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Old 09-12-2013, 03:17 PM   #21
Erin.R
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I am just in the process of making my first of 6 bin cages. I used the soldering iron to cu the whole. My question is, On the inside the soldering iron made the plastic kind of bumpy, so its not flat there's a lip. Should I use some sand paper to smooth it out or will it be ok. My Sammy is trying very very hard to break out of the cage he is in now although I can't blame him, he is a pretty big Syrian and the cage is kind of small but the biggest one they had at petsmart for hamsters. So, are these pretty hard to break out of if I am careful to tie everything down tight?
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Old 09-12-2013, 03:30 PM   #22
Kiki_3173
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I used sandpaper to get rid of the bumpy plastic on Darwin's bin cage. Also, if you put the mesh on the inside of the bin, Sammy won't be able to chew on it because the mesh will cover the bumpy part.

Darwin has never broken out of his bin cage however, he isn't really a Houdini or one to chew very much. He really likes his bin. He started out in a Crittertrail from PetSmart because I didn't know any better at the time. After finding HC, I immediately made his bin cage & he's been happy ever since If you are worried about it, I put binder clips (aka bulldog clips) to hold his lid to the rest of the bin at night, just in case.
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Old 09-13-2013, 03:39 AM   #23
Erin.R
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Thank you! I am hoping this helps him to be happier, he does have a Crittertrail cage, the biggest one they had but its too small for him and he spends half the night in the corner sawing away at the bars with his teeth. I feel bad for other hamsters out there in these tiny cages. I am so glad I found this site, I had never heard of a bin cage. I will sand down the edges and pay close attention to make sure he doesn't find an escape route.
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Old 09-13-2013, 04:09 AM   #24
WendyAnne
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I sanded down the bin cutout edges with a metal file I bought at Home Depot, and then I finished smoothing with a medium sanding block. We attached the wire mesh with zip ties every 1.5 to 2 inches on each side of the cutout. The mesh seems to be secured very tightly. Good luck with your bin cage!
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Old 09-17-2013, 12:01 AM   #25
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Most plastics will take kindly to a paint scraper. Cheaper if that's a concern. That and a hobby knife should take off those edges too. Mind the sharps.
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Old 09-17-2013, 04:06 AM   #26
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Brilliant! really useful...
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Old 09-18-2013, 02:35 PM   #27
Erin.R
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I got it done yay! He seems to love it. When he was in the small, really I should say tiny cage he spent half the night sawing on the bars with his teeth. I have not noticed him doing any of that. He loves his wheel but I want to get an even bigger one, it's 8 1/2 inch's but he is a pretty long hamster so his head still looks tilted back too much which I read is not good, I am thinking 11 inch would be good, a wodent wheel? Thank you so much for this post I was so sad to see him in such a small cage before and would never think of using a tub without seeing this.
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Old 09-18-2013, 09:22 PM   #28
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Hey Erin. Huzzah! I made my own 11" wodent-wheel style wheel that Magellan is still very happy with. Made a vid of it too posted somewhere on here if you're interested. I mean, since you have a soldering iron already.
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Old 09-25-2013, 07:58 AM   #29
MissDay
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

Awesome guide!

I recently made a bin cage for my two dwarf hamsters.

I originally bought them a HabiTrail plastic cage, that came with an attached wheel, stairs to their food/water and a tube, going to the bedding underneath, but noticed that they weren't running enough and were getting a lot of bedding stuck under the wheel, making it impossible to spin!

I used a large, rectangular, clear plastic tote for mine, though.
It has smooth sides, and is very deep, so I knew chewing wouldn't be an issue at all.
You can easily find something like this at WalMart. If you're not sure what you're looking for, look up tote cages for Hedgehogs!

I used a knife (be careful!) to "drill" holes in the lid, and on the upper sides (so they couldn't reach them and chew) all the way around the cage.
I preferred this method to attaching wire, because I have kitties. The holes I made are only about a half a centimeter in diameter, so no one can get any paws or claws in there!
I made them about two inches apart on the lid, and three inches apart on the sides.

After I made sure it was well ventilated, I started adding in their water bottles and wheels.
I used a wire coat hanger, wire cutters (again, be careful!) and a pair of pliers to cut and bend a fixture for the water bottle. Then I attached it to the side of the bin by drilling two more holes for it to thread through, and twisting the ends together with the pliers.

For the wheel, we had a little more difficulty, and a lot of wishing and hoping, while trying to attach it.
I started by drilling a hole large enough for the pin (that attached it to the HabiTrail home) to fit through. I had to cut little tabs in it to fit the security end through, so it would hold.
LUCKILY, I got it! It's snug, and they can't get behind the wheel at all to chew on it.
I suggest getting a free standing wheel, though, so you don't sweat over whether or not you're going to ruin your bin home!

After I got the basics attached, I was able to get creative.
Using more wire coat hangers, I attached the platform for the HabiTrail to the side of the bin. It has a nice little niche for one of their food bowls, and stands about a inch and a half off of the floor.

My bin is deep and big enough for their HabiTrail to fit into, as well! So they still have their stairs and platform going to another food bowl, and a built in plastic tube to run through. I just left the top and bottom openings free of obstruction, so they can get in and out of their original home as they pleased.

I laid down bedding, constructed a little tee-pee house out of cardboard, gave them a couple cardboard tubes, and a ton of toys, including bottle caps, wood chewers, and wooden blocks to climb on.
I even made a hanging toy out of twine, ribbon and corn husks!

And everything is secure, and safe for them! I don't have to worry about them falling from anything, or chewing out, or anything else!

I love bin cages, and my hamsters seem much, much happier and healthier with more room to run around!
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Old 10-04-2014, 01:19 PM   #30
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Default Re: Photo Guide to Making a Bin Cage

I really like this kind of cage but is it enough space for a syrian?
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