PVC gym.. need help

[jessica313]

hi everyone.. i want to build shadow a playgym out of pvc...

i am IN LOVE with the one you made MOTHI.. i think its absolutyly fabolous and it really seems like Yatzi loves it.

the one major question i have is, how did you get the rope to stay on the pipes so nicely? like how did u connect it on the ends??

i havnt began to build/design this yet.. its just something i plan to start this week... ANY advice, tips, pictures would be GREATLY apprechiated asd i have never built anything out of PVC before. thanks everyone!

[Mothi]

I didn't use any glue. I put the pipe in the connects is all. I basically had a design in mind for how I wanted to make various stations on his gym. His stations were: night cage/flat area (for his night cage obviously and items that I don't want dropping to the ground like foot toys and snacks), tower (for his long hanging toy which is the boing), stairs (for ease of climbing various levels), and the other part is not developed yet on his gym which is under his night cage/flat area. That last part is for more hanging types of toys to utilize the space below.

The blue and dark green stuff on the gym is basically vet wrap wrapped around the pipes to make it easy for Yazhi to grip. Otherwise he would fall right off. You can use jute and wrap it around instead, but I was lazy and just used vet wrap. It sticks to itself but not the critter. Pretty handy. You can always replace it later as well. How much you need depends on how see through you want or don't want it. I did layer mine a bit so the white didn't show through since that was my preference.

I have various jute/bead made toys on his gym. Just make knots and whala... it is there. His boing was attached using jute...hehe Boy am I lazy. You can use stainless steel O thingies (for lack of better term) and then hook the toys on it but I never did find it at my hardware stores here and have been to lazy to order them online. Either way his toy hangs securely with no problems. Always keep in mind though that your bird should not be able to get stuck or body parts caught in any rope or other parts.

Glad you like his gym though. I am so proud of how well it turned out. Yazhi would give 2 feet up, but then he would end up on the floor...

My supply list was:
Pvc pipes (get ones that are straight and not curved if possible)
Wet Towel (wipe down all pipes since they will be dirty)
Various connectors (I got a boat load and some. I got more than I needed since I was not 100% all the parts I needed. Better safe then sorry. I could always use it for other projects anyways.)
Pvc cutter (makes it a lot easier to cut the pipes... OH so much easier than trying to saw it by hand. lol)
Vet wrap (or something else to wrap the pipes with or your bird will fall off...haha)
toys galore (got to have toys for a play gym)

Btw, here is my website that has all the pictures of the gym. Not much for step by step though since I started one day... then finished it all in almost another day. http://www.polliwog-design.com/proje...gym/index.html

[jessica313]

thanks so much! this helps me out a lot!
i was unfamiliar with vet wrap until i googled it once you told me what it was.. i thought u had wrapped rope of some kind around and around and around...
i also cannot find ANY stainless steel o thingies or hooks of any kind at any hardware store around here....

where might i get vet wrap? i definantly want to get some, but since i didnt even know what it was until tonight.. i dont know where to go about looking for it.

thanks again for the tips!

[veryorignal]

You can get vet wrap at any pet store might be alittle bit pricey here we have a pharmasave that has a vet section in it thats really really cheap

[Mothi]

I bought mine from http://www.petedge.com when I placed an order with other stuff. Was even cheaper then buying from the store I work for with discount. Look around though for good prices. Keep in mind the birds might unwrap it with time. But it works well enough for me.

[GeminiGirl]

Great PVC pipe playstand advice! The vet wrap is an awesome way to keep things down and together@

[Mothi]

For bigger birds or intricate designs you might need to use pvc glue. Make sure it is throughly dry before using and probably make it in another room and dry outside or something. Not sure if it gives off fumes.

For me, no glue was needed. It is sturdy and there is no worry about it falling apart. The way I used vet wrap wasn't so much to hold it together, but more of providing places for his feet to grip.

[jessica313]

awesome! thanks so much!

[veryorignal]

How much vet wrap did you need for your gym lol just so i can get an idea

[jessica313]

good question! i am curious for the answer... just went to home depot and got some pvc pipe and connectors... about to start putting things together for the start of shadows gym!