Owning a Chinchilla

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Resources

How To's

With chinchillas you can make quite a few items yourself.  If you are able to, it is one way to save money but there are places you can buy the items you need. 


Many items are easy to do once you have made it once. 

Wood Shelves


So the first thing you need to do is go to a hardware store like Home Depot, Lowes, or Rona Please note that when you ask them if it's KD they will most times have no idea what you mean. Look at the tag and it will say KD there. 

Find the wood area and look for Kiln Dried Pine. They have lots of sizes. You can get 1" thickness or more. I usually get 1" thick and between 6"-12" wide depending on how I want my shelves.

I know my measurements before I go in (Measure twice to make sure!) and then I get them to cut my wood for me.

You also will have to pick up some Fender Washers, Hanger Bolts and Wing Nuts. I usually get 1/4" hanger bolts and wing nuts but you can figure out the size you like.

Now once you are home with your cut wood you are ready to get started:

  • Find the KD pine and have them cut it to the size you want.
    Find the KD pine and have them cut it to the size you want.
  • For the bit size, just use a slightly smaller bit than your hanger bolt. You want it to be snug when you screw it into the wood. Measure where you want your hanger bolts to go.
    For the bit size, just use a slightly smaller bit than your hanger bolt. You want it to be snug when you screw it into the wood. Measure where you want your hanger bolts to go.
  • Make sure you go down deep enough or it will be hard to get the bolt in. For this shelf I just need 2 hanger bolts so here are my two drilled holes
    Make sure you go down deep enough or it will be hard to get the bolt in. For this shelf I just need 2 hanger bolts so here are my two drilled holes
  • So now you need to get your hanger hardware out
    So now you need to get your hanger hardware out
  • I have a trick to get the hanger bolts in the drilled holes. Take your hanger bolt and screw 2 wing nuts on it
    I have a trick to get the hanger bolts in the drilled holes. Take your hanger bolt and screw 2 wing nuts on it
  • Now put it in the hole and use the wing nuts to screw it in place
    Now put it in the hole and use the wing nuts to screw it in place
  • If it's too hard to turn, use can use pliers
    If it's too hard to turn, use can use pliers
  • Repeat for all the drilled holes you have
    Repeat for all the drilled holes you have
  • Put your fender washers on the bolts
    Put your fender washers on the bolts
  • And then you can attach to a cage
    And then you can attach to a cage
Find the KD pine and have them cut it to the size you want.
Find the KD pine and have them cut it to the size you want.

Hammocks

Hammocks are really easy to make if you have a sewing machine and have a bit of patience.  Just follow the instructions and you'll be good to go!
  • Make a pattern! It is just so much easier if you make a pattern. I use a large piece of paper, fold it and draw the shape I want then cut it out. Like so:
    Make a pattern! It is just so much easier if you make a pattern. I use a large piece of paper, fold it and draw the shape I want then cut it out. Like so:
  • Place your unfolded pattern on your fleece and trace it.
    Place your unfolded pattern on your fleece and trace it.
  • cut it out, make 2 of them
    cut it out, make 2 of them
  • Put the two cut out pieces face to face, so that the 2 fronts are facing one another
    Put the two cut out pieces face to face, so that the 2 fronts are facing one another
  • Pin the pieces together. If you aren't use to sewing fleece, pin it a lot as it will stretch
    Pin the pieces together. If you aren't use to sewing fleece, pin it a lot as it will stretch
  • Ready to sew! I start part way down of one side. This is because I find it is easier to do my closing stitch there, but you can do it wherever you like.
    Ready to sew! I start part way down of one side. This is because I find it is easier to do my closing stitch there, but you can do it wherever you like.
  • DON'T SEW ALL THE WAY. You need to leave enough room to turn the hammock right side in. I leave a few inches of space
    DON'T SEW ALL THE WAY. You need to leave enough room to turn the hammock right side in. I leave a few inches of space
  • You are ready to turn your hammock right side in.
    You are ready to turn your hammock right side in.
  • Pull the hammock through the gap you left.
    Pull the hammock through the gap you left.
  • Here it is right side out now. Time to close!
    Here it is right side out now. Time to close!
  • Use a hidden stitch to close your hammock.
    Use a hidden stitch to close your hammock.
  • Time for the grommets! Basically this is what I use to do my grommets. I place the grommet tool where I want them to go. I then use a knife to put a small hole there (BE CAREFUL!) and then I put the 2 pieces of the grommet there and install. Do this for each corner
    Time for the grommets! Basically this is what I use to do my grommets. I place the grommet tool where I want them to go. I then use a knife to put a small hole there (BE CAREFUL!) and then I put the 2 pieces of the grommet there and install. Do this for each corner
Make a pattern! It is just so much easier if you make a pattern. I use a large piece of paper, fold it and draw the shape I want then cut it out. Like so:
Make a pattern! It is just so much easier if you make a pattern. I use a large piece of paper, fold it and draw the shape I want then cut it out. Like so:
Putting the grommets in can be a bit tricky until you have done it a couple of times. 
  • I place the groomet tool where I want my hole and fold over the spot and use a knife to make a hole. BE CAREFUL.
    I place the groomet tool where I want my hole and fold over the spot and use a knife to make a hole. BE CAREFUL.
  • Put the 2 parts of the grommet through the hole
    Put the 2 parts of the grommet through the hole
  • Use a hammer on the grommet tool.
    Use a hammer on the grommet tool.
  • There is your grommet all together!
    There is your grommet all together!
  • Attach a split ring and laynard hook. Some people use binder clips or shower curtain clips.
    Attach a split ring and laynard hook. Some people use binder clips or shower curtain clips.
I place the groomet tool where I want my hole and fold over the spot and use a knife to make a hole. BE CAREFUL.
I place the groomet tool where I want my hole and fold over the spot and use a knife to make a hole. BE CAREFUL.

Fleece Tube

  • Trace out your pattern
    Trace out your pattern
  • I have an extra piece on my tube covers just to make it look finished. You don't have to do this part and can just have one single tube. For my extra piece it's 19" wide and between 4-5" in height.
    I have an extra piece on my tube covers just to make it look finished. You don't have to do this part and can just have one single tube. For my extra piece it's 19" wide and between 4-5" in height.
  • If you want to make a tube with the extra piece then fold it wrong sides in so the right side is showing. If not, skip until step number 7
    If you want to make a tube with the extra piece then fold it wrong sides in so the right side is showing. If not, skip until step number 7
  • Take your folded piece and place it on the right side of the fleece. You can pin this on if you don't have a lot of experience sewing with fleece.
    Take your folded piece and place it on the right side of the fleece. You can pin this on if you don't have a lot of experience sewing with fleece.
  • Sew your folded piece onto the main tube cover.
    Sew your folded piece onto the main tube cover.
  • Take your fleece cover and turn it so the right sides are facing in, so it's inside out basically. Sew down the entire side.
    Take your fleece cover and turn it so the right sides are facing in, so it's inside out basically. Sew down the entire side.
  • Get your tube ready. This tube is the largest chube
    Get your tube ready. This tube is the largest chube
  • Put your tube cover in the tube so it is still inside out.
    Put your tube cover in the tube so it is still inside out.
  • Pull the cover all the way to the other side so it's now right side facing up
    Pull the cover all the way to the other side so it's now right side facing up
  • Put the other side over now
    Put the other side over now
  • Mark 2 dots where you are going to put your hardware
    Mark 2 dots where you are going to put your hardware
  • I use a screwdriver to make the hole. Push hard to get through all the layerhttp://members.webs.com/s/modules/slideshow/v1.11/slideshow.dialog.html#s of fleece and tube.
    I use a screwdriver to make the hole. Push hard to get through all the layerhttp://members.webs.com/s/modules/slideshow/v1.11/slideshow.dialog.html#s of fleece and tube.
  • Get your hardware out. You need bolts, fender washers and wing nuts
    Get your hardware out. You need bolts, fender washers and wing nuts
  • Screw in the bolts from the inside of the tube. It can be tricky and you might need to make the hole a little bigger.
    Screw in the bolts from the inside of the tube. It can be tricky and you might need to make the hole a little bigger.
  • You will want the bolts all the way through
    You will want the bolts all the way through
  • Your tube is all done now. Just put fender washers on and wing nuts.
    Your tube is all done now. Just put fender washers on and wing nuts.

MORE COMING SOON INCLUDING:

Preparing apple wood

Making Liners

Making Toys

Making Treats