work with.

When ripping a 2x4 you end up with two 2x2s and a this 1/4" piece left over. I use those pieces as backstops on rat racks to prevent the tubs from being pushed in too far.

Here's a couple of links to pages on how I build my rat racks.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack2/birthing_rack.shtml
 
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