How to Build a Cage Bank

A cage bank is a caging unit that holds a series of separate cages. Cage banks are used in pet stores as well as by breeders. Make a cage bank that will work for a number of creatures from reptiles to rabbits by using melamine sheets. Melamine is a vinyl covered particle board that is easy to clean and can be worked with using standard woodworking tools. A cage bank that has four units can be built in less than two hours in a workshop.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Square
  • 2 melamine sheets, 3/4-by-18-by-40-inches
  • 4 melamine sheets, 3/4-by-18-by-41 1/2-inches
  • 8 pine boards, 2-by-2-by-19 5/8-inches
  • 8 pine boards, 2-by-2-by-18 1/8-inches
  • Handsaw
  • Hammer
  • 3/4-inch chisel
  • Miter saw
  • Screw gun
  • 4 outside corner brackets, 18 inches
  • 32 wood screws, 3/4 inches
  • 40 wood screws, 3 inches
  • Wire mesh, 1/4-inch holes, 41 1/2-by-41 1/2-inches
  • 4 wire mesh sheets, 1/4-inch holes, 19 5/8-by-19 5/8-inches
  • 96 staples, 1-inch
  • 8 hinges, 1-inch, with screws
  • 4 bag hook locks, with screws, 1 inch
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      Handsaws can cut through melamine with little difficulty.

      Measure 19 5/8 inches away from the end of the 40-inch melamine sheet and make a 9 1/2-inch-deep cut that is at a right angle to the 40-inch edge. Measure 19 5/8 inches away from the opposite end and make another 9 1/2-inch-deep cut that is at a right angle on the same edge. Knock out this 3/4-inch section of melamine with a hammer and chisel. Repeat this step with the other 40-inch sheet.

    • 2

      Cut the end of each 41 1/2-inch sheet at a 45 degree angle using a miter saw. When the sheet lies flat on its longest side it will look like a trapezoid. Position the four sheets on edge so they make a square with the inside measurements of 40-by-40-inches. The angled edges are against each other. Screw a corner bracket to each outside corner using eight 3/4-inch screws for each bracket. This is the cage bank frame.

    • 3

      Slide the 3/4-inch grooves on the 40-inch boards into each other so the two boards make a cross. Set these boards into the cage bank frame so they are centered inside the cage, 19 5/8 inches away from each 41 1/2-inch sheet. Screw through the frame and into the 40-inch sheets. Use two 3-inch screws for each end, for eight screws total. These are the four cage spaces.

    • 4

      Lay two 19 5/8-inch boards parallel and 18 1/8 inches apart. Set two 18 1/8-inch boards between them at right angles so they make a square. Screw the 19 5/8-inch boards to the 18 1/8-inch boards so two 3-inch screws enter each end of the 18 1/8-inch boards. Repeat this step three more times. These are the frames to the cage doors.

    • 5

      Staple a 19 5/8-inch mesh sheet to each door frame using a hammer and 12 staples for each door. Staple the 41 1/2-inch mesh sheet to the cage frame and to the 40-inch sheets using 48 staples.

    • 6

      Screw two half-hinges to one 19 5/8-inch board on each door frame. You are screwing the hinges to the edge that is at a right angle to the mesh. Position each half-hinge 3 inches away from the ends of the boards. The hinge must be able to fold 180 degrees. Screw the other pairs of half-hinges to the inside of the cage so the doors can open out and down from the each cage unit. The doors fit inside the cage.

    • 7

      Close the doors and screw the slot portion of the bag hook locks to the top 19 5/8-inch board on each door and screw the latch portion to the melamine directly above it.