Thanks Stalk for the complement on my cages. I personally make very cage as if it was for myself. That is my quality control. I am my worst critic. I also listen to what my clients say about my cages so I can make them better. Here is some info and pictures of my cages.
Standard equipment for each cage is a ceramic infrared heat emitter , a KANE heating pad under the floor, fluorescent light with timer, casters and air vents. The 3/4"Oak plywood is stained to any Minwax color you like, sealed and caulked. The bottom of each cage and 2 to 4 inches up each inside side is sealed with a clear, high build epoxy finish to aid in cleaning and prevent water damage to the unit. The cage has sliding tempered glass doors with a Pin lock to ensure that animals stay in, and children stay out. (Sliding reinforced Plexiglas doors can be installed if you prefer avoiding the risk of breakable glass.)
My cages may cost allot but they are not the most expensive one's one there. I put in over 30 hr into making one cage. In my opinion on one seals there wood cages like I do. I put 2 to 3 coats of stain 4 to 6 coats of spray sealer inside and outside of every cage. Then after the spray sealer is dry I clear coat the floor and a little up the sides with a 2 part clear epoxy finish. This is the same stuff you see on most bar tops where it looks like the clear coat is 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Here is a list of the material I buy when I make one cage. As you can see there is a lot of money just in material for my cages. I only have a few options for my caging. Type of wood, stain color, size of Kane heat mat and tempered glass or Plexiglas doors.
Oak Plywood
Birch Plywood
Pine Plywood
Glue
Stain
Casters
Vents
Locks (Pin Lock)
Electric Plates
Electric Cords
Digital Timer
Light Socket
Silicone
Edge Band (oak)
Edge Band (birch)
Helmsman sealer
High build epoxy
Light Bulb
Ceramic Heater
Kane Heater (18 x 18 )
Kane Heater (13 x 36)
Door Track 4'
Door Track 6'
Wood Patch
Outlet Strip
Humidity Thermometer Gauge
Water Dish
Glass doors
Door Handles
Plexi-glass doors
C-channel 1/4" for Plexi-glass.
You can see the sliding reinforced Plexiglas doors in the bottom cage in this picture.
As you can see from this picture the floor of one cage is not the ceiling of the other cage and the heat mat is not inside the cage.
Take care
Tom
