Bin Cages for the Non-Technologically Minded/Equipped?

[Catherine Spark]

Ok - thanks! Will look into it They don't chew through plastic ones or anything, do they? Do they have to be metal?

[Mona's Humans]

mulan's chewed through one of her plastic ones since the beginning of may, as long as you check them every few weeks, and there's lots there, then they are easy to replace

[Catherine Spark]

Ok Thanks - I think that's all my questions for now! Thanks for everyone's help

[RockinHammies]

We used 5/8" machine bolts (so they are flat on the one edge) and the length of them are perfect for bolt, washer, mesh, plastic, washer to fit on (we used a washer on each end). That way there are no sharp edges for hamster. Also I would suggest putting the mesh on the inside of the cash (file off all the sharp edges) - that way your hamster can't chew the plastic where you've cut.

[kyrilliondaemon]

As I've explained before, we make bin cages with two penknives (the saw, knife, scissor and pokey-thing attatchments), a ruler, a permanent marker and some pliers/wire cutters. Not exactly much technology required there

[Knotty]

kitchen knives heated in the hob, a screwdriver and wire cutters are the only tools we used

[cathface]

with nuts and bolts and washers, you shouldn't really need a spanner or anything. I managed to get them on pretty tight just by hand! and yes I agree with what someone said before - mesh on the inside so they can't chew the plastic where you cut it, but remember to use the wirecutters to clip off the extra sticky-outy bits from the wire if there are any, so they can't scratch themselves.

[Catherine Spark]

So, really the only specific tool needed is the wire cutters! Much simpler than I was imagining! Oh, just one other thing - what exactly are the washers for? Are they absolutely necessary and if so, why? Oh, and thanks for the re-affirming as well, kyrill - just wanting to explore all the options

[cathface]

yup the only actual tools I used were the Stanley knife and the wirecutters! I actually had no idea what the washers were for so I ended up buying ones that were too small. turns out they are to secure the mesh, as the bolt head may be smaller than the mesh hole. this was the case with my 13mm mesh, whereas my bolt heads were only maybe 9mm or so in diameter? so I went back to Homebase and got washers bigger than 13mm (I couldn't find the one slightly bigger so ended up with like 20mm ones haha), which go on top of the mesh. if you have the 6mm mesh, you probably don't need the washers! hopefully that all made sense...?

[kyrilliondaemon]

You can cut wire with scissors too depending on the size of the wire. We have two sizes of mesh and one is more easily done with scissors than the wire cutters