modifying a cabinet

[cherrysparkey]

Hi all!

I've just bought a cabinet from ebay which I'm going to modify for my goos (yay!). I was planning to build it from scratch but I didn't have any transport for the materials (managed to get it for £18 and £5 for delivery ;D). Anyways, I have a few questions about modifying the cabinet.

Its roughly 200 long, 50 deep and 70cm tall and has a shelf running through the whole length so a base CARA of 20,000 (without adding other shelves). It is split into two so basically two 100cm sections which I was going to cut holes through to make it the full 200cm running length.

The shelf that is already there is about 33 cm above the floor (big enough for the wheel/burrowing area) so it leaves 37cm to play with. I was wondering if I should put another full shelf in on one side. (the height of the new levels would be ~18cm each or 10 + 27cm etc)

So my question is, is there a minimum height they should have? (they will have 3 other 100cm sections with a 30cm+ height) Or is it good to have some low shelves so they're like tunnels?
(I'll be adding ledges/hammocks etc as well)

Also I think its made of chipboard with a veneer covering. I was planning on covering the floors with vinyl, but was wondering if the veneer is waterproof then I don't really need to cover it?
(If they do start to chew the veneer I was going to cover everything with pine cladding and vinyl.)

The doors at the moment are sliding doors so I've taken them out and was going to use pine/mesh, and all edges will be lined with pine.

I haven't decided whether to put lighting in yet or to cut vents in the side/ top otherwise it might be quite dark. Does anyone have any preference?

Sorry if its a long post, but does that all seem okay, I was planning on going out tomorrow to get all the bits and don't want to forget anything!

Ill try and post a pic so it might make a bit more sense

[cherrysparkey]

Think this should work...

[cherrysparkey]

Also I was thinking about painting it so it doesn't look so dark inside. Is there any specialist paint I should get or is child friendly paint okay?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

[fred]

Hooray, another second hand furniture conversion ;D ;D These can be such great deals for both owners an inhabitant degus. To answer your questions from my own experience ( deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=Cage&thread=6918&post=68985 ).

Because you already have a good CARA, I would not put in another shelf. With levels of 35cm you can put in large thick, branches for further running and jumping action.

Laminated chipboard is a very good material. You don't need to cover it. I also wouldn't paint it. While it may look a bit dark when you look in, the light that comes in is the same whatever the sides and back are. I'd rather put the IKEA LED strips in.

Do you have a particular reason to replace the sliding glass doors? I rather like them, and you could always replace them at a later point.

I'll follow this with great interest, keep us updated!

[cherrysparkey]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I like the look of the LED lights, I'm guessing they don't let off too much heat?

The doors weren't glass, they were wooden otherwise that would be too perfect lol. I've already taken them off and was thinking of using them for extra shelving but I think I can get a hold of some really big branches to put in so I'll leave it as it is :-)

Yay, hopefully it will be ready for the little ones to move in in a couple of days!

[Maravilla]

200 cm is a nice length!! Try to make the holes between the two parts as big as possible to create a real running length.
LED stripes from IKEA are just perfect!! They consume only little energy and don't produce heat.
If the veneer is water proof you just have to try out. But, when using a good layer of bedding, most of the urine is absorbed by it.
The doors you can use either the glass sliding doors - but have to cut big ventilation holes in both levels, or you use mesh doors. It's up to you.

[cherrysparkey]

Yeah, it was described as 150 cm length on ebay and when it turned up my bf gave me a look to say 'what the hell have you bought?' but it fits perfectly :-)

I'm going to go with mesh for now as I have some left over from making a gate thing in the degu room (we seem to be lacking any doors in our house lol) also means I don't have to add any ventilation.

[deguconvert]

I think you have come across a beautiful piece to be converted into a cage!! Very well done! I look forward to seeing it completely transformed!!!

[cherrysparkey]

Hi all!

Well I finished my cabinet last week but went down to London for my Mum's bday so haven't had a chance to put pics up.













Mo Mo (left), Totoro (right)




I've added a window to one of the sides to let in more light (it lets in the afternoon sun so they can sunbathe a bit ) I'm still going to get some led lights because its still quite dark.

I also need to put a strip of wood along the front to stop all the bedding falling out (I forgot to get extra wood lol).

I'm going to add extra ledges/toys/branches soon but I'm going to have a think about where to put things (I don't want to end up with holes everywhere lol) but overall I'm pretty pleased and I think Mo Mo and Totoro are too ;D

[Kins]

Good work. It looks fab and was a bargain too. I think you have made a very nice home for your gooeys, looks like they have made themselves comfortable.

Love the picture of the tissue poking through the bars for nest making and them having a snuggle in the last one, so cute!

That is the one of very few disadvantages of wooden cages...they can be quite dark. But it's easily rectified with some little LED lights!

[cherrysparkey]

Yeah, Totoro LOVES building nests. I let him have a whole toilet roll once (he kept stealing it) and he filled the hammock up so much they nearly couldn't get in it. I don't think he has quite decided where their new bed is going to be yet, seems to be under the hammock instead of in it lol.

[deguconvert]

It look WONDERFUL!! Before I had scrolled down and viewed the following pictures, I was a little concerned to see the lack of substrate on the sufaces . . . LOL . . . silly me! That was still coming!! I love the way you have it put together, and once you have the edge along the bottom you will enjoy the cage that much more, as there will be less spillage. It looks so great! Well done!!

[Maravilla]

This very last picture... they look so adorable!! I love this foto!!

[fred]

This worked out very well, I am sure your boys love their new home

I wouldn't worry about it looking a bit dark. Your degus get as much light as they would in a cage made out of lighter wood. The LED strips will be very nice but it's more for your benefit than for theirs.

Can I ask how much the the complete cage has cost you? I expect it to be a nice example of the great value for money one can get from second hand furniture conversions.

[cherrysparkey]

Hi fred,

not exactly sure how much everything cost but i think the wood/screws etc roughly cost £30 so altogether £53. I could of probably got the wood cheaper but didn't have any way to get 2.4m long bits of wood home so had to get 1m long bits which worked out more expensive (they wouldn't even cut it for me lol)

Oh I also got some LED lights (battery) from wilkinsons that were £3 for 2 and work really well.