Is there a particular type/grade/brand of PVC safe for parrots?

[Kiwibird]

I have been looking at options for creating a PVC hanging gym for Kiwi. I see that Home Depot sells varying thickness/diameters of a white PVC pipe and connectors. Is this the type that is safe for parrots or do you need to get it somewhere else besides the hardware store? Any special prep instructions for cleaning (before first use)? What kind of adhesive do you use, or do you just "snap" together and it holds by itself?

Also curious about the clear PVC? Is that safe for parrots? I though it may be cool to use for toys, but again unsure if it's safe.

Thanks!

 

[weco]

Either the white (cold water) or yellow (hot water) PVC piping is suitable for making play gyms.....normally the various parts & pieces are chemically welded together with ketone based solvents.....the soft, pliable tubings and other soft pvc items/materials/toys have had oils/plasticizers added to them, to make them soft.....if you are old enough to remember 1960s & 70s vintage car/vehicle steering wheels cracking & shrinking, that was the plasticizers migrating/drying out of the PVC wheels (sticky feel).....PVC in its natural state is rock hard & adding/mixing different oils in causes the PVC to soften.....

As to solvents/cements, you'll want an adhesive marked for cold pvc pipe for white piping & cement/adhesive marked for cpvc piping for yellow cpvc (hot water).....there are also multi-purpose adhesives that work on both types of pipe.....

When welding pipe for water lines, you would want to clean your parts/fittings with a primer, but that would not be necessary for non-pressurized fittings/assemblies.....

Have fun.....

 

[Kiwibird]

Soooo.... the clear PVC is not safe but the white is?

 

[weco]

Soooo.... the clear PVC is not safe but the white is?

You can get food grade tubing & medical grade tubing, but they are a bit higher in cost per foot.....not sure Home depot sells either.....the clear tubing that they usually carry is rated for water & some is rated for potable water.....

 

[KimKim]

I haven't seen the clear in stores, where did you see it? I have made shower perches and table top perches with PVC and cpvc (yellow) and just put them together without using glue and they have been fine.

 

[weco]

I haven't seen the clear in stores, where did you see it? I have made shower perches and table top perches with PVC and cpvc (yellow) and just put them together without using glue and they have been fine.

The clear tubing we have been talking about is soft walled tubing, not a pipe.....

 

[Kiwibird]

Soooo.... the clear PVC is not safe but the white is?

You can get food grade tubing & medical grade tubing, but they are a bit higher in cost per foot.....not sure Home depot sells either.....the clear tubing that they usually carry is rated for water & some is rated for potable water.....

Thanks for clarifying.

Is polycarbonate safe? They have rigid, clear polycarbonate pipes for sale but I've never heard of the material before-
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Polycarbonate-Tubing-Wall-Length/dp/B000OMFMC0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ESSPBENWTKRRAM7Q8MN"]Clear Polycarbonate Tubing, 1-3/8" ID, 1-1/2" OD, 1/16" Wall, 2' Length: Polycarbonate Plastic Raw Materials: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific[/ame]

Any ideas?
Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for all the help!!! I'm not familiar with any of these types of materials, and I just don't want to inadvertently make something that will be toxic for Kiwi.

 

[weco]

Well, if I get tired of the questions, I guess I could just not reply, but yes, polycarbonate tubing would be OK, but that's kind of expensive for what you're looking to build, your 'zon link says it's $8+ per 2 foot length.....once it's scratched, it's scratched...no polishing them out, at least not economically anyway.....

You'll need a special glue for this plastic also..... Lexan Polycarbonate Glue

You're going to find that using these proprietary materials to get you special effects, you're not going to find the fittings you're looking for, at least not readily available.....just like the various colored piping/tubing used in the commercial play gyms.....they have to order their stock in 2500 & 5000 foot orders & I don't know any of them that sell in small DIY sized amounts.....

You'll need a Dremel tool or similar motor tool to properly work with most of your projects.....if you don't yet have your own, plan on spending about $100 for a kit with enough fittings to get done what you're looking to do.....chemical welding/gluing plastics can be forgiving on mis-cut pieces, but, you can end up with sloppy looking joints.....I've heard "practice makes perfect" though I wouldn't want to practice on $4+ per foot clear polycarbonate tubing.....that is unless I was a quick learner ! ! !

 

[Kiwibird]

I have all kinds of tools and have done many very difficult projects out of a variety of materials before. I do jewelry work, so I have a flex shaft tool with many different kinds of blades, bits, burs, polishing wheels..... (basically it's like a super dremel) along with a standard drill and various bits (and a VERY steady hand lol). I'm pretty creative and take my time to think out how to best assemble and make things.

My primary concern with this project is making 100% sure any material I use for a gym for Kiwi is absolutely bird safe. He obviously comes in contact orally with everything in his cage so I don't want him licking poison or having poisonous materials absorb through his feet or anything like that.

P.S. For complex and pricey projects, did you ever see my newt tank cover I designed and built? I wasn't as concerned with material safety since the newt comes in no contact with the cover, but talk about DIFFICULT!
http://www.parrotforums.com/nonfeathered-pets/44749-mr-newt-s-tank-done-awesome-pic-heavy.html

 

[Birdman666]

I've always used the white stuff from Home Depot or Lowes...

The biggest thing is NEVER use the glue around your bird. Use it outside or in the garage with the door open, and make sure it dries all the way first. Once it's dry, not a problem.

THE GLUE FUMES ARE UBER-TOXIC TO PARROTS!!! And not especially great for human beings either...

 

[weco]

Looks like you spent some time at Michael's for you palapa roof, did you use wooden BBQ skewers or dimensional flat stock...can't really tell.....nice job.....what did you glue the molding around the tank on with, silicone caulk?

Didn't mean anything by the Dremel comment, but often people have ideas, but don't always know how to bring the to fruition.....

I've never been interested in fish, snakes, herps or similar pets & even got interested in birds by indirect association.....I had bought an MBC for a BD present for a girl that came close to becoming a step daughter.....she took real good care of him, grew up, had her own daughter, but made a mistake on her choice of fathers for her daughter, Buddy, the MBC hated her boyfriend, so when Buddy was 18yo she calls me & asks if I'd be interested I taking Buddy.....Buddy & I hadn't seen each other in 8-10 years, but the night I went to pick him up, he was in an outdoor cage she'd built in a large willow in her front yard...she opened the cage & out came Buddy, up her arm, on to her shoulder, flew to me & started chattering in my ear, like "where have you been!" We went home & from there I got a bad case of MBS.....a couple of years ago I was down to 14, now I've only got 5, but think I've got a handle on the MBS, by spending a lot of time in the basement building/repairing/modifying dollhouses.....bought a hobby shop in the early 80s to support my model train habit, then being in the construction business, I'm pretty familiar with pretty much everything available in that kind of work.....

 

[jbirge]

Quick note. I have put together some pretty elaborate gyms for my Amazon using the white PVC and no glue, repeat NO GLUE! The fitting are tight enough to stay together without glue. This allows me to reconfigure it at will....John

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

Same here, we've built play gyms for our macaws and african greys out of white PVC and never used glue. It is super sturdy and it's awesome to be able to take apart for cleaning!

 

[ParrotsAhoy]

One more time now, just so im clear: the white PVC pipes and joints that you can buy at all hardware stores (like Bunnings) ARE safe to build bird stuff out of? The pipe and screw joints alone, no glue.