ways to connect cubes?

[aqh88]

Ok aside from the zip tie things (which are annoying and not the most stable) and the connectors that came with the cubes( which I couldn't really figure out and kept coming off) is there any other way good way to connect cubes? Right now the whole thing is zip tied but the panels are all bending at the connections and I can't keep it straight to measure for coroplast. The bottom level of the cage is mostly done with an L shape connecting a 2x4 and 1x2 grid areas. I had to overlap the ends some to make it fit so it's not exactly 2 grids wide for the main part. The top is getting done and covers the bottom of the L so it's about 1x4 grids. Oh if I put a bend grid ramp along the side to the 2nd lvl wouldn't they jump over the side? Can I use aquarium silicone to glue together pieces of coroplast? It's nontoxic and waterproof.
Licorice and Cinnamon are all excited and have been running laps all day

[debg43]

Originally Posted by aqh88

Ok aside from the zip tie things (which are annoying and not the most stable) and the connectors that came with the cubes( which I couldn't really figure out and kept coming off) is there any other way good way to connect cubes? Right now the whole thing is zip tied but the panels are all bending at the connections and I can't keep it straight to measure for coroplast. The bottom level of the cage is mostly done with an L shape connecting a 2x4 and 1x2 grid areas. I had to overlap the ends some to make it fit so it's not exactly 2 grids wide for the main part. The top is getting done and covers the bottom of the L so it's about 1x4 grids. Oh if I put a bend grid ramp along the side to the 2nd lvl wouldn't they jump over the side? Can I use aquarium silicone to glue together pieces of coroplast? It's nontoxic and waterproof.
Licorice and Cinnamon are all excited and have been running laps all day

[debg43]

I used cable ties for most of my C&C grids--the connecters are a waste--the cable ties (about $4 for a bag of 100) are good--you can tighten them with your fingers & it works really well. I did all that after I had the bottom half done & scored--then hooked up the grids with the cable ties. You have to really pay attention to the cloroplast cutting or you're really in trouble! It sounds like you got really fancy, with the L-shaped addition--I'm not that creative! You'll have to post a pigture of your house--sounds magnificent! I wouldn't use aquarium glue--these guys chew everything, I don't know if the glue is ok for them or not, but I wouldn't take the chance. Good luck! Deb

[Furkidsmommy]

The trick with the connectors is to use a hammer or mallet and a pair of pliers. Hit the connector on firmly with the hammer or mallet. (A rubber mallet works well as it doesn't mark the connectors.) Then I use the pliers to pull the connected grids together.

[Sierra]

I love connectors, they look so nice and the cage ends up looking professional in the end. I used pliers and a rubber mallet, it was really easy.

[mncavylover]

Zip ties, aka cable ties, work great! Perhaps you put them on backwards? If you do that, they'll just slide off. Otherwise, they're absolutely permanent and very stable. Ditch the glue, it'll take a lot of time and will be very messy.

[aqh88]

They're not backward or inside out or they'd just come apart so that's pretty obvious when it happens. Zip ties are quite permanent but the grids all swing and bend together where they are connected. It's making it really hard to see if the cage actually fits down to the inch and to measure coroplast. The grids just keep folding together down the side and I think my L piece is pulled out so the side is angling. I guess I'll just figure how to cut the coroplast by the length of a grid and measure the overlapped grids instead of actually measuring the whole cage.

[Katie]

I use zip ties on all the grids except the corners. I connect the 4 corners with the connectors and reinforce them with zip ties. It's much sturdier then just using zip ties.