Found cheap Australian supplier

[Betrisher]

I thought some of the Oz members could use this bit of info.

While trawling around on ebay for toy parts, I found a store called Discount Chain and Fittings. They supply all sorts of chain (from large-link safe plastic to stainless steel curb chain) as well as carabiners, quick links, D shackles and bow shackles (stainless steel). The nice thing is that they seem to be a good bit cheaper than most bird toy specialists!

You can purchase the chains by the metre or invest in a 35 metre roll (I wish!)

One thing I simply *can't* find is a bell that my Beaks won't immediately squash with their great big bills. Does anyone know of such a bell???

 

[henpecked]

We use the bells made from a short piece of pipe. I'll see if i can't find you a link. PS a welder friend made mine from SS.
http://www.windycityparrot.com/Tube-Bell-Medium-Pipe-Bell-for-Parrot-Toys_p_2082.html

This one here has the SS pipe bells,,,http://www.chopperstoys.com/CatalogNoise_makers.html

I'm sure there's several other places that carry them as well.

 

[Betrisher]

Wow! Thanks for the links, HP! I'll check out the cost of postage - looks like it might be worth buying from the US direct.

 

[henpecked]

Might be cheaper to get someone who can TIG weld to make them. One thing about these type of bells,, you'll never need to replace them, they last forever.

 

[Betrisher]

Well! Now that you mention it, my nephew has a welder! What do you do? Just cut a section of pipe and weld (what?) a thing inside of it as a clapper?

 

[henpecked]

I used a short piece of round stock (1/2" dia solid SS "rod" with loop welded to top) as a clapper. A short piece of pipe as the bell (what ever dia you wish) . I used a piece of TIG wire to attach clapper to a "top" (circle cut to same OD as pipe) and another loop welded to outside of top to hang the bell. I then welded top to short pipe creating a bell. If you had some SS chain you could use a link of chain to make the loops for attaching clapper to inside before welding on top piece. You could also use a heavy SS nut as a clapper on the inside, depends on what "sound" your looking for. Most of mine sound a lot like a "cow bell". What ever you use as a clapper needs to have a loop to loop connection so that the clapper swings freely. It's really simpler than it sounds and doesn't take much to make. A good supply of SS scrap would be helpful, most welders don't throw away SS and save even small pieces.