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Client has a bunch of vivariums/terarriums that house poison dart frogs and the plants they live in, and he wants some custom shelves to put the terarriums in.

No problem!

He sent me some photos of inspiration, and I went by for a visit to see the space where they would live.

Ad photo for the enclosure

Ad photo for the enclosure

Ad for the enclosures showing dimensions

Ad for the enclosures showing dimensions

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Design inspiration

Client sketch of proposed design

Client sketch of proposed design

Showing me how the enclosures open

Showing me how the enclosures open

One of the shorter 18 x 18 x 18 enclosures

One of the shorter 18 x 18 x 18 enclosures

Client and the spot where the shelves will go

Client and the spot where the shelves will go

This is an older unit by the same comany with two doors and a seam in the middle.

This is an older unit by the same comany with two doors and a seam in the middle.

One of the 18

One of the 18" tall ones. The shelf will be for 24" tall enclosures.

The light bars on top - have to leave room for those.

The light bars on top - have to leave room for those.

The space where the shelving unit will go

The space where the shelving unit will go

My notes from the in person visit

My notes from the in person visit

Raw plywood

Raw plywood

raw wood

raw wood

Some more design ideas

Some more design ideas

I liked these legs

I liked these legs

Cutting down the plywood for the sides

Cutting down the plywood for the sides

Shelves

Shelves

Making the dados for the shelves

Making the dados for the shelves

More shelf dados

More shelf dados

A good days work

A good days work

Working in someone else's shop means I have to keep my stuff organized

Working in someone else's shop means I have to keep my stuff organized

The dados in the middle need to be constrained on two sides

The dados in the middle need to be constrained on two sides

Checking fit

Checking fit

sides all done

sides all done

putting the case all together

putting the case all together

putting the back on

putting the back on

Adding edge banding to cover the plywood edges

Adding edge banding to cover the plywood edges

Parts for the top trim

Parts for the top trim

Top trim and flaps

Top trim and flaps

Clamping the top trim on

Clamping the top trim on

Adding the base on

Adding the base on

Almost ready for the trip home

Almost ready for the trip home

The flaps go on at the top of each section to hide the lights

The flaps go on at the top of each section to hide the lights

Flaps added

Flaps added

Flaps open to show how they work

Flaps open to show how they work

A sample piece I used to show the finish to the client

A sample piece I used to show the finish to the client

I pulled my trailer back to the workshop for transport to my house for final finishing

I pulled my trailer back to the workshop for transport to my house for final finishing

The friend who lets me use his workshop changes the saying here often

The friend who lets me use his workshop changes the saying here often

Wrapped up in plastic against the drizzle

Wrapped up in plastic against the drizzle

Wrapped in a blanket against the straps

Wrapped in a blanket against the straps

What a cute little pull toy!

What a cute little pull toy!

Unwrapping at home

Unwrapping at home

Ready for final finishing with Rubio monocoat

Ready for final finishing with Rubio monocoat

Looks very nice

Looks very nice

The flaps are attached with Blum hinges and come right off

The flaps are attached with Blum hinges and come right off

Upside down to make sure I got all the corners

Upside down to make sure I got all the corners

Some bumpers to make sure the flaps close nicely

Some bumpers to make sure the flaps close nicely

Done!

Done!

Final measurements - inside width, 36 1/2

Final measurements - inside width, 36 1/2"

36 1/2

36 1/2"

Oops

Oops

Showing the hinge mechanism for the flaps

Showing the hinge mechanism for the flaps

Detail of the top trim

Detail of the top trim

Outside depth, 19

Outside depth, 19"

Base height 5

Base height 5" or 5 3/4" depending on what you're measuring

After delivering the first one (which implies there was a second one), I discovered that my measurements were wrong. The space for the vivariums were supposed to be 24

After delivering the first one (which implies there was a second one), I discovered that my measurements were wrong. The space for the vivariums were supposed to be 24" tall each, not 18" tall each.

Starting to cut parts for number two

Starting to cut parts for number two

Same basic construction

Same basic construction

Made an extra flap just in case

Made an extra flap just in case

edge banding installed

edge banding installed

There we go - that's 27 inches tall

There we go - that's 27 inches tall

Proper height

Proper height

37 3/4

37 3/4" wide

...and 19

...and 19" deep

Looking at it from the base

Looking at it from the base

base trim

base trim

Looking 'up' at the top trim

Looking 'up' at the top trim

Top trim

Top trim

Base/legs

Base/legs

These are the flaps that hide the lights

These are the flaps that hide the lights

I'm so lucky I get to work at this shop!

I'm so lucky I get to work at this shop!

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All images copyright© Steve Donie, all rights reserved. Do not use without permission.