just made an outdoor run

Status
Not open for further replies.
JohnnyH

JohnnyH

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
33
Reaction score
5
Points
130
Location
Somerset, UK
and plenty of grass out there for them. just need to add in the shelter and a few toys.
465851_10151718692280580_647395579_24172958_1933289976_o.jpg
 
That's awesome, I wish we had lovely grass like that for my piggie.
 
I'm gonna have a go at making my first run after my exams finish in a few weeks :))

Was it easy to do?
 
catherine said:
I'm gonna have a go at making my first run after my exams finish in a few weeks :))

Was it easy to do?
Click to expand...

It was pretty easy, although in truth it probably wasn't the cheapest solution.

I do own a circular saw, chop saw, and bench saw, jigsaw, along with cordless drills, counter sink bits and the like - and that help :)

In short I bought a pack of timber from Homebase, and a large sheet of marine ply for finishing from Wickes.
The Chop saw made extremely quick work of cutting the side frame parts, and these were then pre-drilled and screwed together with galvanised wood screws.
I cut two end panels of the marine ply and then used a jigsaw to cut out the centres.

Finally a roll of galvanised wire mesh and a load of horse shoe nails to make it secure.

There are cross members on running across the top, and the lid sits inside the frame on these.

Then it was given a good coat of pet safe preserver and left to dry for a week.

I reckon it cost £35 for the timber, £15 for the wire mesh, £15 for screws and nails, and then preserver we already had.

(only downside was a mis-hap with a manual saw that led to a few stitches in my hand... but then skin heals :)) )

I intend to make an enclosed box section and then attach to one of the narrower ends - this will give them a secure hide and mean they can be left out in this all day.

So far they love it and seem to be enjoying the sunshine 8)
 
Wow Johnny, i appreciate the work gone into it and certainly your reserve in not cutting the grass..:)) of course for your piggies :))... You were clearly saving your energy from not cutting said grass and utilising your hands in other ventures!

Besides, you won't to cut the lawn, just keep moving the run around the lawn..they'll get through it in time!
 
JohnnyH said:
(only downside was a mis-hap with a manual saw that led to a few stitches in my hand... but then skin heals :)) )
Click to expand...

Sorry but that made me laugh so much, your attitude to DIY sounds the same as mine and my mothers. Also seriously impressed you can use all the power tools without incident, but a manual saw got you, hehe!

Love the run though, I need to get one with mine, had the wood about two years and still not finished it!
 
JohnnyH said:
It was pretty easy, although in truth it probably wasn't the cheapest solution.

I do own a circular saw, chop saw, and bench saw, jigsaw, along with cordless drills, counter sink bits and the like - and that help :)

In short I bought a pack of timber from Homebase, and a large sheet of marine ply for finishing from Wickes.
The Chop saw made extremely quick work of cutting the side frame parts, and these were then pre-drilled and screwed together with galvanised wood screws.
I cut two end panels of the marine ply and then used a jigsaw to cut out the centres.

Finally a roll of galvanised wire mesh and a load of horse shoe nails to make it secure.

There are cross members on running across the top, and the lid sits inside the frame on these.

Then it was given a good coat of pet safe preserver and left to dry for a week.

I reckon it cost £35 for the timber, £15 for the wire mesh, £15 for screws and nails, and then preserver we already had.

(only downside was a mis-hap with a manual saw that led to a few stitches in my hand... but then skin heals :)) )

I intend to make an enclosed box section and then attach to one of the narrower ends - this will give them a secure hide and mean they can be left out in this all day.

So far they love it and seem to be enjoying the sunshine 8)
Click to expand...

That's really helpful - thanks!

I was just going to get some treated garden timber, give it another coat, make a frame and use * nails to attach some galvanised mesh. Hopefully it looks ok :)
 
Ps, if you don't mind me asking - where did you get the mesh from? The cheapest I've found is £30 for 30m at 3ft high, I don't need that much but that's all I can find! :red
 
catherine said:
Ps, if you don't mind me asking - where did you get the mesh from? The cheapest I've found is £30 for 30m at 3ft high, I don't need that much but that's all I can find! :red
Click to expand...

I picked up the roll of mesh at a Wickes DIY store, I did look around though as it seems an expensive comodity.

Try local garden centres too :)
 
Doeylicious said:
Sorry but that made me laugh so much, your attitude to DIY sounds the same as mine and my mothers. Also seriously impressed you can use all the power tools without incident, but a manual saw got you, hehe!

Love the run though, I need to get one with mine, had the wood about two years and still not finished it!
Click to expand...

It's always the way, a circular power saw will take your hand off in a flash, so I take absolute care with power tools, and then I just wanted to quickly cut a cross member so I grabbed a hand saw and didnt give it the respect it deserved... 8...

we live and learn :)
 
Oooohhh wowie that run is very swishy! Lucky piggles :)
 
very good run, but until you make them a little den, and your hand is well enough too, (it looks like a nasty cut with all those bandages, must have been painful:0 poor you!) I would sugest trying to place the run in the garden so they can get shade away from the sun if they want too, or if no shade just drape a towel over one end to provide some shade should they wish to get out of the sun. Although you might already be doing those things! just dont want them to overheat.
 
yep, that's what we've done, we hang a blanket over one end so they have a cool half :)

I'll be making an extension for one of the ends which will be a closed in section, somewhere they can hide out :)

hand is pretty good now, so may well tackle it at the weekend... (call 999!)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top