Looking for someone to make melamine cage for me

[kwong2001]

Well I'm at a loss as to where to go to have a custom melamine cage made. I'd build my own, but all I have is a Dremel I've asked two people already and they can't do it for various reasons. So now I'm hitting the forums.

Preferably I'd like to find someone who is within say 150-250 miles of me, but if not, shipping is fine as long as you're willing to deal with the hassle. I live in Federal Way, Washington, and the zip code is 98023.

Anyhoo, so here's the basic requirements. The main thing by far is I want the cage to be designed with maintenance in mind. The current cage I have is HUGE, but it's got sections that I can't get to to clean.

The basic dimensions are (LxWxH) 2 feet x 2 feet x 3 feet. If possible, I'd like to have also a table made for the cage to sit on which be two feet tall. I'd like to have a three door system, with one large door and two smaller doors. See the attached picture for the door setup.

As far as the inner layout, I'm not picky. Whatever would be ideal for a chinchilla. I was thinking of a couple perches for my chinchilla to jump around to, then maybe a large perch that extends the length of one side of the cage.

The top of the two smaller doors I would like to open up into some sort of balcony so I can just leave it open and let my chinchilla just gaze out into the room since she really likes to do that. Hence the need for the 3 door setup. I'd still like her to sit up high though.

Oh, and I also have a flying saucer wheel that will go in the cage.

Anyhoo, anyone willing to make me one? I don't mind assembling it either.

 

[mercynursie]

I have both a custom melamine cage that my husband,daughter and myself built for our first little babies and a FN two level. The melamine cage is great but I LOVE the FN.It took us all several days labor and extra $to buy a special saw blade that cut the melamine easier. It's extremely heavy, it took two very strong men to get it from our shop into the house. Now when I got maternal and decided to add another little boy,I bought the FN. I bought it,carried it into the house and assembled it all by myself(with a little grunting).I bought the metal Bass replacement pans.My two older boys live in it and they love being able to see out better. I love that its easier to clean,remodel with new shelves/fleece/toys, and its sooo much easier to move the entire cage around to clean underneath/behind(my melamine is on wheels too but it's still a killer to move around on carpet).That be said even my wood crafter husband stated "Why didn't you get one of these the first time instead of killing me building the melamine one!!" Okay, enough said. If you are still looking for a custom builder this lady does some really nice work and you can see pics on this website under cages www.lilsugarchinchillas.com

Best wishes whichever way you decide to go:thumbsup:

 

[kwong2001]

Right now I've got the Martin's cage Chinchilla Townhouse (the largest one) and aside from the sections I can't get to, it also tears up the sponge I use to clean the bars. Hence the reason why I want something that's more flat.

Does the Ferret Nation have that type of problem?

 

[mishellyshel]

i had my fiance build me a huge wooden & sheet metal cage. it is awesome and i love it BUT it is a huge pain in the butt to clean! it is so tall i need a stool, so deep i practically have to get in there. the chins love it but for cleaning purposes...pita!

i just "rescued" 4 chins and the owner gave me her 3 story FN and while we had to modify it to fit cause it is huge even my fiance' said......."i wish we woulda just bought one of these"!! I wanted to kill him because it took him almost 6 months to make it and i kept saying that we could just buy one!!

i dont know how many chins you have but there is plenty of room in the FN for multiple. Plus you can get them at Petsmart or online or on craigslist.

i will find the link to my handmade one just so you can see how big it is!

 

[mishellyshel]

you have to scroll down a bit to see the pix. it is huge & heavy. gorgeous and roomy though......but like i said a real pain to clean!


http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6887

 

[kwong2001]

One thing I do is leave my cage open and just left my chinchilla just gaze out into oblivion. Does the FN cage allow that? It seems like that large doors would get in the way of things? Would she still be content with having the doors closed?

The one thing I don't have is A LOT of room in my room so I don't think I could really leave the door open all day like I normally do.

 

[kwong2001]

Hey, is the pan that comes with the FN cage a plastic or metal pan?

 

[lauralynne]

The one that comes with the FN is a shallow plastic pan. Most chin owners order metal ones that have a 2-3" side from Bass Equipment.

 

[mishellyshel]

yeah the plastic ones stink! i hate them. but i would live with them if i had to. i am going to have my fiance custom make some since he IS a union sheet metal worker! he has the ultimate set of tools!!

 

[kwong2001]

Hmmm, guess I'm gonna have to SERIOUSLY consider the FN now. I'll have to do some measurements when I get home.

 

[equus_peduus]

I have never had a FN, but my experience with nonsolidwalled cages was that I got hay, pellets, poop and pee all over the place (as opposed to only in one direction with the melamine cage). Among other things, one of my boys would pee in such a way it'd get on the wall, and I had to have a shower curtain on the floor under the cage to deal with the mess on the non-wall sides. The solid-walled cage I have now confines the mess to one direction, and I put a little rug down to help with the bit of pee that goes that way...

 

[Huffnpoof]

My melamine was built about a year ago now and I wouldn't trade it for any other type of cage. Like Equus said, it really, really helps control the amount of urine and poop that flys out of the cage. I actually find it easier to do a thorough cleaning of the mealmine because I can just wipe down its solid walls instead of getting in each little square of the bars on wire/metal cages. The major downsides of a melamine are the weigh (I am really happy mine is on wheels) and the inability of the chinchilla to look out the sides of the cage. This may seem odd, but I think poof missing having the ability to look out more than just the front doors of the cage and the top. Either way, good luck finding/building your new cage.

 

[kwong2001]

Alright, after much debate and research, I went with the FN 142. I've order the taller pan and order 5 ledges.

 

[mishellyshel]

i have to add that you guys make a great point about the enclosed sides of the melamine cage. the pans will help cut down the mess and after much thought, i am going to get a piece of plexiglass from my company, cut to size, with several small holes drilled in it to attach to the back of the cage to help eliminate all the flying poo but still allow them to see thru it and me see them.

 

[Chin on the Rocks]

If you don't find what you want, let me know. I can make anything for you. I cut melamine all the time for my tree stand bases for my birdontherocks website. It is very heavy and comes in 3/4 inch thickness. That is just something to consider when coming up with a design if you do decide to go with melamine.
John
www.chinontherocks.com

 

[kwong2001]

Thanks for the offer, but I already ordered the FN 142 cage

 

[kwong2001]

Alright, here's Version 0.9 of the new cage. I've got it about how I think would work for her climbing and stuff, but we'll see how it goes. I'm sure there will be changes later on. I still have a few toys and stuff to add, but I'm too tired to do the rest. So anyways, here it is.