Plans for first diy viv

[_sam_]

Hi, guys ive searched have the forum a couple of times for sites that plans for building a viv but still havn't found anything, im looking for plans to build a 36"x18"x18" or a 48"x18"18", give or take a few inches doesnt have to be pricise i just want a general guide line for building a viv.

any help appriciated,

cheers,

sam.

[neil4842]

Due to a pm that has been sent to me I thought I’d post this for anyone thinking of having a go at building a viv. This is a simple plan for a basic viv. Check it meets the requirements for your animal before you build it. I apologise now but this may appear slightly patronising in some areas, but it is written how I like plans, in other words with no ambiguities or room for error as I am useless at DIY!

I make mine out of melanin (contiboard) as the final viv is easy to make water tight by just silicon sealing all the interior corners/edges. They are fixed together by screwing and gluing.

Here is the basic viv shape;
When building a viv it is important to make sure the sides are joined to the top of the base not the sides of the base, so it is strong enough to be lifted etc. This diagram shows how the final panels fit together, note that back goes inside the sides and that the top goes over all three verticals. The front piece also fits in-between the sides



A) These are the six pieces of wood required to produce the viv. I have used letters for measures so you can build it to any size you require.
It is important the front and back panel lengths are shorter than the base and top by exactly twice the thickness of the wood you are using so the viv fits together tightly.



B) When I made my vivs I used large sheets of 15mm thick contiboard from B+Q. To use the wood efficiently I made the depth of the viv equal to the standard width of the board. This means the sheets could be cut thus, (Don’t forget to include the thickness of the saw blade between each piece for accuracy.)


C) Once you have cut out all six pieces take a pencil and write in the middle of each piece what it is! Then take each piece and balance the final viv together. Then write OUTSIDE and INSIDE on each side of each piece Do not miss this stage out as it will haunt you later if you do!

Now, lay each piece down on the floor/bench with the OUTSIDE FACE UP. Now on each of the edges that will need screwing and gluing (see drawing for which edges (dots marked roughly, worth measuring), draw a pencil line half the thickness of the wood (in my case 7.5mm) away from the edge. Then at regular intervals along each line put a cross (make sure that the crosses on the front edge of the sides are low enough to fit into the sides the front panel! Then drill holes through each of the crosses. Use a drill bit 0.5mm smaller than the screws you are using. My vivs used 3.5mm chipboard screws (40mm long) so I used a 3mm drill.



Now counter sink all holes on the outside face.



Finally time to construct. This is where you take careful notice of the pencil labels on your wood. Believe my there is nothing more frustrating than screwing one of the sides on the wrong way around!
Start with the base and one of the sides.(1) First, take the left side piece and place it upside down on the floor (grip it with you feet to keep it upright!) with the outside face facing left and the front edge facing away from you. Now take the base and turn it upside down so the outside face is uppermost. Run a line of wood glue along the top of the side piece and then place the left hand edge of the base on top of the glue and screw them together using the holes already drilled. I found it useful to use an electric screw driver and to place the screws into the pre-drilled holes a little way first. It is also easier if a friend holds the other end of the base to keep it at right angles to the side.(2) Next take the right side, line it up, making sure the outside edge is facing right and the front is facing away from you, glue and screw. This side will be slighty easier as the other side offers support for the base!(3) Now take the back panel and line it up in between the two side pieces with the outside face facing you. Glue along the top edge and both side edges and line it up inbetween the two sides and underneath the base. This can be quite tricky (and a tight squeeze if you weren’t accurate enough!) working quickly but making sure its all aligned, first screw through the base into the back panel. Then screw through each side into the back panel using the holes again. Now turn the whole thing so the viv is resting on its newly put in back. Glue the three sides of the front panel, place into position and screw though.



Now place the viv upright, it should look like this



Glue along the top three edges and place the top panel on. Screw through and leave the whole thing over night to dry. Get hold of the iron on edging strip for the contiboard and iron on over any edges where the rough chipboard is showing. Plug the screw heads with the little plastic disks made for the job and stick some felt pads underneath for grip.

Finally cut holes for vents and drill holes for mat cables, thermostats and lighting and seal all inside edges with aquarium sealant. Obtain glass runners (B+Q again) and get glass cut to size. Jobs a good ‘un!



found this on another site hope it helps

__________________

[neil4842]

Reptilecrazy uk

heres the link as i had to take a few pics out

[carl24bpool]

Great post mate. I knew already but this is great for anyone who isn't very DIY orientated.

Should be a sticky if you ask me. See what the mods say. There are no stickies so maybe it would be a good one to have.

[_sam_]

thanks thats great. will be popping down to b&q this weekend :P

[tom1400]

i built a 48x18x18 viv and it cost around 55 quid in total with glass, vents,runners and wood. Use melamime wood.
The mistake i made for when cutting the wood is that i didn't use a stanley knife to give it a clean cut. I used a circular saw and it took some of the melamime wood off with it. When you cut the wood score all the cuts before using a saw and it will give it a better finish. Also i used screws to attach together. If you go to your local diy shop you can buy these brackets which you put inside and screw to the top of the viv and the side. This saves all the screws being seen from outside and makes it look alot better.
Lastly when you come to get the glass cut, the best bet to do is make it so you can lift the glass in and out of the runners. This makes it so much easier to clean. If i wanted to clean my glass thourghly i would have to take one side of the viv off to get the glass out.
Hope this helps.
thanks tom

[snakelover]

Originally Posted by tom1400

i built a 48x18x18 viv and it cost around 55 quid in total with glass, vents,runners and wood. Use melamime wood.
The mistake i made for when cutting the wood is that i didn't use a stanley knife to give it a clean cut. I used a circular saw and it took some of the melamime wood off with it. When you cut the wood score all the cuts before using a saw and it will give it a better finish. Also i used screws to attach together. If you go to your local diy shop you can buy these brackets which you put inside and screw to the top of the viv and the side. This saves all the screws being seen from outside and makes it look alot better.
Lastly when you come to get the glass cut, the best bet to do is make it so you can lift the glass in and out of the runners. This makes it so much easier to clean. If i wanted to clean my glass thourghly i would have to take one side of the viv off to get the glass out.
Hope this helps.
thanks tom

just read your thread, becuase it has been linked inmmy viv building thread, anyway...what glass did you use, and how much did it cost!? Building my vivs this week end!!!