How would you fix holes in wood?

[abirose]

Ok so I've seen that I'm not the only one who's goos have a taste for MDF!

One of my goos seems to have scraped her teeth on a flat wood panel and has been ripping away at it. Also the lip that has the double u bar which holds the perspex on the cage has been attacked.

I was thinking about using duct tape to patch these areas up? Do you think this will be ok or will the goos just pull it off? I don't want any accidental back waxes!

[fred]

I think the duct tape would be gone in no time. Can you screw something protective on top, wood or metal? For the protection of the door runners in my vivarium, I have them covered with a solid pine board that needs replacing occasionally but nicely directs their teeth to where they can't do harm.

I am currently discussing the different wood types for cages on the German forum. It has been noted there that MDF may become vulnerable if exposed to moisture. Is this something that could have happened in your case?

[abirose]

Thanks for the reply.

I can understand how they can chew the lip because the double u is not quite at the end and leaves them a gap to gnaw. They have also started on the perspex doors because I have two separate pieces on the tracks of the double u.

No I don't think it could have got moist, if it was one of the shelves I would say this could be the answer, but it is in the middle of a side panel. It doesn't matter how many chew toys or degu safe wood I use, the cage is more appealing. If I'm honest I'm not sure where to find small pieces of metal to put over the top. As for the lip I don't think theres anything I can do about it! Is there such a thing as metal tape? I think I saw a user reinforce chewable areas with it?

[moletteuk]

I don't know if it would be the right size for you, but a handy piece of metal is a Roses chocolate tin lid (or similar). Just drill a couple of small holes in it and screw in, preferably with some domed top screws.

You can also buy aluminium sheet on ebay.

[abirose]

Thats a good idea! Gives me an excuse to get more chocolate ;D

[abirose]

www.tapes-direct.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=215_216&products_id=932&zenid=8kkl9egac2rcgce80igmgrn321

Do you think something like this would work?

[winic1]

what if you just cut a piece of wood and screw it over the area--that way they'll hopefully chew on this new thing, edges provided, and when it gets too messed up, you can just take it down and give them a new piece? Rather than stop them from chewing it, provide something for them to chew on your terms.

(my father was a technical illustrator in the days before computers--the guys who drew the diagrams for technical manuals. Everything had to be inspected before the drawings were approved and accepted. One inspector would ALWAYS find at least two things to be redone/corrected, even if they were really fine the way they were. So my dad and the other artists learned to purposely make two mistakes (like a crooked letter) that were easily fixable, if that inspector was on, so that she got to mark her two corrections, and they could get their work passed with minimal, planned redoing. Same idea for the goos--give them a wooden surface to chew through that causes you as little trouble as possible.)

[fred]

Nov 9, 2011 6:30:30 GMT winic1 said:

what if you just cut a piece of wood and screw it over the area--that way they'll hopefully chew on this new thing, edges provided, and when it gets too messed up, you can just take it down and give them a new piece? Rather than stop them from chewing it, provide something for them to chew on your terms.

That's what I would suggest. I did this with two existing screw holes in my vivarium, and it works fine. The only concern I might have is that they scratch at the edges. My cage is hard laminate which wouldn't be affected, but I am not sure what may happen with MDF. But should be worth trying.

I don't think the aluminium tape would work.

[Ady]

I put strip of wood (2mm thick x 7cm wide) along the double u but they chewed through in about a week. Need to replace it now and am thinking about glueing something like this on top www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=340289

[abirose]

Hi sorry I haven't been online for a while so I haven't had chance to thank everyone for their suggestions.

Unfortunately I'm not having much luck I tried self adhesive floor lino but Tinker and Topsy just pulled it off, I've tried putting the nest box against the area to have Tinker sit on it and chew the perspex doors instead. I was really hoping to find a cheaper alternative then having to buy metal in (plus I'm rubbish with handy work and my OH is away!) My car decided to break on me and I needed a new clutch which has cost £500 so I'm trying to find cheap ways of patching it up which will work (so far I'm thinking this is impossible)

@fred I know you are researching if degus can chew on a flat surface, just to add to your research Tinker opens her mouth really wide and scrapes her teeth.