Building the Big Jungle Gym Cage back panels.

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Building the Big Jungle Gym

The back panels are pretty easy - especially if you
have Home Depot pre-cut the pieces for you!

I cut the large back panels into two pieces for easy shipping...
Although you can just pretend that the seam is not there.

Back panels - rear view.

The full size of this back panel (ignoring that seam) is [V].
Drill from the shiny side to make holes approximately every 6" to 12",
(which are for cable ties to attach the panel to the cage frame.)

The corners are a little trickier, but not much:

View from outside the rear corner

As you can see, the holes are drilled so that they line up with each other.

The narrow corner upper panels are: [W].
The narrow corner lower panels are: [X].

You'll need three of each for the whole cage.
That covers the rear corner and the two side corners.

If you look closely, you can see the in rear corner where the two pieces meet.

See the rear corner? It's two pieces.

The best way I've found to join those two pieces is to notch them.

I use a template:

This is the actual template I use.

To make the notches: mark 3/4" down from the top edges,
cut 1 1/2" in from the side edges, and cut back to the top edge with a 1/2" slope.

For the front two mesh inserts... I've been taking 1" green plastic mesh (5 1/2" wide) and
lashing it to bamboo poles (68" tall) using jute twine and a locking stitch.

Use a smaller mesh for a smaller iguana.

But this a lot of extra work, when all you need to do is to
cut and notch more white melamine paneling or clear Lucite.
If you do, make these front panels slightly more narrow than the others: just 5 1/4" wide.

White panels instead of mesh.

I just happen to think that these mesh panels improve the interaction -
and quality of life - of the cage inhabitant.
Maybe you could just use them in the Summer...

Mesh panels: for a clear view, fresh air, listening and hand-feeding.

The only other melamine pieces you need now are for the lower sides under the windows.

Cut two panels [Y] and drill holes that line up with the holes in the lower corner panels.
Remember to drill from the shiny side.

Now you can why I add the bamboo trim.

Now you can see why I add the bamboo trim.
The outside of this melamine paneling is just plain brown.

Isn't this better?

Bamboo fence material from Home Depot.

.....

Now we've done the frame, the door, the ceiling, and the back panels.
Now we'll do the windows and the hanging shelves, and we're done!

Use Paypal to get the measurements now.

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