Making MDF look nice/ Building a viv?

Hadies · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 05 May 2008 Karma :

Hi all. I'm planning to make a new vivarium for my snake as he's slighly out growing his current one. Would rather build than buy as for the size I'm making, 4 x 2 x 2 foot, it would cost ~250 quid. I have just bought all the MDF I need in the right dimensions for ~£30 quid. Runners and glass should cost £50 max.
Anyway, how would you make MDF look decent? I looked at fablon but was put off as its just a big sticker lol Do I have much choice?
Whats that wood effect decor you can iron onto chipboard etc to make it look nice?
Not really sure if this is random banter lol
Thanks in advance

Pickledswede · Traffic Copper Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Karma :

The iron on stuff you're talking about sounds like just a wood effect veneer, or possibly really wood veneer? Just a thin layer with some adhesive on the back which you stick onto the original piece.

Don't know much about any other options. Could paint it?

Drew · Banned Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Karma :

Wood veneer would need staining / lacquering after it is stuck on. (Would have been easier to get veneered mdf rather than plain mdf and sticking veneer on)

The plastic wood effect stuff that usually comes on chipboard is 'melamine' (Melamine faced chipboard) which doesn't need staining/lacquering etc (you can also get melamine is plain colours)

Or as said above, you can simply paint it.

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

Paint could harm your snake, take care.
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Isn't MDF also pretty nasty toxic stuff?

Drew · Banned Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Karma :

It is when you are cutting/sanding it. Not as just a block of MDF.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

You have to seal the bits you cut or something, don't you?

(vague recollection from 'Changing Rooms' MDF phase many years ago)

Drew · Banned Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Karma :

Seal the parts you cut, as if moisture gets into it, over time it is will expand and eventually turn to a mushy mess.

That isn't do to with the nasty stuff though, that is from inhaling the dust when you cut it etc.

Hadies · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 05 May 2008 Karma :

Shit bendy you had me worried there lol
Thanks for the input guys. The b and q nearby didnt have much in. They had white contiboard which looked tacky and MDF looked better than chipboard so i went for it.
I'll probably end up going for melamine as it sounds like the easiest option. Hope its not too expensive.
Does anyone here own a snake/ reptile or even fish and have DIY'ed their vivs/aquariums? Im looking to make a 3d background rather than just having a poster stuck on. I've looked around on t'internet and a lot of people have used expandable foam and tile grout. Has anybody had any experiences with this? I'm a little confused as I can imagine all that stuff being quite toxic. . .

plugger147 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

I've built 2 for our beardies, well say built they are both converted tv type cabinets. I think I've only got pictures of the first one.

The Shaping I made from polystyrene packing then I mixed some kids play paint with pva and painted it over the shaping and walls. I learned a valuable lesson here and realised that any tiny little gap must be filled with expanding foam and cut to shape before painting cos the bloody crickets/roaches etc creep in and hide. While the pva/paint mix was still wet I got some kids play sand that I'd mixed with food colouring and blew it off a sheet of paper with a drinking straw to break up the yellow a bit.

Rocks and branches were collected from beaches and either boiled in a saucepan or soaked in a bleach solution and then baked in the oven.

I'll see if I can find the forum I wrote a better write up on and post up a link.
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mcgoogle · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Karma :

if you use MDF it will definitely need sealing i used MFC(melamine faced chipboard) when i built my viv and cabinet, this is the same stuff they use when you buy vivs from the shop, you can get it in loads of different colours and effects. its not bad price wise either for 2 8ft X 2ft boards in oak was only £24 and had more than enough. if you can afford an extra couple of quid get the 15mm thick just for the extra strength.

Dischord · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2005 Karma :

I know it's been said but for the love of god wear a mask when you cut the stuff, I was building an install for the car (chav) and that dust knocked me on my ass for about 4 days, nasty shit.
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plugger147 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

If you are going to use yatch varnish then leave it at least 2 weeks in a well vented area with the lights/heat source's switched on. The heat will cause the release of more fumes and I wouldn't put an animal in there until I was 100% sure the fumes had cleared.
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Flip · Super Spammer Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Karma :

People here have made their own. Could be worth a look.

plugger147 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

Cheers flip, thats the one I used to post in. There are quite a few guys who've built some wicked viv's on there.

https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/habitat/94005-setting-up-beardie-newbie.html

Thats mine, check out the habitat section there's some good stuff in there.
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mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :