Vivarium wood?

[Tom]

i was wondering what wood to buy, when i start on making my big vivariums for my boas..

im feed up paying stupid money for them, and i can build them myself, so what wood do i have to buy to make them?..
i would want to seal them, but im unsure of what wood to use. :read:

cheers.

[Tom]

would the wood in this vivarium be any good?
it looks like one big cap and it will soak, and stain the wood..

YouTube - Boa Constrictors (Big b"£$%ds) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s-v1NYGsbo)

[Khanidge]

Tom any thing you want to know about this subject give me a shout being a Carpenter/bench joiner its my game.

The boarding used in this clip is known as osb board or Sterling board,
it is a very cheap material to use.
In my trade it is used as temporary hoarding/shuttering or protection.
The unfortunate thing with this material is getting it to be resistant to moisture.

There are many methods that can be applied to achieve moisture resistance one of which is to give it a few coats of either a watered down pva mix or diamond hard floor laquer. It can be Tiled which is ideal but extreemly heavy.

But the problem with it is because it is rough in texture any Mites or plop that may get on to it, Will be alot harder to clean off/eradicate than a smoother type board ie Conti board, formica board, laminated board or veneered board.

if you wanted a cheap material to use then I would use 3/4" 18mm shuttering ply also known as 1 good faced board/ply and wbp ply.
This is a touch more expensive but has 1 face that is semi prepaired. It is what is used for external hoarding's.

It has a reasonable resistance to moisture and because of the 1 good face, if you keep this to the inside of the viv you can treat it with all sorts of sealers/paints.
This will give you a smooth finish thus easyer to keep clean.

If you look at "Ralfs Vivariums" this is the same material he has used in parts of the structure to a good effect.

Regards Deano.............

[Tom]

awesome..

il pop to b&q and see what the shuttering board is priced at, i need vivariums, and fast, il have to speak with rob about glass.
the other option, is you pm me a price you can make 3x2x2, and 4x2x2(ft) vivariums for, and il but them from you, as im sure you could make them alot better than me....lol

[Khanidge]

I'll do you a price tomorro and txt it to you. All I need is material cost then sort out the rest after to get you up and running, I can deliver to you aswel no probs..

[Khanidge]

how many do you need???

[Tom]

im needing 3 3x2x2 for now..

il need more when the others catch up...lol

[RALPH]

yeah i use 18mm plywood on all my vivs and if you sand the wood down you do get a nice smooth finish and i coat them in a heat and water resistant floor varnish. the sheets in b and q measure 8ft by 4ft they cost about £20 but you could probably get it from a timber yard for a few quid cheaper.

[Tom]

cheers ralph.