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Post by amie on May 29, 2011 6:53:59 GMT
I'm struggling to find Kiln dried pine in the sizes I need to make full levels for my cages (not the small levels, I want them the same size as the floor space). Does anyone know of anywhere I could by it in large sizes? I know I could use other types of wood for the levels and line the edges in kild dried pine, but I'd only really want to do this as a last option. If I have to go with the later option, what's the best wood to use and make sure they can't chew it! lol. Thanks
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Post by fred on May 29, 2011 9:12:25 GMT
I was originally also looking for large boards of kiln dried pine but didn't have any success. Just wondering whether with such fab large cages as yours your last option is such a bad one. It seems potentially so much cheaper and better to clean. I am considering Homebase furniture boards for this purpose; I believe that when lined with e.g. kiln dried pine they should be perfectly safe.
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Post by amie on May 30, 2011 5:35:12 GMT
Thanks And thanks again for the cage compliment hehe.... Yeah, I'm considering just buying two large (well, six if you count all three cages) planks of Plywood or MDF and then trying my hand at lining them with floor tiles (I might go for the ceramic ones rather than vinel) glueing them down and attaching kild dried pine around all the edges with nails and a hammer (just thinking about me using a hammer is scary!!!! LOL). Then I'll just buy lots of different ready made made levels to fill out cage. I just get worried about them finding some way of chewing the 'bad wood' Why are my pikachus so EXPENSIVE?! LOL.
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Post by deguconvert on May 30, 2011 15:08:52 GMT
I agree with Fred, and I think your idea of lining with the kiln dried pine is great! I think you will pull off a fab job with what you have in mind and you will be impressed with yourself. You go girl!
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Post by fred on May 30, 2011 17:37:03 GMT
I had a stroll through the main Homebase and B&Q warehouses in town today comparing different woods for DIY cages. I think amie's plan of plywood, ceramic tiles and edges of kiln dried pine/wood is the best solution. Plywood and MDF are both much cheaper at B&Q and the the difference between them is relative small so I personally would go for their plywood. The furniture boards which I mentioned before are not sufficiently scratch-resistant. B&Q have strips and boards in kiln dried pine and also kiln dried timber which is about a third cheaper. I thought the important bit was “kiln dried” and therefore used the timber in my cage; and it works just fine. Since this is anyway wood marked “for destruction” this seems a good opportunity to save money (only to spend elsewhere on the little darlings of course).
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Post by moletteuk on May 30, 2011 19:13:38 GMT
I'm moving towards lining my shelves with lino because no matter how much megazorb I use, the urine still soaks into the boards, and gets a bit stinky and hard to clean. So I'd go with plywood, lined with tiles, and edged with pine, if I were you. I'd use plywood rather than MDF if possible, as plywood gives off fewer chemicals over time.
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Post by amie on May 31, 2011 5:12:46 GMT
That's what I thought. I think MDF has too much glue in it too, and if they did by chance manage to chew it, I can see MDF being a lot worse for them.
Out of curiousity, if a degu were to chew a 'bad' wood, such as plywood.... what would happen? I understand it isn't good for them, but if they happened to nibble it a little, would it kill them? or make them them very sick? It's not something I'd leave open for them to chew, but I'd like to know what happens if they did chew it (not that they could!).
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Post by fred on May 31, 2011 9:18:26 GMT
With “toxic” woods it depends on whether the toxic component is ingested or inhaled. With plywood it is the latter when formaldehyde and phenols from the glue are released. It can become problematic if you have LOTS of plywood in a moist and poorly aerated room. There is absolutely no risk with your set-up! As far as ingestion is concerned, I would think that degus could chew quite a bit without ill effect. But that's not going to happen with your goos because IF they manage to get access to the plywood somewhere you will cover it with kiln dried pine. So it's perfectly safe
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Post by malteser60 on May 31, 2011 9:19:05 GMT
I'd like to know what happens as well as mine love chewing paint-covered wallpaper! I catch them at it most of the time but if one manages to grab a piece I'm then chasing them all over the room to try and remove it from their mouths. They know not to do it, in fact I've seen them look around them furtively before grabbing a piece off the wall. Then when they see me coming they just leg it! Normally if I approach them they won't run away, and will come over for a sniff (probably hoping for a treat!), but if they've got a bit of wallpaper in their mouths they know they're in big trouble! I've got mdf boards but I think I'll replace them soon with plywood ones. amie - reason you won't find large sheets of kiln-dried pine is that a tree is only so big. If you want big ledges made of pine then you would have to join a couple together. This can be done either using wood glue, but then that defeats the purpose of using the pine, or using wooden dowels, and make sure that you have screwed as many open sides of the wood to the sides of the cage. For example, you have two sheets of pine held together using wooden dowels. One sheet is at the back, attached to the cage by three sides, and one side attached to the other sheet by dowels. The front piece is attached at the back by the dowels, two sides to the cage, and the front is empty and free for the goos to jump up onto. Hope this makes sense.
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Post by fred on May 31, 2011 9:37:00 GMT
malteser60 as with all potentially toxic stuff it is that dose that makes the poison. As log as you don't make wallpaper part of their regular diet, they should be perfectly safe
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Post by moletteuk on May 31, 2011 18:58:31 GMT
Mine have managed to chew the odd little bit of plywood with no ill effects. I think most people's goos have had a go at the skirting boards and so on without any harm, so as long as it's not a regular part of their diet, I wouldn't worry too much. Be careful with wallpaper as wallpaper paste is very poisonous because it contains anti-fungal agents that are quite nasty.
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Post by amie on Jun 1, 2011 2:17:14 GMT
Thanks I'm thinking about lino tiles now instead of ceramic ones. The thicker more expensive ones that have slef adhesive on the bottom. Would the same rule apply to these too? They'll be well stuck down and the corners will be under the kiln dried pine to stop them chewing it, but if chewed a little.... nothing to worry about? Or bad idea all together? Sorry for all the question. Just want to get it right for my babies
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Post by amie on Jun 1, 2011 6:20:42 GMT
I've just had a look around the internet and it's all so confusing! lol. I know nothing about wood/DIY, but it seems there are different types of plywood (I realise I might sound really stupid here). Can I use any type or is it all just the same? They had birch plywood, soft and hard on the last site I looked on. I'm really confused now, lol.
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Post by fred on Jun 1, 2011 8:48:15 GMT
I am as confused as you are amie, both from looking at what is available at B&Q and searching the web . There are differences how they were produced and how much of the nasty stuff they can potentially emit. This may be an important consideration when you build a whole cage out of plywood, but I am sure it doesn't matter at all for what you are going to use it for. I would go for the cheapest and invest the money saved in the treat cupboard
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 1, 2011 16:02:43 GMT
Birch is great! It is a wood that degus can safely chew, and you probably want to go with hard so that it isn't easy for them to just tuck into and destroy. There are plywoods made out of almost any and every wood type that is used for building or carpentry. So, if you find birch, go for it, it will be a good choice for you to use.
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Post by amie on Jun 2, 2011 0:49:14 GMT
Birch plywood it is then Thanks
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Post by kovu07 on Jun 2, 2011 7:37:35 GMT
I can't wait to see the finished design Amie
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Post by listracian on Jun 2, 2011 8:27:16 GMT
Beware with the plywood! We bought some to test for our cage, getting plywood and MDF and the plywood tended to split when nailing stuff into it because of the way it's made. We are going for MDF for that reason just because otherwise it might be a lot of money spent and possibly wasted! I don't know if it happens for everyone? I know nothing about wood and stuff but my boyfriend and his dad have always made stuff with wood and have all the funny wood cutting stuff... but they said the same about plywood which is why we tested it (I didn't believe them!) Apparently it's to do with how they layer the wood - but anyway thought I would put it out there are a warning, it may not always happen but it did to us!
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Post by kovu07 on Jun 2, 2011 8:31:27 GMT
A very helpful post Listracian, also it sounds like your boyfriend and his dad are the perfect people to build a Degu cage
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 2, 2011 16:47:39 GMT
Just a question, Listracian? Did you use screws and a drill with the plywood, or nails? I built the whole exterior of our cage using plywood, and using wood glue, a drill, and wood screws, I had no trouble at all with splitting.
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