show off your DIY wheels !

flybear · 03-01-2014, 06:10 PM

I thought I start a thread about wheels - DIY or modified ...

I just build two bucket wheels for my bins - the first out of a IKEA microwave cover, the second out of a cut off bucket - both have their pros and cons ...

I used the plastic part ( bucket or cover), a rollerblade wheel, a few small screws to attach the plastic bin to the wheels, a 1/4 - 3 inch machine screw, one hex nut, two washers and a wing nut - not as nice, heavy duty or fancy as the beautiful bucket wheels from Carolina Storm Bucket ( I have one and can only recommend it ) but they work. Can't tell anything about durability or wear yet of course ...
Unfortunately the Carolina storm buckets don't fit in my bins height wise so I needed wheels with a slightly smaller diameter - the bucket is around 9.5 inches, the microwave cover slightly under 11

ebrequus · 03-01-2014, 07:35 PM

That's pretty creative! Have you used the cover wheel? It looks like it might be easy to slide out of.

flybear · 03-01-2014, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebrequus

That's pretty creative! Have you used the cover wheel? It looks like it might be easy to slide out of.

Yes both are hamster tested and approved - my hamsters are used to saucers and they are slanted - i thought they would maybe spin out but they don't...

HammieandMerlin · 03-02-2014, 08:17 AM

I love bucket wheels, my OH and I made one for Winnie when we adopted her as an "in between" wheel while we ordered a Wodent Wheel. Ended up keeping ours instead, it was way quieter haha. Yours are much prettier than ours, that's for sure

flybear · 03-02-2014, 03:16 PM

love yours - looks very professional!

flybear · 03-06-2014, 07:47 AM

I can't resist posting an action shot of our newest family member on the wheel - works perfectly - the piccolo sized hammy seemed very content on the wheel - wheel is silent and even though he is used to a saucer he exclusively ran on the bucket ( can't help but feeling a little proud heehee )

SinNyx · 03-06-2014, 08:45 AM

Those are all great! Very creative and they look amazing

I would love having a go at making one but I have no idea what I would use for a stand.

HammieandMerlin · 03-06-2014, 09:01 AM

PVC pipes are the easiest things, and they're cheap too!

flybear · 03-06-2014, 10:16 AM

I just drilled a hole into my bin and hung them between two washers- would work the same on a cage - it is a bit more bouncy than on a stand but very space saving and the hamsters can't tip it over ... Because the buckets are so smooth I just wipe them with paper towel so I don't even have to worry about taking them off for cleaning