Bunny Hay Dispenser and Toilet Combination

In this instructable we will make a bunny hay dispenser / toilet combination. Considering our free-roaming (within the house) rabbits like to use the toilet at their hay feeder, a combination unit makes sense. Our bunnies have loved it so far, and we think it looks very cute.

Components:

• 10 corner brackets
• A plastic box, in our case 40*34.5*16.8 cm.
• About 1.5 m2 of plywood
• 40 screws, less long than the plywood is thick
• Some varnish (optional)
• Some wood glue (for roof piece, optional)

Tools:

• A jigsaw (handsaw will work)
• A CnC router, at least 40x20 cm work surface and a 3.175 mm square end mill. You can do the rabbit faces with a jigsaw and a drill, but not the names.
• Some clamps
• A carpenters square
• A ruler
• An electric screwdriver
• Sanding paper

The dispenser shown is made out of 8.9mm thick plywood. Wood dimensions required are:

• 1x 40 x 20 cm
• 2x 40 x 16 cm
• 1x 40 x 45 cm
• 2x side component (dimensions in figure)
• 1x 45 x 19cm (roof piece, optional)
• 1x 38 x 2 cm (roof piece, optional)

If you want to make a different size dispenser, you will need different dimensions on these cuts.

First, sketch out all dimensions as accurately as possible using the ruler and carpenters square. Small errors add up, so sketch from a straight edge. Measure twice, cut once.

Second, measure the offset between your sawblade and guide on your jigsaw (see figure, indicated by X). For me, this is 35 mm. Sketch a dashed offset line parallel to the cut line at the offset of your jigsaw. If you are using a hand saw, you can skip this step.

Along the dashed line of a cut, clamp down a staight piece of material (a piece of lumber in the picture). In the picture, the distance X is given again to indicate the orientation between the cut line and the dashed line. Make sure the workpiece is clamped down firmly and the workpiece is overhanging (so you won't cut into anything under your cut line).

Then, cut the work piece along the cut line, using the straight piece of material as a cutting guide, so you will cut a straight line.

Using this approach, cut out all the pieces indicated in the sketching step.

Using a CnC router, cut out the bunny heads and engrave the desired name(s) in the 40x20 piece of plywood. For expanded instructions on using a CnC router, you can check out other guides on instructables. A .dxf of the bunny heads is attached and shown in the Fusion 360 screenshot. The bunny heads are carved out using a 2D contour toolpath and the names using an engraving toolpath, both executed using a 3.175 mm square end mill.

Using the square corner brackets and screws, assemble the hay dispenser. The dispenser consists of the two side panels, with each other panel between it. The 40x45cm piece fits at the back (highest point), one of the 16x40 pieces at the far front, and the middle panel consists of a 16x40 and the CnC'd 20x40 piece (see picture). Each piece is mounted using the square mounting brackets and screws. In the case of this assembly, no short enough screws were available so wooden spacers were used to make sure the screws would not stick out of the assembly (see picture). The back panel is mounted using two square brackets, and the rest with one.

For the optional roof piece, glue the 38x2 piece to the back of the 45x19 piece, such that the 45x19 piece does not slide of the angled top of the dispenser (see picture). Make sure the gluejob is square, or the roof will sit at an angle.

You can choose to varnish the dispenser, but carefully consider the varnish in this case as your rabbits might chew away at their new furniture.

Fill the dispenser with some hay, the plastic container with some bunny-safe absorbent material, and introduce your bunnies to their new area!