Building on a budget (part one)

[Linds]

This is for yankeefoxtrot, and anyone else that was interested in building on an ultimate budget

This is my first -real- building project (I don't count my rodent rack because anytime I ask my dad for help he does a takeover ). I am having to upgrade caging for quite a few of my kids, and am on the ultimate budget! So far this is what I have...

I have 6 cages (four 4x2x1, one 4x2x18", and one 3x2x1), all will be used for housing snakes, with the exeption of the largest one which will be used for my redfoot tortie.

4 sheets of OSB @ $9/ea. ($36)
Pine 3"x1" and 2"x1"........($60)
Drywall screws 1 1/4" and 1 5/8".... ($3)
Carpenters Glue......($8)
Twelve 5" plastic vents @ $1.99/ea...($27)

Total to date: $134

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/226cages.jpg">[

[Tim_Cranwill]

Looks like a great project. Kepp us updated with lots of pics!

[Grant vg]

Good job linds! im amazed at how many cages you could built with that little of money!

[Invictus]

Isn't the OSB a little rough for the snakes? Not to mention, it's far from being waterproof. What would you seal / coat it with?

[Linds]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Invictus,
The OSB I have isn't at all rough. No wood is water-resistant/proof either, as mentioned in the heading and throughout the post, this is only part one of the process, and what I have done so far I wanted to use plastic but I don't have the necessary equipment or knowledge to work with it. They are going to be painted and epoxied (urethanes won't seal it enough for me, I need it to be able to hold water pretty much).

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

linds build me some, i like them and the price looks great too.

u planning on coating them or painted?

glass or plexi after?

keep me posted

cya

[Invictus]

Sounds good, Linds. Be sure to keep us posted with the progress! I was thinking of using OSB myself, because it is so amazingly cheap.

[pandorasBox]

can you explain the process of having an enclosure painted and epoxied so it could almost contain water. i no it really wont be holding water and i know how to paint, but i am doing alot of research on the best way to finish an enclosure and if you can put a finish that can hypotheticly hold water that sounds like a damn good way to finish off

[Edwin]

pandorasBox, one way to make wood 100% waterproof and actually hold water is to use fiberglass, but it is a very messy, arduous process.

[Invictus]

Countertop laminate is an expensive (but potentially VERY attractive!) alternative to fiberglass. Shower enclosure can also be used, and that's definitely 100% waterproof, assuming you use aquarium silicone in all of the joints.

[pandorasBox]

i went to home depot to take a look at that shower stuff and you can only buy it in huge amounts i think it was 8' or more and it was fairly expensive as well is there somewhere else to get it. thanks

[Invictus]

Home Depot is way more expensive than Rona. I'd suggest there if you have any in your area. Yes, it's only available in 4' x 8' sheets though. I'm also looking into laminate flooring, which I've been told is even cheaper yet. I'll get back to ya on that.

[Linds]

Really my enclosures only need to be sealed with epoxy resin, the paint is purely for asthetic reasons (the stamps and increment markers on the OSB just doesn't do it for me ). I am using an oil-based housepaint for this purpose. Apologies I cannot go into detail about how to apply the epoxy resin, as Edwin mentioned it is a very messy, difficult job requiring level of skill. I have no experience working with it, so I am getting someone else to do that part for me

[Auddi01]

are you talking about epoxy paint?

[damzookeeper]

wow, linds, they are looking great!! Can't wait to see the next set of pics.