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Old 12-21-2012, 05:12 PM   #11
Vectis Hamstery
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Thanks for the link, Biscotti. I tried a Stanley-type knife before but found it cracked the plastic uncontrollably which is why I went with the soldering iron. Did you use an electric or handheld drill for the starter hole? Did you take any special precautions to prevent cracking? I have an electric drill but it rather scares me!

Syrianali, I have used bins in transparent pink, blue and white for the past three or so years before moving over to my purple bins. I haven't noticed any problems with using coloured bins. If anything, I have found them good for hams that are flighty with me walking past the cages (I used to have the bins in stacks in my living room which I would walk past to get to the kitchen) or generally a bit nervous.
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Old 12-21-2012, 05:41 PM   #12
vanilla-yazoo
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I used an electric drill on mine, one that is very controllable in speed, i put maskin tape down and pre marked with a pen on the tape and done a small hole with a narrow drill bit, then used a larger bit to make the size i want.
No splitting cracking!
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Old 12-21-2012, 06:02 PM   #13
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery View Post
Thanks for the link, Biscotti. I tried a Stanley-type knife before but found it cracked the plastic uncontrollably which is why I went with the soldering iron. Did you use an electric or handheld drill for the starter hole? Did you take any special precautions to prevent cracking?
My first try was using an electric saw, and it did crack the plastic like crazy (and I'm glad the shrapnels didn't take my eye out with it), that's why I went with a small handheld as it gave me more control. This particular saw has strong serrated teeth good enough for metal, so it was a very easy cut just sawing back and forth with a little pressure, and I didn't even have to tape the edges like I did with the electric saw (which didn't work anyhow ).

As for drilling, I use an el cheapo Black&Decker electric drill with 3/8" bit as I didn't have anything larger. You need to apply steady pressure perpendicularly to the plastic as you drill so it will not slip, once the bit get a good dent in the plastic it's easy to just push it through. I find the drill holes to be fairly clean with minimal clean up needed.
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Old 12-22-2012, 03:38 AM   #14
HorseyMandz
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

In place of a soldering iron, you can heat a sharp knife over a flame, cut for a bit, then heat, then cut, then repeat until you've completed the hole you want . This is a bit more time consuming but it means that you don't need to invest in a soldering iron and you can 'cut and melt' at the same time xD
When Dad tried to cut/saw the plastic, it cracked. A lot. So we kind of, melted the plastic back together again, it's worth a try but not very effective!
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Old 12-22-2012, 06:03 AM   #15
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

My first go at a bin cage, I used a razor blade knife, heated it with a flame, cut a little, and the repeated. Oh what tedious work...AND a part of my middle finger was numb for a day afterwords from all the pressure I was using!

So I had to do something different on Dawin's new bin cage because it was much bigger and longer than the first. We have a Black & Decker drill that has interchangeable heads (a drill, a grinder, a sander, etc) and I had used the grinder part before to make the edges of the mesh smooth. Well, turns out that the grinder works VERY well for cutting through/melting the plastic bin too So I used that to cut out all the windows in the bin (I'm sure it's probably not good for the grinding plate, but it worked wonders)! And no numb fingers! Lol
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Old 01-01-2013, 03:20 AM   #16
Ilovehamsters
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Does anybody know if asda sell cable ties???
Or which aisle they are on???
Thankyou!!!
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Old 02-27-2013, 06:25 PM   #17
Socks
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Could hamsters chew the cable ties off?
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Old 02-27-2013, 06:44 PM   #18
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I am saving this thread to a folder for sure. This is such a timely tutorial and the pictures are grand. I want to do this for any new hammies I get in a few weeks and I have been checking the bins out. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the great info. And Biscotti, your link is wonderful too. My dad was a building superintendent, so I grew up around tools. I have tools many men would give their eyeteeth to have. So I'm not concerned about using tools, electric or otherwise, at all. The tool on your link is great for this type of project, so, Thanks to you too.
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Old 04-13-2013, 04:26 PM   #19
Spunki
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

great cage, i will some of them for my hams too
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Old 05-07-2013, 08:07 AM   #20
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Thank you great tips and advise
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