| There are two variations of this ladder; the first uses wooden rods as rungs, the second uses rope as rungs. Instructions for both styles are included. Wooden-rung ladder The completed ladder will be 21 cm long and 6.5 cm wide, containing 4 rungs. You can adjust the length/number of rungs by resizing the length of the sides of the ladder, keeping in mind that the space between the each rung is 3.5 cm. Materials: - wood - cylinder-shaped rods, diameter 0.5 cm; total length: 26 cm - square, 1 cm x 1 cm; total length: 40 cm - saw - sandpaper - ruler - pencil - drill - hammer - glue (optional; MUST be non-toxic) Procedure: 1. Cut the square, 1 cm x 1 cm piece of wood into two pieces, both 20 cm long. These will be the sides of your ladder. 2. To make the rungs, cut the cylinder rod of wood into 4 pieces, each 6.5 cm long. 3. Lightly sand the edges of the cylinders and ladder sides to remove rough areas and sharp splinters. 4. Take ONE side of the ladder (1 cm x 1 cm). Using a drill bit slightly smaller than 0.5 cm, drill 4 holes every 3.5 cm, in the middle of the piece of wood width-wise, starting 3.5 cm from one end. You should now have 4 holes, with a 3.5 cm space between each. 5. Take the rungs and insert each one into a separate hole; since the holes were drilled slightly small, tap the rungs into place with a hammer. The rungs should be tapped in all the way. When they are all in place, turn the piece of wood on its side so that the rungs are pointing downwards. If any fall out, you'll need to use glue to hold them in place. 6. Repeat step 4 with the other side of the ladder. 7. You're now ready to put your ladder together. Take the two sides and match up the holes with the rungs; you may have to rotate one side to make them fit. Then, tap the rungs into the holes using a hammer. The rungs should be tapped in all the way. Once again, if any are loose, use a bit of glue to hold them together. Your ladder is now finished. It will be strong enough to support your hamster's weight, and should not come apart. Lean it up against a platform inside the cage so your hamster can reach it more easily! Rope Ladder This ladder follows the basic procedure of the wooden-rung ladder. However, because this ladder contains ropes, your hamster will find it more fun if the ladder were wider, so it has more room to swing; the width of this ladder will be 12 cm. Materials: - wood - square, 1 cm x 1 cm; total length:40 cm - cylinder-shaped rods, diameter 0.5 cm; total length: 24 cm - rope - approximately 1 cm in diameter, preferably made out of organic materials such as hemp; total length: 80 cm - saw - sandpaper - ruler - pencil - drill - hammer Procedure: 1. Follow step 1 of the wooden-rung ladder. 2. Cut the cylinder rod of wood into 2 pieces, each 12 cm long; these pieces will hold the 2 sides of the ladder apart. 3. Follow step 3 of the wooden-rung ladder. 4. Follow step 4 of the wooden-rung ladder. 5. Now, with the same side of wood, drill two more holes using a drill bit slightly smaller than 0.5 cm, each hole 1 cm from either end. 6. Insert the two pieces of cylinder rod into the two holes you have JUST drilled; since the holes were drilled slightly small, tap the pieces into place with a hammer. They should be tapped in all the way. When they are in place, turn the piece of wood on its side so that the cylinder rods are pointing downwards. If any fall out, you'll need to use glue to hold them in place. 7. Repeat step 4 and 5 with the other side of the ladder. 8. Take the two sides and match up the holes with the two cylinder rods; you may have to rotate one side to make them fit. Then, tap the rods into the holes using a hammer. The rods should be tapped in all the way. Once again, if any are loose, use a bit of glue to hold them together. 9. Now cut the rope into 4 pieces, each 20 cm long. 10. Take one piece of rope and tie a knot at one end, at least a centimetre from the end of the rope. 11. Insert this piece through two holes that are facing each other, on opposite sides of the ladder. Adjust the tautness of the rope to your taste before tying a knot at the other end (your hamster will find it more fun if they are slightly loose). Cut off any excess rope. 12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 with the other pieces of rope. Your ladder is complete. Eventually, you may have to replace the ropes if they get too worn out or become untied. |
| Ladders |
| Wooden-Rung Ladder Rope Ladder |
| Cage Lock Hamster Houses Ladders Ramps Rope Walkway Swinging Platform or Tube Tube Food Dispenser Wheel Covering Food String |
 |
 |
 |