| Project by trotter | posted 252 days ago | 1855 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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Here’s a recent commission. We have a client who breeds pythons and boa constrictors, and wanted to ship a Burmese Python (python molarus bivittatus) to Mexico. This specimen weighed 68kgs and measured 17 feet long. When you ship a snake like this, you do not make a box 17 feet long and nine inches square. The snake must however be comfortable, be able to move about without being thrown about, and be kept warm. So the final dims were inches LWH 60×30 x 10. Any wooden packing or containers shipped internationally must now be heat treated after manufacture to kill bugs, beetles and fungus—unless the container is entirely made from ‘manufactured’ timber. Hence the whole project was made from ½ inch ply.
The outer framework was two layers of ply screwed together onto the panels and routed after manufacture. The rope handles allowed easy lifting and folded down naturally so that the outer dims were not increased (and thus increasing the freight costs). It had to be lined with 2inch polystyrene for insulation, and a warm temperature was maintained with heat pads laid under a false ply floor (pic 5). Ventilation holes were covered from the inside with mesh to discourage fingers poking in or forked tongue poking out. Several hasps were added to ensure that nobody ‘took a quick peek’ en route. I made a smaller container for a Mexican King Snake (lampropeltis getula nigrata). Both arrived safely in Cancun.
-- Experience: What you get when you don't get what you expect.
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9 comments so far
Monte Pittman
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7060 posts in 506 days
#1 posted 252 days ago
I HATE snakes! But looks like a great build.
-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability
clieb91
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2674 posts in 2103 days
#2 posted 252 days ago
A very interesting project. Nicely done and glad to hear they both made it intact and warm. Neat idea to use the hand warmers.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Kookaburra
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744 posts in 392 days
#3 posted 252 days ago
I hope they did not make you keep the snakes on hand to make sure the fit was good :-)
This is so interesting – what a specialized product! It must have been a real learning experience to go through the process.
I am pleased to know they are transported in a safe and comfortable environment. Looks like they travel in better style than most coach passengers these days!
-- Kay - Just a girl who loves wood.
DIYaholic
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7300 posts in 843 days
#4 posted 252 days ago
Interesting build and nicely done.
I just hope those snakes are still “corralled” when I next visit my timeshare in Cancuun!!!
-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow!
redryder
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1587 posts in 1270 days
#5 posted 252 days ago
Interesting story and build.
I agree with Monte. If one of these boxes gets delivered to my door, I will now know not to open it
Definitely not a band saw box….............
-- mike...............
mloy365
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305 posts in 1298 days
#6 posted 252 days ago
WOW! That is very interesting. Love your screwdriver!
-- Mike - Northern Upper Michigan
ssnvet
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1551 posts in 497 days
#7 posted 252 days ago
If anybody ever needs to make a cleated plywood crate, let PPP-B-601 and ASTM-D-6251 be your friends.
The later is a 95% copy of the former, which can be downloaded for free at Assist.com
The purpose of the cleating is to provide solid wood side grain for holding the panels together.
Looks like you did a nice job Trotter.
-- Matt, Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!
padric
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30 posts in 400 days
#8 posted 251 days ago
Nice cabinet work! The only addition I would make is an input valve that you could connect to a carbon monoxide source. I hate snakes.
-- warningsconsul@gmail.com
Green_Hornut
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67 posts in 788 days
#9 posted 248 days ago
Got to be one of the most unique builds I have seen on this site.
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