Stand ideas

[MrWhistles]

So I've been browsing through photos. And hubs LOVES the idea of buying 45-ish grids and using the leftovers to make a stand attacted to Whistles' cage. He loves it because the grids are cheaper than just buying a new table all together.

Now, here are my ideas:
(The users of these photos haven't been online since 2007/2009. I had sent them PMs a week before this thread/haven't received any replies. I hope they don't mind me using their photos) The stand will be holding a 2x5 C&C that will house 1 guinea pig, possibly 2.

This one I love most:


And this is another idea:


Now my issue is.....how stable are these stands going to be? The 2nd idea looks wobbly to me. I'm sure these stands are very much stable. But for some unknown reason I am REALLY unsure of the 2nd one. And I hope that for BOTH ideas, especially the 1st one, that the grids won't wobble, give or bend.
How hard is it to bend the grids? If you have a C&C with grids as a stand, how do you secure them? I'm thinking of using a BUNCH of zip ties.
Thanks everyone!

[GusGusandOreo]

The first one would work great! It will surely be sturdy with that many grids underneath supporting it. The second one definitely looks a little sketchy so I wouldn't recommend that. Good luck

[Paula]

If you put grids on the bottom, under the coroplast, it's extremely sturdy and you wouldn't have to worry. It can also be made sturdier with zip ties, which I'd really recommend if you're doing a cage with a stand.

The second idea appeals to me more simply because it's higher off the ground and therefore accessing the pigs and cleaning is made a little easier.

[Petlovr]

It was very nice of you to try to contact the people who built these cages before using their pictures. Very thoughtful.

I think the 1st one looks good, but not the second. I was lucky, I found a dinette table being thrown away, and was able to scrub it and use it as my base. I am envious of the cube storage, tho'.

[Inle_Rabbit]

This is my cage on a grid stand. Works wonderful. It is also very sturdy and I have two toddlers so I know! I used tons of zip ties and there is a bottom of grids under the coroplast.

[MrWhistles]

IR, so if your stand(which is the same idea i have in mind) holds a 2x7 with 2 lofts and 2 piggies AND rumble n stumble toddlers. It must be able to hold my 2x5 with 1 maybe 2 piggies in an apartment with 3-4 adults. 1 of which stays in his room and games all day when not at work and the other comes n goes to get away from her nagging parents. xD

[Inle_Rabbit]

I have 4 wonderfully cute boars in here. =D

It has held up really well I think. I used lots of zip ties and I think that is the key. You don't have to watch the whole video I'm posting (since it's about rabbits) but at 1 minute in he talks about zip-ties and that is the method I used for my cage and stand.

[Kristine]

I use cube storage under mine and it's very sturdy. I love having a place to store all the supplies too.