Home made play stand

[adamf]

If I make a play stand from 3/4" ply as a platform, 2"x3" studs as a border, and natural branches as the perches?, can I seal the platform and border in some sort of waterproofing, to allow easy clean up of droppings?

 

[gemini84]

you could try some contact. just make sure there is no bubbles in it other wise tgey will pick at it. put the contact on the base before you attatch the border. as for the border that bit more difficult cause if your bird is anything like my bunch they will chew the border

 

[weco]

Basically, most sealers can be thought of as paints...the are mere coatings, however, oil based sealers are penetrants. Because many birds are avid chewers, I would pass on trying to seal the platform & frame.

speaking of the frame, if you were thinking of putting the frame on the bottom of the platform, you might have a balance problem because you would be raising the center a gravity, increasing the tip factor.....

Just be sure you don't use any treated wood in your project.....

 

[Jtbirds]

You could always just get scrap flooring that is slick and easy to clean and out it on the base. Just make sure the edges are securely down and they can't pull them up. You can get extra cut offs at a lot of hardware stores.

 

[adamf]

Basically, most sealers can be thought of as paints...the are mere coatings, however, oil based sealers are penetrants. Because many birds are avid chewers, I would pass on trying to seal the platform & frame.

speaking of the frame, if you were thinking of putting the frame on the bottom of the platform, you might have a balance problem because you would be raising the center a gravity, increasing the tip factor.....

Just be sure you don't use any treated wood in your project.....

So the playstands you might buy for 2-300 are unsealed? They all have smooth surfaces for cleaning. I am wondering what they are sealed with. I fully expect the bird to chew on it, but I wonder what is used on the stuff you buy.

Frame definitely not going on bottom.

 

[weco]

Of the couple that I have seen, one had a surface of sheet vinyl glued to a plywood base and had vinyl edging to close the edges.....however it did not look like it was designed to have water sprayed on it regularly (I really don't think the edges were sealed to any degree). The other was painted with lacquer, still a paint, but one that is sprayed on.

I did see some for sale at a bird show, a couple of years ago. The base was laminated with (in the U.S) shower board. The edging was made from oak 1"x2" and cut to lip over the top edge to self mould the top deck. All hardware was stainless steel.....

You may need to find one you can go look at.....

None of the ones I have seen looked like they were designed to be cleaned off with a water hose, rather a damp clothe would probably be OK.....

 

[Parrotdise]

The only stands i have ever had either have plastic at the base with a wood surround, or metal. Depending on how you design it you could get a huge round pizza plate and drill through it. We did this once for a t-stand that had beautiful legs but the round part was total junk and it worked well.

 

[adamf]

Of the couple that I have seen, one had a surface of sheet vinyl glued to a plywood base and had vinyl edging to close the edges.....however it did not look like it was designed to have water sprayed on it regularly (I really don't think the edges were sealed to any degree). The other was painted with lacquer, still a paint, but one that is sprayed on.

I did see some for sale at a bird show, a couple of years ago. The base was laminated with (in the U.S) shower board. The edging was made from oak 1"x2" and cut to lip over the top edge to self mould the top deck. All hardware was stainless steel.....

You may need to find one you can go look at.....

None of the ones I have seen looked like they were designed to be cleaned off with a water hose, rather a damp clothe would probably be OK.....

I'm more leery of using glue on anything, than I am of using a finish on the wood. I do not plan to soak any of these parts, want to be able to wipe clean with warm water and rag. In any event, I found a solution for the base. 3/4" PVC sheet! It perfect. I found a scrap at lumber yard, and it's ideal. I will border it with some sort of oak. I also believe spray on finish, has same result as brush on. If you let it harden, and bird is not spending endless hours chewing it, it should be ok.

 

[Jtbirds]

Here is something else you could use on the bottom of the playgym. It is relatively cheap and very easy to clean. And it is bird safe a lady used to make PVC place stands with these in the bottoms and sold them commercially for years

Hers the link:Dura-Tray Plastic Pan, Duratray, Dura Tray BUNNYRABBIT.com