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Post by woodchip on Jun 3, 2011 17:37:45 GMT
I've had a "genius" idea that people have probably already done. I wondered if anyone had tried this, or if anyone can see a reason that it won't work. The plan is to make my own Flying Saucer excercise wheel using "spinning plates" and a lazy susan bearing. The spinning plate would be like this one... www.beardjuggling.co.uk/product/beard-aluminium-spinning-plateRunning on a 3" bearing like this... bearing-king.co.uk/bearing/lazy-susan-turntable-bearing-square-3-inch/6088I'd attach the plate to the bearing with chemical metal (no sharp edges for the girls to hurt themselves on). I'd then make a frame for it to mount on so it could be attached to the cage at an angle. Can anyone see any problems with this? Has anyone tried it? |
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Post by Kat on Jun 3, 2011 18:23:58 GMT
I think that its a great idea. I am in the process of making a couple of these at the moment. One with a steel fruit bowl/plate and another with large wooden dish. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think that aluminium will be too soft for this project. I was going to use this for mine, but ikea was out of stock when I went. This may work better for you. If you don't have an ikea near by I'm sure you could ask someone to get one for you and post it. Kat x Or a cymbal if you can get on cheap enough |
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Post by woodchip on Jun 3, 2011 18:33:46 GMT
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Post by Kat on Jun 3, 2011 18:50:00 GMT
Here is a couple of videos of homemade metal saucers
I found that looking for chinchilla saucers brings up more information.
Kat
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Post by fred on Jun 3, 2011 18:50:27 GMT
I have made one based on the IKEA lazy susan plate deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Cage&thread=8193&page=1With this is it sometimes happens that when my two are on it together, one “flies off”. I would assume that this may happen less if you use a bowl rather than have a flat surface but you should bare that in mind if you place the flying saucer in the cage. We use it only in the play area (where they love it  ). |
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Post by Kat on Jun 3, 2011 18:54:11 GMT
I have seen yours Fred. I'm about to make a blatant copy for my degus. I hope that is ok?
Kat
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Post by fred on Jun 3, 2011 19:09:38 GMT
Sure . I frequently change the angle and also how hard it is to move it (not sure what the correct English expression is but I hope you get the meaning). It gives their little brains something to think about other than what to destroy next  . I will put another clip on YouTube over weekend. |
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Post by Kat on Jun 4, 2011 8:21:34 GMT
I think your going for "resistance"
I will look forward to the video.
Kat
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Post by johannab on Aug 22, 2011 13:34:47 GMT
hi,I am new here and extremely interested in the flying saucers. I cant afford 3 @ £80 though!! ( I have 8 Chins in differing set-ups /cages).
Did any of you have any success in making your own? My husband is happy to give it a go if anyone has any pointers. We got the Lazy susan (ikea) and the metal dish (also ikea) . He has affixed one the other and it has a lovely smooth spin action ,he now needs to devise a stand or hook up of some kind to the cage mesh. But now my mum has chimed in that the dish is too flat and they may not be able to stay on it at speed lol .
Any pics of your success stories? I was unable to open Fred's video/pics in the post above.
Johanna x
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des
Newborn Degu
Posts: 11
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Post by des on Aug 22, 2011 13:48:31 GMT
The Ikea saucer is pretty widespread in Germany.
We made ours by buying a 30cm running plate for about 25€, and then sticking the IKEA bowl 8€ on top of it.
looks like this:
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Post by johannab on Aug 22, 2011 15:25:37 GMT
Wow that's a great set up you have ! They have lots to entertain themselves with.
I opened it on my phone and will look again when I get home on my laptop but is the flying saucer wooden or metal? And how did u make the normal wooden wheels that you have ?
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Post by fred on Aug 22, 2011 15:31:31 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 22, 2011 19:06:06 GMT
I really LIKE that site!! Think I will have to favorite it!
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Post by johannab on Aug 22, 2011 19:52:52 GMT
What a great site !
Thanks for that . We will persevere with the one we have started and see how it turns out .
We are only using the lazy Susan bearing , not the actual top part . That's definitely something we will try next though .
Thanks , jo
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des
Newborn Degu
Posts: 11
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Post by des on Aug 22, 2011 21:15:53 GMT
Wow that's a great set up you have ! They have lots to entertain themselves with. I opened it on my phone and will look again when I get home on my laptop but is the flying saucer wooden or metal? And how did u make the normal wooden wheels that you have ? The Saucer is wooden, bamboo to be precise, fred has already linked a howto. The name of the bowl isn't coming to mind, right now. Sorry. The two wooden wheel are made by a german who'a active on deguforum.de. They're hand made, very quiet, and last an eternity. Downside is that they have a steep price. We paid 140€ for both. It's well worth it, though. Our Goos chew through a regular wooden wheel each month, as you can see in the video. |
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Post by davx on Aug 22, 2011 23:34:02 GMT
I used a bamboo dish and a ball bearing from an old running wheel:  Here the Flying Saucer in the outdoor enclosure:  Unfortunately my degus ignored it in my presence. My neighbour told me they used it, but I have never seen them running in it. They climbed on the dish and sniffed around, but jumped away if the dish turned. Well my degus are relatively old, both 6 years and they have never seen such a toy before. |
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Post by Kat on Aug 23, 2011 6:56:27 GMT
This is the link to the dish. HULTET DISHI have two of these and have found them both in charity shops for <£3 Charity shops are a goldmine for degu/hamster stuff if you look at things in a different way. Also the smaller metal dish is reduced at the moment. FLORREA CANDLE DISHBy the way DAVX that outdoor enclosure looks amazing. Kat |
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Post by johannab on Aug 23, 2011 12:58:00 GMT
you are all very ingenious! Those wheels are fab. I will advise my husband accordingly. I can't wait to see our chins on it.
We will start with the saucers and maybe think about conventional wheels later. 140 euros for the two isn't too bad as they last so long.
thanks again everyone,
Jo
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des
Newborn Degu
Posts: 11
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Post by des on Aug 23, 2011 21:52:16 GMT
Just send me a private message and I'll get you hooked up with the guy  |
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).
. I will put another clip on YouTube over weekend.
). I use it only in their play area, but I it should be esay to affix the board to the cage. This is a more elegant version than mine: 
