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Post by malteser60 on Nov 18, 2011 21:38:29 GMT
I'm finally going to B&Q tomorrow to get the plywood chopped up but I would appreciate any advice or comments on my cage design.
First of all I do want to apologise for no sketch. I tried it by hand, but I am so bad at trying to draw, even if it is straight lines, that I gave up. then I tried using programms like google sketch and I was useless at that. So the upshot is no sketch. But I can give dimensions:
Cage shell:
Length x width x height
110cm x 60cm x 120cm
Shelves x 2 :
Length x width
110cm x 50cm
So, my question is, with a heigth of 120cm can I get 2 or 3 shelves in there? My initial instinct is 2 shelves (don't forget with the base that makes 3 platforms) and put a couple of ledges at the top with a hammock or connecting bridge. That gives between 30 - 40cm between each shelf. Or shall I go for 3 shelves, which means a gap of approximately 30cm between each shelf? (I say approximately as one of the gaps needs to be minimum 35cm to accomodate the wheel).
The reason I chose a length of 110cm is space, otherwise I'm struggling to fit it into the living room. However I shall have a think about it and try to see if it is feasible to use 120cm. At 110cm in length the cage will be jutting into the kitchin entrance and blocking part of the back entrance.
The only reason I chose 120cm in height is due to plywood sheet size and, well, i'm a short person so by the time I place the cage on top of a platform (i.e. table) I won't be able to reach the top. However, the good thing about DIY cages is that I can always expand upwards.
So, what do you guys think? Any advice is really appreciated!
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Post by pinkhairedelf on Nov 18, 2011 23:02:11 GMT
sounds good.
When we did ours we went with the best way to cut the wood to determine our sizes too lol
Did u run it thru the cage calculator thingy to see what would give you better options?
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Post by fred on Nov 18, 2011 23:24:51 GMT
Just from the point of running space, I would go for three full shelves. The two shelf version with two 50cm deep shelves really wouldn't be enough for four degus. One of the levels could have a reduced height so that you'll manage three. How long are the plywood sheets? It would be great if could go for 130cm height.
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 18, 2011 23:57:11 GMT
The largest plywood size is 122cm x 244cm x 0.9cm. Using two sheets of the above plywood gives me the dimensions shown in my first post. However there is enough leftover to extend the height to 130cm... just! So I shall be doing that! I thought it might be too high for me but that's what stepladders were built for  However for a third shelf I would have to get another sheet of ply hence why I was wondering if I can get away with 2 full shelves and a third made of two ledges joined by the bridge. Each sheet of plywood costs £25.28. Then on top of that i'm looking at approx £60 for the glass front. Plus all the other extra bits, so pine edging, vinyl stick on tiles (my goos love to move the bedding over and pee on the wood!), shelf brackets, possibly another wheel from kat, hammocks from fuzzymum, erm, and i'm sure a few other things. Mind you I can always set it up with two shelves for now as I have the ledges, and once the xmas season is over (hence the money issues!) I can look into making the third shelf and then that way I can use the leftover wood to make a run. What do you think? Also I thought I'd add the reason I'm making the shelves only 50cm deep not 60cm is so I have space for the pine edging and I don't want them right up against the glass front. Oh, and another thing that needs to be taken into account when cutting the ply is that the circular saw takes approx 2-3mm away each time. EDIT: I also forgot to add that to join up the levels I'm adding long ramps to increase the running space rather than a short ladder. And finally I discovered my neighbour had chopped down his plum tree so I managed to get a whole load of branches. Yippee! |
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 19, 2011 4:48:51 GMT
It all sounds great, Malteser! I can tell you are getting REALLY excited! I hope it goes together very well for you, and that you will be SO pleased with the results. I am really looking forward to seeing the finished product!!
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Post by fred on Nov 19, 2011 9:54:53 GMT
I would go for the full 133,7cm height that a single cute would allow you  I suspect that you have a reason why you don't want the shelves right up against the glass front, but aren't you loosing valuable space? I also see a potential safety hazard there since the gap would be large enough for them to drop three levels? |
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 19, 2011 10:14:58 GMT
I actually was thinking more of my fingers!! I could easily reduce the gap though and make it 55cm. Then it's about 2cm (or 3cm, can't remember) for the pine edging which still leavs a couple cm gap. I will definitley be going for the 130cm height as it means from one sheet I will get the base, the back, and the front. From the second sheet of ply I will get the two sides and two shelves.
I'll also position the shelves so that I can then add a third shelf later on, or.... I'll see how much a smaller sheet of ply costs. If the third shelf gets added later on for now I'll place two ledges joined with a bridge.
I'm also going to make the length 122cm instead of 110cm. 122cm is the width of the ply sheet, and, well, I'll just have less space for either getting into the kitchen or outside. Will make the place cramped but I think it's worth it.
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Post by fred on Nov 19, 2011 10:19:11 GMT
I'm also going to make the length 122cm instead of 110cm. 122cm is the width of the ply sheet, and, well, I'll just have less space for either getting into the kitchen or outside. Will make the place cramped but I think it's worth it. ;D ;D |
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 19, 2011 10:40:46 GMT
sounds good. When we did ours we went with the best way to cut the wood to determine our sizes too lol Did u run it thru the cage calculator thingy to see what would give you better options? With the latest measurements i get a CARA of 20,740 which can house 4 degus, which is what I have. That is only with two shelves. Add a third and I can have 6 degus! At minimum size that is. |
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 19, 2011 18:45:28 GMT
WOW! That sounds amazing!! Well done, Malteser!! Is it just me or can I literally feel the excitement buzzing from you?
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 19, 2011 20:07:37 GMT
I certainly am DC!! You should have seen me at B&Q, I was so excited but also nervous that I got my calculations wrong. Now just got to build the thing!
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Tiiyn
Foraging Degu
Posts: 103
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Post by Tiiyn on Nov 19, 2011 20:16:20 GMT
I certainly am DC!! You should have seen me at B&Q, I was so excited but also nervous that I got my calculations wrong. Now just got to build the thing! I was the same! Sure I had things right, but worried all the same. |
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 20, 2011 6:42:19 GMT
I did too . . . must have checked my figures three or four time daily for two weeks before I actually took the plunge and had my wood cut for me. Then I was TERRIFIED when I picked it up and brought it all home . . . wishing I had asked them to label all the pieces of wood the way I had them labeled on the diagram I gave them. I was SO scared I would use the wrong pieces for the wrong placements. I must have got it all right though . . . there were no left overs!! LOL!
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Post by malteser60 on Nov 20, 2011 22:43:49 GMT
I've updated my blog with Stage 1 of the cage build! ;D |
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 21, 2011 4:54:38 GMT
WHOOP!! Going to go look right now!
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However for a third shelf I would have to get another sheet of ply hence why I was wondering if I can get away with 2 full shelves and a third made of two ledges joined by the bridge.
I suspect that you have a reason why you don't want the shelves right up against the glass front, but aren't you loosing valuable space? I also see a potential safety hazard there since the gap would be large enough for them to drop three levels?
