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Old 02-10-2019, 08:15 AM   #1
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Varnishing a wooden wheel?

So from gathered info and helpful replies from my last thread. Thanks, everyone I've decided to get a 33cm wooden Trixie wheel, 1) how quiet is this?

But to the main part since this wheel is made of wood I'll be using Plastikote White Enamel 59ml to waterproof the wheel and protect it from hamster urine. However, I have a few questions:

2) Since I'm varnishing the entire wheel, the stand, the wheel and the attatchments will this alter the quietness of the wheel?

3) How many pots of Plastikote will be enough to cover the wheel? Is one layer enough?

4) How long do I have to wait before giving it to my hamster?

5) Do I need to add grips for the hamster?

6) Any other opinions on this wheel?

Last edited by Black_Inky_Eyes; 02-10-2019 at 08:23 AM.
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Old 02-10-2019, 08:57 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

1 it's very quiet
2 painting the wheel won't make it any less quiet but be careful not to get paint into the bit that makes it spin!
3 one pot is plenty but you will need two coats.
4 it dries in about 20 minutes or so then you're good to go.
5 no
When you paint it you might find it a bit difficult getting paint right into the seam where the track meets the edges of the wheel. when I did mine I poured just a little paint in there then spun the wheel really fast to get it right in, not too much paint though.

The matt white plastikote may not be the best choice for a wheel, I've used it quite a lot on shelves & houses & while I really like it the matt surface doesn't wipe down as easily as the clear or coloured ones so you may find a wheel would get stained fairly quickly.
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Last edited by cypher; 02-10-2019 at 09:18 AM. Reason: forgot something!
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Old 02-10-2019, 10:07 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

Cypher has answered the questions so just adding my own experience on the painting side etc.

1) It's silent basically - has ball bearings.
2) Won't make any difference but see Cypher's point above. I have never painted the stand on mine - just the actual wheel,inside and out.
3) Ditto above.
4) Although it dries very quickly I've had issues with it still being a bit sticky after two coats without a longer drying time after the first coat. So I tend to do the first coat one day, leave it till the next day and then do the second coat - it's then ready to use later that day but again I tend to give it a good 12 hours to be fully dry/set.
5) Cypher answered that - the cork surface is still plenty grippy enough even though it is a different texture after being painted.

Colours. If you really want it white ....I have only used the clear one and the garden green one. I like the clear one for keeping the pale wood colour. The green one ends up looking quite glossy - nice if you like green
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Old 02-10-2019, 10:11 AM   #4
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

So are these wheels better than plastics like Trixie or Silent spinners? And what about the Karlie Wonderland wheel?

I'm getting a Syrian unsure of its coat length so I'll probably stick with the Trixie wooden because of the lack of spindle

Last edited by Black_Inky_Eyes; 02-10-2019 at 10:33 AM.
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Old 02-10-2019, 10:50 AM   #5
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

If plastikote is taking to long to dry or remaining a bit sticky after about 20 minutes it's possible you're putting it on too thickly, each coat should be really very thin, the first coat mostly sinks into the wood & tends to dry even quicker.
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Old 02-10-2019, 12:58 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

Yes it's probably me not doing it right ha ha. But I feel happier doing the coats a day apart.

To be honest the Trixie wood wheel seems identical to the Karlie Wonderland one. It seemed to replace it - the Karlie Wonderland one didn't have the cork surface, it had wood struts and some people weren't happy with the idea of those hurting hamsters feet. Then they made the Karlie Flamingo wheel - same wheel but with a cork surface - it was very expensive. That never really came to the Uk and Zooplus started selling the Trixie one - they may be the same company, I don't know, but they seem identical.
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Old 02-10-2019, 01:29 PM   #7
Black_Inky_Eyes
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

Ok, thanks for the varnish advice. Just a quick question just out of curiosity. So if I do apply it too thickly, what exactly are the consequences?

Is it just having to wait longer for the wheel to dry and becoming not sticky or forever having a weirdly textured wheel?

I'm still going to apply the varnish to the stand as well so it's all one colour.

I also saw a customer on Amazon have a problem with the Trixie wheel's cork inside hurting their hamster's feet and there was actually a picture with a circle of blood. This has concerned me. What are your thoughts on this?
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Old 02-10-2019, 04:16 PM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

Plastikote is very thin liquid. It would be difficult to apply it to thickly - you just paint it on -it's very watery. Won't leave a texture.

There used to be issues of people saying the old Karlie wheels with the struts had caused bleeding feet (due to splinters) - but I have never heard of a problem with cork. The point of the cork is to give a softer, comfortable surface for them to run on - more so than plastic.

I wouldn't worry about that.
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Old 02-10-2019, 10:46 PM   #9
cypher
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Default Re: Varnishing a wooden wheel?

If you paint plastikote on really thickly it can remain sticky indefinitely, if you just stick to very thin coats you won't have a problem.

I haven't heard of any issues with the cork wheels either & it does seem very unlikely.
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