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Post by malteser60 on Nov 10, 2011 22:57:17 GMT
So, I'm finally getting round to building a new cage for my four degus as at the moment the cage they are in is definitely too small. It was fine when I just had the two, but not now that I have 4. Anyhow, I don't have the exact dimensions of the cage as yet. I'm going to follow NightwishRaven's cage building design and using the minimum dimensions suggest. However this is likely to be bigger as I want to maximise how many cage sections I can get out of 1 or 2 sheets of ply and minimise wood waste. Especially as I'm getting the ply from B@Q which, helpfully they will cut to size, but they only cut straight lines not corners. So, I have sourced the ply from B@Q (will post prices and sheet dimensions another time as they're in my diary in UK and i'm in Malta right now). So questions: - Along with the plywood I want to get the kiln dried pine material for shelving from B@Q, mainly for convinience and they cut to size. However they have kiln dried softwood. Seeing as pine is a softwood can I presume that the kiln dried softwood they have is ok for the ledges and edging?
- Is glass or perspex (plexiglass) better for the doors? I think I would prefer glass as it doesn't scratch like perspex, however does anybody know where I can get glass cut to size that doesn't cost a fortune (in the UK)?
- What have other people used to support the ledges inside?
- Does anybody know the best way to cut perspex? If I have leftover ply I want to build my hamsters a bigger cage and I also have a sheet of perspex (mostly as some is broken) that I want to glue on the front. Hamsters will be taken out from the top. However i don't know the best way to cut the perspex without fracturing it.
- For those of you who have built a cage did you use any wood glue to help keep the wood together whilst putting the screws in? And if yes, any particular type of glue is the least toxic?
Hmm, that's all I can think of for now. And a big thanks for any help given  |
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Post by Cherpi on Nov 11, 2011 1:22:59 GMT
I have never built one but I'll try to answer.
Not sure about the first one. I would go with Plexiglass because although it can scratch you can always replace easily and doesn't cost that much. To cut it use a saw, the ones that move themselves, can't think of the name :x. For the last question I think staying away from glue would be the best idea. Just my opinions.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 11, 2011 4:27:28 GMT
So, I'm finally getting round to building a new cage for my four degus as at the moment the cage they are in is definitely too small. It was fine when I just had the two, but not now that I have 4. Anyhow, I don't have the exact dimensions of the cage as yet. I'm going to follow NightwishRaven's cage building design and using the minimum dimensions suggest. However this is likely to be bigger as I want to maximise how many cage sections I can get out of 1 or 2 sheets of ply and minimise wood waste. Especially as I'm getting the ply from B@Q which, helpfully they will cut to size, but they only cut straight lines not corners. So, I have sourced the ply from B@Q (will post prices and sheet dimensions another time as they're in my diary in UK and i'm in Malta right now). So questions: - Along with the plywood I want to get the kiln dried pine material for shelving from B@Q, mainly for convinience and they cut to size. However they have kiln dried softwood. Seeing as pine is a softwood can I presume that the kiln dried softwood they have is ok for the ledges and edging?
- Is glass or perspex (plexiglass) better for the doors? I think I would prefer glass as it doesn't scratch like perspex, however does anybody know where I can get glass cut to size that doesn't cost a fortune (in the UK)?
- What have other people used to support the ledges inside?
- Does anybody know the best way to cut perspex? If I have leftover ply I want to build my hamsters a bigger cage and I also have a sheet of perspex (mostly as some is broken) that I want to glue on the front. Hamsters will be taken out from the top. However i don't know the best way to cut the perspex without fracturing it.
- For those of you who have built a cage did you use any wood glue to help keep the wood together whilst putting the screws in? And if yes, any particular type of glue is the least toxic?
Hmm, that's all I can think of for now. And a big thanks for any help given 1. I would go with glass because it will always give you a clear view inside your cage, whereas the plexi will not only scratch but it will over time begin to cloud over. Now, it may be that I have had faulty plexi that was susceptable to enviromental influences, but I was very disappointed with a sheet I purchased for use in one of my daughters school projects that became very difficult to look through after about a year. 2. I used "L" brackets, but I think that if a one inch strip of wood can be glued/nailed to the inside walls, and the levels rested upon this wood (if they are full levels that is) then I would use this method instead. I've been happy with the brackets . . . but I have been thinking lately that I would prefer a different approach. 3. If it is possible to have B@Q do the cutting for you . . . have them do it. Plexi is nasty to work with if you don't have the right tools. 4. Wood glue works best when used sparingly, and if it does squish out from the seams when you screw things together, just have a bucket of water and a cloth near by and you can use the damp cloth to wipe it cleanly away. I used yellow wood glue . . . I don't know if there is a lot of difference between brands, and I must assume that the brands will not necessarily be the same. DO use screws, they are a much stronger hold and connection than what you get when using nails. Just remember that you will have less splitting of your wood/ply if you predrill your holes before you put in the screws. It's also less tiring if you do it that way, even though it is more steps. You don't have to lean on things so hard to get the screws in this way. |
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Post by Kins on Nov 11, 2011 9:27:48 GMT
DC has pretty much covered everything, and Cherpi, but I'll just add my input too anyway ;D 1. I'm pretty sure we used the 'kiln dried soft wood' from B & Q for the edges of the shelves in our cage, it does need replacing every so often but is cheap enough for this to not be a problem. 2. I used plexiglass, and although it is a little scratched, as my goos like to scramble up the front of the cage between the shelves and plexiglass, I can still see through it really clearly and am very pleased with it. Especially after I have just cleaned it with glass cleaner. 3. We actually just screwed our shelves from the outside in straight to the back and side walls and used some basic wood glue as extra support. They are very sturdy and I don't worry about them falling at all, even when I'm scrubbing them clean. When I need to change the pine edging I just unscrew it and screw a new piece on (no glue on those though). 4. We had ours cut to size so haven't had to cut any ourselves. But I *think* you can sort of score the perspex over and over again with a very sharp stanley knife, or similar, and when the score line gets to a certain depth the pieces should just sort of 'snap' apart. Not sure if I explained that well, but you could try it on a little piece of plexiglass as a test... 5. This is the exact glue we used www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9254375&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories%3C{9372013}/categories%3C{9372031}/categories%3C{9372100}/specificationsProductType=adhesives pretty cheap and easy to splodge a thin line along the edge of wood. Like DC says just wipe away any excess when it is still wet, easy! Oh and yes, I totally agree with drilling holes before trying to screw things together, makes life a lot easier. Hope that helps! ;D ;D |
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Post by nuttz on Nov 11, 2011 11:17:34 GMT
ok, im no expert but i shall give it a shot anyway....lol
as for perspex verses glass... personally i would choose glass due to the reasons DC has stated.. as for cutting perspex:- hubby brought some back in the UK for about 20 pounds, cutting was a dream, he used a disk cutter, there wasnt any breakage what-so-ever! i have even cut a few bits, so if you have, or can borrow from somebody i would advise using a disk cutter, it sort of melts the plastic as cutting! easy peasy ;D
just make sure whatever you do, you test the cutting before!
for the ledges, hubby screwed them from the back/ sides, no glue was needed and they are all really sturdy. i guess it depends how big the ledges are going to be, if they are big then maybe use brackets and possibly a little wood glue.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 11, 2011 18:16:26 GMT
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 13, 2011 11:05:55 GMT
Thansk for all the info guys.
Have another question...
Does anybody know where the cheapest place is to order glass cut to size (on internet)? I'm hoping somebody has already done some research on this...
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