9 replies to this topic

[Zula]

Thanks LBD for the amazing idea!

This thread will be dedicated to the process of my PAX conversion that should be happening early spring. It will be for a Syrian who I am currently on a waiting list for that should be coming home April/May time next year. I’m hoping I can use this to help others as well as myself, show the process as it goes along, bounce ideas back and forth, troubleshoot and generally document everything that goes on. I will try and share all the problems, what works, highs, lows and be as open about the process as possible as I know many people are interested in the PAX but are unsure about how to go about it.

If you haven’t already though, go and check out this amazing article written by misslily!

http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/166663-ikea-pax-101/


About my conversion:
-201x75x58cm Pax
-2336sq inches
-The base will be replaced with another sheet of melamine
-The front will be replaced with plexiglass
-There *should* be a folding lid
-It will go on top of an arrangement of IKEA Kallax units. Imagine them as boxes, it will be a 5x2x1 (LxWxH) grid arrangement.


Please feel free to leave any suggestions, tips, links or just your opinions, everything is greatly appreciated! There probably won’t be too many updates on here for a while, since it won’t be happening for a few months yet, but I thought I’d start it now in the planning stages


Edit: Plans have changed, and I will now be building the Platsa enclosure instead, sorry for any confusion.

Edited by Zula, 31 December 2021 - 02:56 AM.

[HamHamha]

Oh yay!!!! I was hoping you would do this as LBD suggested! I would love to build the PAX (tho I don’t rly have enough space and it’s totally unrealistic..)

Good luck!!

[Zula]

Hi!

I built a 10x smaller to scale model of my current plan for the pax. The ‘13”’ (I thought 33cm was 12” but apparently not, sorry!) wheel is to envision it better. The three strips of cardboard at the back represent wooden planks to cover the holes, in case the ham is a chewer.

Also, I was thinking of attaching the plexiglass using aluminium U-channels? Plüschraupe on Instagram has a story showing how she attached hers, which was where I got the idea. Thoughts?

Spoiler

Edited by Zula, 05 November 2021 - 01:13 AM.

[ajuniceu~]

I don't have any answers but omigosh you're so good at working with these little crafts and you're so exact!

I wish I had the patience to do that haha!

[Zula]

Update:

Spoiler

After months of researching, planning and preparation, unfortunately the PAX is now out of the picture. I had measured and planned, built to scale models (on computers, in the room it would have been in, and out of cardboard + wood) though it seems my measurements were somehow off by a few millimetres, despite measuring what seems like a million times. Meaning it is ever so slightly too long. Also, with all the modifications required for my parents to be happy enough with it (eg. Replacing back, clear front, folding roof, making it “not too complex”) the costs were adding up and up. And while I would have had sufficient money from saving and selling things, it would have been very tight.

However… it’s not all bad news. Despite now sadly not being able to build the pax (maybe one day though??) I will *hopefully* be building the Platsa instead. It will be the 180 x 60cm one with a Värd glass door for the front. It will be around 1500sq inch (I’ll be using one of the sides as the base so it will only be 55cm wide) which is annoyingly around 700sq in smaller than what the PAX would have been, but it’s still a decent size for my future syrian. Additionally, since the overall costs will be lower it will allow for a larger amount to be spent on more items for inside the enclosure.

It’s really frustrating now not being able to build the PAX especially I’ve been planning since back in March/April time, but I’m glad I can still build the Platsa instead. I’m really sorry, since I know many people have been looking forward to and we’re eager to see how mine turned out, however if you haven’t already, I would check out quirkyhamhams thread, since they are going to be buiding the PAX with many of the same modifications I would have done

http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/171835-ikea-pax-prep-journey/

I would just like to thank everyone who has me up until this point, some of you have given me such helpful information, personal experiences and have just generally been really useful. So thank you!!

One question though, would you like me to still document my experiences with the Platsa, if so should I just continue it here, or begin another thread??

Edited by Zula, 30 December 2021 - 08:49 PM.

[Lils]

Argh, I can understand your frustration, that must be so annoying.

 

I’m glad that you're going to be building the Platsa, however. Am I right in saying the Platsa was one of the cages I suggested to you before?  

 

It would be wonderful to see a thread dedicated to building the Platsa! I’ve always found it a very interesting cage, it’s very rarely used in the hamster community as well, so it would be interesting to see how it turns out!

 

Aww, don’t feel bad! You had no idea this was going to happen, besides, it’s a pleasure helping you. You’ve also helped me gain knowledge on the PAX, which I otherwise would never have known unless you asked those questions! <3 

 

Spoiler

If you are looking for any links or help on the Platsa, here is a link to an article which briefly discusses the Platsa cage and dimensions.

Edited by ~lilly~, 15 March 2022 - 09:45 PM.

[Brownie~s♥️buddy]

Update:

One question though, would you like me to still document my experiences with the Platsa, if so should I just continue it here, or begin another thread??

 

I would definitely keep it in this thread, simply so that others in the future can see that a change in plans does not equal doomed failure ;)  And we'll also have the "whole" story

[Zula]

Argh, I can understand your frustration, that must be so annoying. [/size]

I’m glad that you're going to be building the Platsa, however. Am I right in saying the Platsa was one of the cages I suggested to you before? [/size]

It would be wonderful to see a thread dedicated to building the Platsa! I’ve always found it a very interesting cage, it’s very rarely used in the hamster community as well, so it would be interesting to see how it turns out! [/size]

Aww, don’t feel bad! You had no idea this was going to happen, besides, it’s a pleasure helping you. You’ve also helped me gain knowledge on the PAX, which I otherwise would never have known unless you asked those questions! <3 [/size]

Spoiler

If you are looking for any links or help on the Platsa, here is a [/size]link[/size] to an article which briefly discusses the Platsa cage and dimensions.

[/size]

You may well have suggested it to me, I’d have to check the PM?

It is such a shame I can’t build the PAX anymore, I would have so loved to have one, but my room is square, and even though it is only too big by a few millimetres (it would scrape my bed and the wall when opening otherwise) it does mean it’s not doable. I really don’t know how I missed that when measuring all the previous times? And to be honest, it would be significantly more time consuming and expensive. While personally I don’t mind that, earning money as a minor is a little harder, and I would have to have my parents’ complete approval, and there were some parts they weren’t ovally happy with. Luckily they seem 100% on board with the Platsa.

I have also enjoyed learning all about it, melamine safety, woodwork, building enclosures, more in depth German hamster care and everything like that during the process. So, not all has been lost, and it will all be useful for when it comes to building the enclosure.

I think it will be finished sooner than the PAX. I plan to start building in February after my birthday. However, we are on a waiting list for a hamster April/May time. Meaning there might be quite a wait inbetween. That being said, the breeder’s actual waiting list was only 3-4 months long when we joined back in October, we just asked to be put down for April/May, and they are going to contact us in February/March to check in on the building and confirm we are still able to adopt. So, perhaps a new ham may come a little earlier?

Thanks for all your support Lilly! <3

I would definitely keep it in this thread, simply so that others in the future can see that a change in plans does not equal doomed failure ;) And we'll also have the "whole" story

I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s so true, not everything will go to plan. I’ll continue on here, thank you!

Edited by Zula, 31 December 2021 - 03:12 AM.

[Zula]

I have a couple of questions surrounding things for the Platsa.

1. I am looking for cabinets/tables for it go on as ideally I need to keep the storage underneath. However, many of the tables have quite low maximum loads. Two of the 90x55x45cm lack tables would fit exactly, but each table only has a maximum load of 20kg. And with perhaps 10-15kg of bedding (?) and 35kg roughly for the finished enclosure, that is already over the maximum load without any of the accessories.

Does anyone know of any short tables/cabinets/drawers etc that it could go on preferably under £70 and below 45cm in height?

2. I am very happy to build a lid like you would normally, but my parents suggested removing the glass from a Värd door and attaching the mesh where the glass would have been. I can just see that going very wrong, but then I don’t how quite how the glass is secured and whether it could actually be possible. Opinions?

Thanks for your help

[Zula]

Updates:

Spoiler

The plan for the platsa has finally started to become more finalised. It is still the 1600sq in one, but there have been some changes. I will be using one of the 55x180cm sides for the base, with the two shorter sides still attached as they would be if it it were a wardrobe. The front is still the Värd glass door, however the back is going to be a Fonnes door to allow it to be 60cm tall like the rest of the sides, instead of 55cm as the spare platsa side would be. (Hopefully that makes sense)

Then the lids will be built from canvas stretcher bars (wooden canvas frame). It costs the same amount as if I were to build them from scratch and it has the bonus of almost no assembly required while still being very solid.

The enclosure is now going to be sat on top of 2 Småstad benches. One with storage, one without. The idea being I can use the space under the one without the the storage as extra playpen space since I’m also going to have a permanent playpen with about 3000sq in more or less.

I shall be going to Ikea this Sunday to collect the pieces needed. Then, the following weekend (5th/6th I believe) assembly will begin.