A few handicraft works of mine

[Nappo]

Hey,

I build a lot of things by myself for my hamster, here a few examples:

A little climbing-thing. I used "Ponal"-glue, because its not toxically and qualified for children too, branches and dowel pins. In Germany we often build things with these dowel pins XD

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3d.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3d-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3e.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3e-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3f.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3f-jpg-nb.html)

Then i made something from styrofoam and tile adhesive what looks like a rock.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-3g.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3g-jpg.html)
(click on the image to enlarge)

A tunnel from wet toiletpaper. I let it dry on the radiator.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-3c.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3c-jpg.html)
(click on the image to enlarge)

A house with two chambers und a platform, in germany we call it "race course", because the hamster can run 1 meter without a barricade XD

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-13.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-13-jpg-rc.html)
(click on the image to enlarge)

Greets :wink:

[Amethyst_ice]

They are really good. I really like the designs, well done! x

[princess-rhi89]

Brilliant toys, you have very lucky hamsters xx

[wofunny]

Wow, amazing toys :D

I tried making a styrofoam and tile adhesive rock, and it didnt got to plan... and was very messy!

[Nappo]

Thank you everyone :oops::oops:

@wofunny
Yeah, working with tile adhesive is very cruddy :mrgreen: I'll never do this again xD

[fluffymunchkins]

Amazing work :D
Puts all my toy making effort to shame :mad:

[Nappo]

Want to see your works! xD I will search for them, but this will take a while, its hard to orient myself here xD

I found two pictures of a playground, but somehow I doesn't like it much, destroyed it a few days later to get the little tree trunks back and built something new with them (only stairs).

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-2j.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-2j-jpg-rc.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-2k.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-2k-jpg-rc.html)

[wofunny]

Do you just use branches and logs from your garden? or are they brought?

I would always be worried the wood was bad for them :lol:

[Steffi]

Why should wood be bad for hamsters? its a natural product. Whats the problem with natural products?

If you are afraif of some parasites or something else when you have wood from your garden. You shoul lay it in the oven for about a hour. :)

[Nappo]

A few are bought, a few are from the garden. But in germany we are used to put wood in the baking oven at 100 degrees before we give it to the hamster. So all parasites died. And sometimes we put the wood in boiled water or even use disinfectand spray before that xD

[Hope]

Absolutely amazing!! I love them - wish I had the skill and creativity to make things like this :-)

[wofunny]

Why should wood be bad for hamsters? its a natural product. Whats the problem with natural products?

If you are afraif of some parasites or something else when you have wood from your garden. You shoul lay it in the oven for about a hour. :)

Isnt some woods toxic to hamsters though?

Its more about the toxic than the parasites.

I love how you use it though, i guess i am just over paranoid ;) :lol:

[Nappo]

No your'e not over paranoid xD You're totally right. My favorite wood is birk, but you can also use hazelnut tree, walnut tree and some more. There is toxic wood like oak and stone fruit trees, because of prussic acid is in it.

[Podling]

These are really lovely! I love how natural they are, it's so different from what we have over here! You've done a really great job, I like the idea of using dowels to connect stuff, meaning you don't have the worry of glues or anything either it's sort of fantastic ^_^

[Nappo]

Oh no, you missunderstood, we don't use dowels to put things together we use they just like you these jenga things for example to build a little fence for platforms xD
We use glue, but "Ponal"-Glue, it's nontoxic and suitable for children. They could even eat it like ice cream xDD

[Podling]

Like this stuff: Wood Glue Transparent Drying (http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s/wood_glue_225_g_transparent_drying_en_20.html)? I've always been a bit nervous about glue, I use epoxy which is fine when it's dry but stinks something awful and I always feel a bit nervous about it...

[Nappo]

Yeah exactly this glue xD I'm not worried about using it, because the germans who have hamsters are over paranoid and would ban it directly XD I don't know how to say it in english- The glue is "Speichelfest" (maybe firm against spittle?). Epoxy ,oh yeah it smells really awfull. We use it to coat our homemade wood cages, so that no water,mushrooms or parasites are able to enter the wood.

[Podling]

I guess the litteral translation would be spit-fast? Maybe describing that it wouldn't disintegrate when you lick it? I don't know my German's rusty ;) I'm going to have to register on your forum and exercise my German a little I'm really finding this fascinating...

[Nappo]

Yes, spit-fast is really good and the describing also xD Yay, join us! It makes such a big fun to write and read here XD

[internet_nobody]

We'd probably call it waterproof or water resistant, rather than spit proof ;-) The little houses are lovely! I'm not that creative so end up buying the "Trixie" toys that are similar.

[Smysha]

Yeah I do the exact same thing Emma!

These toys are wonderful and are quite inspiring. It makes me want to do something! I used to make a lot of things out of ice lolly sticks when I was younger. Houses, boats, airplanes. It's a lot of fun!

[Nappo]

Thank you all xD

I used these mouth-sticks from the doctor, where you have to say : Ahhh. I built another little climbing-wall-thig with them und then I paint it with food colouring xD Ice lolly Sticks are also a good idea! I have enough time to make toys, because I wait for march next year when I'll study. It really makes fun and is a good hobby :mrgreen:

I like Trixie-toys as well as you, but unfortunally most of them are made from pinewood which is full with essential oils and adhesive resin :(

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3q.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-3q-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/thumbs/fffs-19.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-19-jpg-rc.html)

[Smysha]

Sorry, what's wrong with Trixie toys? My hamster has so many of them!

[Nappo]

Sorry xD
Like you know, many things are different in germany, the people are over paranoid - We shouldn't use pinewood because of the things i mentioned before:"full with essential oils and adhesive resin"
I'd like to show you a scientific text about pinewood, but it's in german.

[internet_nobody]

People here aren't generally that concerned about pine, the European pine trees contain much lower levels of the oils (phenols being the ones that cause problems) than those in the US or Canada which are the ones that tend to be studied. The biggest problem is that they are compounds are volatile - so they evaporate. So fresh pine wood has lots of toxic oils coming out into the air. Once the wood has been left out in the open for a decent length of time then these compounds have all gone, so it is safe.

[AudioHeart]

Oooo well done they look fab and fun! :)

[Nappo]

@internet nobody

Thanks for the explanation to the pinewood. I always thought that we are to extrem over protecting XD I never could imagine that dry wood could resinate anymore, but i believed what was told to me ö__ö I should learn, that hamsters are no uncooked eggs xD

[Debbie]

You've made some great things, it is very inspiring!

[Nappo]

I'm pleased about that :mrgreen:
Next time i will try these Jenga-things or modelling clay xD

[Nappo]

Hey,

did some more works xD
A cave :
http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5k.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5k-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5l.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5l-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5m.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-5m-jpg-nb.html)

A platform with a little house xD
http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6w.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6w-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6x.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6x-jpg-nb.html)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6y.jpg (http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/fffs-6y-jpg-nb.html)

[Saz]

This has defiantly inspired me to make my own toys..if I can find time in between work and coursework lol!

[amyXlovesXhamstersX]

Wow, they are so cool! What did you make the house from? The one that looks a bit like a rock? :p

[Nappo]

Sytrofoam and tile adhesive xD And then coated with non-toxic and spitproofed Terraristic-exopy resin, so that the hamster isn't able to reach the base form xD I copied this technic from reptile owners XD

[mangoandmimi]

Wwooww theyre amazing! i love the cave it looks really good!
He..hee..he,,.. lol i can barely glue wood together without it falling over :mad:

[Iluvhamsters]

They look great :) I'm planning on making wooden toys for my hamster too :)