Arboreal Snake Cage, on a budget

Supplies Needed
-2 Large Rubbermaid Bins
-4 feet of screen Frame
-1 square foot of aluminum screen
-4 feet of screen spline
-4 screen frame corners
-4 "L" shaped corner brackets
-4 Golf Tees
-18 Small Brass Bolts
-18 Brass acorn nuts to fit the bolts
-16 rubber washers to fit the bolts
-A handful of nylon washers
Tools Needed
-Drill
-Bit sized the same as the bolts
-Screwdriver that fits bolts
-Pliers, or wrench to hold Acorn Nuts secure
-Key Hole Saw
-Torch
-Screen Spline Roller
Step 1
The first thing I did, was make the screen cover for the clamp lamp hole. To make a screen for an 8.5 inch clamp lamp, I made the frame 9 inches squared. Cut four, 9 inche pieces of screen frame.
Assemble frame using the 4 corners
Next, Lie the screen tightly over the frame, and use the screen spline roller to roll the spline into the frame, over the screen.
Trim off the excess screen.
You know have the frame and screen for the clamp lamp.

Step 2
Next, drill a small hole into the center of the bin to be the top of the cage. Measure out from this hole all around, and mark all around, until you have a circle for the clamp lamp

Next, use a Key hole saw to cut the hole you just drew out. You may be able to use a jigsaw, but it will likely chip it up pretty bad, unless you have a very fine tooth blade, and mad skillz
To smooth the edges, use either sand paper, or melt the edges with the torch.

Step 3
Now decide where you want your bolts to go. Drill 10 holes, evenly around the rim of the bin

I put the bolts in the holes to give you a good idea of where to put them on your project.

now put the bin that you just drilled, upside down on top of the other bin, and use a permanent marker to mark where the holes are

Drill the holes where you just marked, and test fit the bins together

Step 4
Measure carefully, and mark a doorway, sized how you want on the front of the top bin. Cut out the doorway, using the key hole saw. Again, either sand, or melt the edges smooth

Do the same with the bottom bin, but leave a bit more bin at the bottom, so you can use a good ammount of subtrate

Bolt em together, and feel good about yourself

Attatch the "L" shaped corner brackets an inch or two over or under (for the bottom of cage) the doorway. where you put them is up to you, because they will determine the size of the glass sheets needed. Attatch them using two brass bolts, per bracket. Put the rubber washers on the inside, against the bin, so it wont crack, and will be able to flex a little bit.

Use a drill bit to bore out the holes on the bracket, so you can fit the Golf Tee inside.

Step 5
Now, using the silicon, glue the screen frame over the hole you cut for the clamp lamp. To make the glue set more evenly, turn the cage upside down, so it is sitting on the frame, and then put some large books inside the cage, to evenly distrbute the pressure over the silicon bead. Let it sit overnight

The next day, you will have, this

Step 6
Measure from the inside of the lip, to the surface of the "L" shaped bracket
This will be the height of the piece of glass.
The width is fairly easy, just measure as wide as you want it to be. It should have atleast an inch of overlap on both sides of the doorway though


enjoy, have fun!