How to make a lid

[Zeander]

Hey everyone. I'm building a 2x3 Cavy Cage. Does anyone have suggestions or, most importantly directions on how to make a lid? I'd like to be able to remove the entire lid for cleaning. Thanks.

[toffeepig]

Try this page: http://imageevent.com/cavyspirit/cav...dcubecoroplast

this is the gallery for closed cage styles. Most popular seems to be the wire utility shelving, 16" deep and cut to length. I'll be looking into that for my 2x3 as soon as I move to keep my mom's curious cats away!

[laura220]

When you have a lid on the cage how do you like "lock" it? Or keep it from falling into the cage? If you know what I mean..

[Slap Maxwell]

You can use binder clips.

[CCcages]

Try and make the lid overlap the cage--whether you're using 16" linen-style Closet Maid shelving or grids-- so it doesn't fall in. If you are using shelving, have your home improvement center cut you two lenths of shelving at 46" each.

Place them on the cage so that the two lengths sit on the center connectors on the 2-grid side. "Fix" one length with cable ties, and "hinge" the second length to the first one.

If you use grids, use 8 of them, 4 for each length and overlap them for stability. Use cable ties to connect 4 of them together to make about 46" in length. Pretty much same as above.

If you want to remove the cover each time you clean, you might have to clip off the cable ties and replace them each time you clean. Seems like a lot of work. Can you just scoop out the bedding without removing the cover?

[Zeander]

I was going to do half the lid made of 3 grids fixed in place in the back. Then I'd make the hinged lid part from the wire shelving, connected with zip ties.

Someone mentioned that Lowe's will cut the shelving for you. Is that true? I don't want to ask them and sound like a moron.

[Slap Maxwell]

I beleive Home Depot and Lowes will cut it for you.

[TheAlmightyMiko]

I don't know about Lowes, but Home Depot cut mine to size for me.

[TheAlmightyMiko]

Originally Posted by Zeander

I'd like to be able to remove the entire lid for cleaning. Thanks.

Instead of using plastic cable ties that have to be clipped off every time you want to remove the lid, you could try using these:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47075&item=7315464 842&rd=1
They are velcro cable ties, and are very useful and completely re-usable, so you could just take them on and off each time you wanted to clean. I use them on my lid right now to "lock" it while I am not home (I have cats and am understandably paranoid!). You can just search for "velcro ties" on e-bay, (I think that the actual product name is "ripties") there are TONS for sale for a good price. They may sell them in stores but I'm not really sure which stores you should look in! :P

[CCcages]

Those are cool! Are they strong enough to use as a hinge?

[TheAlmightyMiko]

Well, I am using them to hold on my loft's lid, but that's only a 1x2. I could give it a go on my larger lid (covers the length of 3 grids, sooo 40 some-odd inches by 16" attached to fixed grids...see my gallery if I'm not making any sense :P) and let you know how it holds up!

[Zeander]

Miko, those ripties sound great! Thanks for letting us all know about them.

[laura220]

Could loose zip ties be used as hinges?

>Yeah, those velcro ties do look good!

[TheAlmightyMiko]

For my main lid, I just use plastic cable ties for hinges. I found that you don't really need to have them that loose, just not quite as tight as you would make them for say, holding together two grids.
And you're welcome for the velcro ties I found them a few weeks ago completely by accident and I just think they are fabulous (esp. since I had to keep running to the hardware store to pick up new cable ties whenever I made over my cage!).

[Sabriel]

For anyone who lives in Canada, they sell the velcro ties at Future Shop. (That's where I got mine) They also sell them at Staples, but you get more in the Future Shop packs (Mutant Mods brand) And they are better colours.

If you live anywhere else go check out a computer store that sells computer "mods". That's actually thier intended purpose. They are used to keep all the wires in your computer together. The velcro ones are usefull if you change hardware alot and look better inside of a windowed or clear case.

[LuvMyPiggers]

You could use a sheet of coro and center it over the top of your cage. Trace the outline and then fold the extra into flaps as you would a reg. Cage. Just a thought.

[CaviesRDABest]

I might use correx, though how safe would it be?