How to Make a DIY Rat Wheel (16 inch):
Wheels can be a great source of enrichment for rats. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a decent sized wheel that doesn't cost a fortune. Some smaller to medium rats can get by on a 12 inch wheel, which is the largest commercial size, but many rats either need or prefer a larger 14-16 inch wheel. Now there are a good few options for nice quality larger wheels, such as the 15 inch chin sprint or the 14-16 inch wheels which can be found on etsy. All of these tend to be fairly costly though, so if you want a cheaper solution and are willing to get hands-on then making a larger wheel is also a good option. Depending on what you have at home, making a large wheel could cost as little as $15 (or less!), so if you have some of the below materials around the house it might be worth just making the wheel yourself. |
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Materials:
Wheel:
Stand:
Optional (If you choose to make a cage mount):
- 16 inch by 4 inch metal oil pan - you can also find different colored hard plastic versions that works just as well here
- Fidgit spinner with the caps removed (a roller skate wheel also works)
- A dremel with a drill bit/a drill
- Yard stick or ruler
- Sharpie/Permanent marker
- Duct tape
- Various bolts, bolts, & washers:
- 3x small bolts + 3x fitted nuts
- 1x 3 inch bolt + 1 fitted nut
- 1x large washer
Stand:
- PVC pipes (some of these will need to be cut to size using your dremel/drill):
- 2x 1.5 inch elbow pieces
- 1x 1.5 inch T piece
- 3X 1.5 inch caps
- 2x 1 inch by 12 inch pieces
- 2x 1 inch by 6 inch pieces
- 1x 1 inch by 16 inch piece
Optional (If you choose to make a cage mount):
- 1x 2 inch by 2 inch piece of kiln dried pine
- 4x large washers
- 4x small bolts + 4x wing nuts
Step 1:
Start by drilling a hole in the middle of your oil pan. You can find the middle by taking your ruler and sharpie and drawing 2 straight lines that meet at an X in the middle of the pan. This is where you want to drill your center hole.
Start by drilling a hole in the middle of your oil pan. You can find the middle by taking your ruler and sharpie and drawing 2 straight lines that meet at an X in the middle of the pan. This is where you want to drill your center hole.
Step 2:
Tape your fidgit spinner over the hole, with the center part of the fidgit spinner on top of the middle hole. Now drill holes where the 3 fidgit spinner spinner holes are (remove the fidgit spinner caps before taping it down).
Tape your fidgit spinner over the hole, with the center part of the fidgit spinner on top of the middle hole. Now drill holes where the 3 fidgit spinner spinner holes are (remove the fidgit spinner caps before taping it down).
Step 3:
That's it for the wheel, all that's left is to build either your stand or your cage mount! I opted for making a stand from PVC pipe, using the previous listed PVC pieces (note that some pieces will have to be cut to size). For this step I just drilled a hole straight through the 16 inch PVC pipe about 3 inches from the top. This hole goes through the whole pipe, and the exit hole is a bit lower than the entry one to give the wheel a very slight upward tilt (prevents it from hitting the cage as the rats run). Finally I put a cap on the top of the pipe to prevent the rats from hurting themselves on any jagged edges.
That's it for the wheel, all that's left is to build either your stand or your cage mount! I opted for making a stand from PVC pipe, using the previous listed PVC pieces (note that some pieces will have to be cut to size). For this step I just drilled a hole straight through the 16 inch PVC pipe about 3 inches from the top. This hole goes through the whole pipe, and the exit hole is a bit lower than the entry one to give the wheel a very slight upward tilt (prevents it from hitting the cage as the rats run). Finally I put a cap on the top of the pipe to prevent the rats from hurting themselves on any jagged edges.
Step 4:
Assemble your stand - the sides should mirror each other, with each one having a 12 inch PVC pipe capped on one end, and connected to an elbow piece, which should be connected to a 6 inch piece, which finally connects to the T-shaped piece. Once these pieces are connected all you have to do is add the middle 16 inch stand piece to the center pipe.
Assemble your stand - the sides should mirror each other, with each one having a 12 inch PVC pipe capped on one end, and connected to an elbow piece, which should be connected to a 6 inch piece, which finally connects to the T-shaped piece. Once these pieces are connected all you have to do is add the middle 16 inch stand piece to the center pipe.
Step 5:
Finally, its now time to add in the wheel. Place your 3 small bolts through the fidgit spinner and fasten them with a nut on each one. Next, place your long 3+ inch bolt through the center of the wheel pan, then screw on another nut. Make this one a hair less tight than the other 3 as this is the piece the wheel will turn on. Now add in your large washer, then slip the remaining part of the screw though the holes in the PVC stand's middle and screw another nut onto the other side.
Finally, its now time to add in the wheel. Place your 3 small bolts through the fidgit spinner and fasten them with a nut on each one. Next, place your long 3+ inch bolt through the center of the wheel pan, then screw on another nut. Make this one a hair less tight than the other 3 as this is the piece the wheel will turn on. Now add in your large washer, then slip the remaining part of the screw though the holes in the PVC stand's middle and screw another nut onto the other side.
Step 6:
And that's it! All that's left is to place the wheel into your rats cage and make adjustments to it as need be.
And that's it! All that's left is to place the wheel into your rats cage and make adjustments to it as need be.
Optional:
If you plan on mounting the wheel on your cage bars, you will need to make a cage mount. To do this is pretty simple - simply take your 2 by 2 inch piece of wood, find its center (use the X method from step 1), then drill a hole there. Now drill a hole in each corner, then place a small bolt through each corner. Take this wood piece and push the center wheel bolt through the wood, then cap it off with a nut. To mount the wheel, place the wheel inside your cage, then push the 4 corner bolts through your cage bars. Now place a large washer on the other side of each bolt (on the other side of the cage bars that is), and finally cap each bolt off with a wing nut!
If you plan on mounting the wheel on your cage bars, you will need to make a cage mount. To do this is pretty simple - simply take your 2 by 2 inch piece of wood, find its center (use the X method from step 1), then drill a hole there. Now drill a hole in each corner, then place a small bolt through each corner. Take this wood piece and push the center wheel bolt through the wood, then cap it off with a nut. To mount the wheel, place the wheel inside your cage, then push the 4 corner bolts through your cage bars. Now place a large washer on the other side of each bolt (on the other side of the cage bars that is), and finally cap each bolt off with a wing nut!
Video Tutorial for Making a 16 inch Wheel: |
My Review of the 15 inch Chin Sprint Wheel: |
Disclosure: Esther (and her site rattrix.weebly.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com