Build progress so far

Hey everyone, heres another update for you.

So I have started to build the cage and below is the progress so far...

So in this first picture you can see the base of the cage and some pine strips that I am using to construct the frame. The front back and side panels are going to sit on top of the base, because of this the frame needs to be 18mm inside the base (18mm is the thickness of the MDF sheets). It is also not important if the frame stretches all the way around, it will work as long as the pine strips hold the panels to the base.

 

I am using 55mm bolts to attach everything in the cage together. Bolts are good because it means that each panel is easily removed in the future and replaced if required. Bolts, unlike screws, will not move around in the hole you drill if the structure wobbles (this will make the holes bigger and the structure will become more and more wobbly!). Bolts go straight through and keep everything really tight.

Below you can see how the front panel has been attached, a steel "double u" glass runner will sit exactly on top of this panel at a later date.

I use about 3 bolts to secure a panel, depending on whether or not it still feels a bit wobbly. If it still does not feel secure I use 3 - 5 bolts, you shoudnt need more than this. (unless you are building a HUGE cage!)

There will be 4 strips of pine wood in each corner to secure all the panels to each other. As you can see below I have 1 strip attaching the side panel to the front panel, and another strip ready to secure the side panel to the back panel. The side panel also has 2 bolts securing it to the base.

I have also secured another front panel that will frame the glass sliding doors. I used another long pine strip and 3 bolts to secure this smaller panel.

More build updates to come (hopefully) this monday, so stay tuned!

Many thanks guys! :)