Fit Cement Mixing Bin Using Hair Dryer Into Critter Nation Cage

Critter Nation (CN) cages are popular for small pets (e.g., fancy rats, chinchillas, etc.). A common problem with this cage is the lack of scatter guards. Specifically, the trays that come with the cage are flat, so they don't provide any protection along the sides of the cage. Thus, bedding, etc., easily falls/flies out the sides of the cage.)

One approach to address this is to purchase a cement mixing bin from a hardware store, which has high sides, to replace the bottom pan.

Common problem: The cement mixing bin tends to be just a bit too big (long) to fit in the cage easily.

Solutions found via Google searches included removing the sides of the cage, placing the bin in, then replacing the sides of the cage around the bin. While this can be a good hack, it's not easy, and the process needs to be repeated any time the bin needs to removed/put back in. Another approach is to cut the edges of the bin using a heated retractable utility knife. While this could also be a good hack -- it's also not easy. I'd find it difficult to cut straight lines across a hard curved plastic edge, and would probably cut myself in the process.

NEW EASIER (hopefully) solution detailed in this Instructable:

Summary: Use a hairdryer and clamps to squish (bend) one edge a bit narrower, so the bin fits the cage perfectly:

1. Put a small hand-turned clamp on the edge, on the side of the bin that needs to be shortened.
2. I chose the edge of the bin that comes with the hole in it to be the side to bend/squish.
3. Use a hairdryer to heat the edge around the clamp.
4. (Best if someone else helps with heating the edge with the hairdryer, so you can do step #3 while the edge is still being heated).
5. Hand-turn the clamp to squish the heated edge so it folds closer to the bin. (Not too far: Squish it only until the bottom edge is about 1" from the side of the bin).
6. Let it cool in this more folded position with the hand-turned clamp on, then use another clamp to hold it in this position as you move down the edge.
7. Repeat the process across the edge in about 3" to 4" increments.
8. As you get closer to the corner the clamp may slip a bit more due to the angles, but you don't need to get too far into the corner.
9. After you complete squishing one edge to be narrower, place the bin in the CN cage. (Put it in with the squished-edge side tilted up. As this squished side's lip is now more curled under, this side should slide down easily, without getting caught on the cage bars).
10. Optional: If the bottom lip sticks out at the corners, and this makes it more difficult to slide in the bin, or just bothers you, cut off these sticking-out pieces with strong shears.

You are likely seeking to make this fix if you already have (or plan to get):

1. Critter Nation cage (by MidWest Homes for Pets)
2. Large-size cement mixing tub (in this example: 20.9 gallon PVC mixing tub from Home Depot).

Additional items needed:

1. Hair dryer (I used a cheap 1875 Watt basic hair dryer).
2. Clamps
3. At least one hand-turned clamp: I used an old one I had around to do the 'squishing' [the light blue one]. This was the most essential clamp, and I recommend using a hand-turned clamp so you can feel the resistance/give of the tub as it is heated (which you wouldn't feel with a spring or ratchet clamp).
4. I don't see any similar style clamps on hardware store websites, but I assume most small 2" or 3" C-clamps would work for this. (Guessing a 2" C-clamp might work best, as it might stay on the bin's edge more easily than a heavier 3" C-clamp.)
5. I also used several small spring-clamps and a ratcheting hand-clamp to hold the squished part in place once it cooled. I'm not sure if these clamps were actually necessary, but it gave me peace-of-mind that the edge I just completed would not come unfolded as I moved onto the next section.)
6. (Optional): Strong shears: If you want to trim the part of the bottom lip that sticks out a tiny bit at the end.

CAUTIONS!!

Heating plastic may give off fumes or cause burns. Do this outside or in a very well ventilated area, and with an adult.

• While we didn't notice any plastic fumes during our process, we did this in an open garage, and the smell of our hot hairdryer giving off a burning dust smell (since we haven't used it in a while) may have masked any plastic fumes.

Also: DO NOT squish the edges too much, or the bin will become smaller than the CN cage frame, and your small animals could get stuck between the bin and the CN cage frame.

• Only one side needs to be squished, and only by a small amount.

1. Pick which edge to squish (bend).
2. I chose to squish the edge of the bin that comes with a hole in it, figuring the area near the hole has less plastic, and may be the easiest place to start the process.
3. Put a small hand-turned clamp on the edge, and get it snug.
4. I put the crank on the outside edge of the tub (instead of towards the inside).
5. The crank may scuff the plastic as it turns, so I'd rather scuff the outside edge.
6. Get the clamp snug, so it stays, but don't turn the crank too much after you feel resistance (Turning too much will make the clamp start to scrape away the plastic or push into it, and you don't want the clamp to go through the edge, or break the edge!).

1. Use a hairdryer to heat the edge of the plastic bin that is near the clamp.
2. Hold the hairdryer about an inch or two away from the edge of the bin, and wave it back and forth, heating a couple inches of the plastic on both sides of the clamp. (I heated for about 15-25 seconds, but may depend on the heat of your hairdryer).
3. It helps if someone else helps with heating the edge with the hairdryer, so you can complete step #3 while the edge is still being heated.

(Optional: Other clamps can be put snugly on other areas of the edge. This is probably not necessary, but since I had additional clamps, I put them along the edge to prevent other parts of the edge to accidentally push out when I squished one section in.)

1. Turn the hand-turned clamp to slightly squish the heated edge while still heating with the hair dryer. The edge should bend closer to the bin fairly easily.
2. Only tighten if you feel the plastic move fairly easily, and stop turning when you feel resistance again.
3. Don't squish it too far: You have bent it to the right place when the bottom edge is about 1" away from the underside of the bin. (Don't squish too much or there may be a gap between the bin and the cage that your pet could get stuck in).

1. Let this section cool in the slightly squished position with the clamp on.
2. Wait a few minutes to let the plastic and the clamp cool with the original clamp on.
3. This 'waiting to let it cool' time was the most time consuming part of this process. (We had music on to help the time pass.)
4. Note: If you have more than one hand-turned clamp, you could possibly squish the next section without waiting for the previous section to cool.

1. You can place a spring or ratchet clamp to maintain the squished plastic in it's new more bent position, while moving the hand-turned clamp about 3" to 4" further down the edge.
2. Repeat the hand-turned clamp/heat/squish/cool process in this next position.
3. Continue to repeat across the edge in these 3" to 4" increments.
4. As you get closer to the corner the clamp may slip a bit more due to the curve inside the bin.
5. You only need to go as far as the inside corner shown in the photo (don't turn the corner - in other words, don't squish the outside corner. You want the corner square like the cage. If it ends up sticking out a bit on the side, wait to see how it fits in the cage first, then cut off parts that stick out in Step #7 if needed).

NOTE: Only one side of the bin needs to be squished (I did the side that comes with a hole in it). Once this side is done, it should fit easily in the CN cage.

DO NOT squish ALL the edges around the bin, or the bin will become smaller than the CN cage frame, and your small animals may get stuck between the bin and the CN cage frame!

1. After you complete squishing one edge to be narrower, place the bin in the CN cage.
2. Put it in with the squished-edge side tilted up.
3. As this squished side's lip is now more curled under, you should be able to slide this side down easily, without getting caught on the cage bars.

1. Optional: If the thin bottom lip sticks out near the corners of the cage, and this makes it more difficult to slide the bin into the cage (or just bothers you), cut off these thin sticking-out pieces with strong shears. (Maybe mark the sticking-out part with a pencil or metallic marker to get better precision on your cut than I did).
2. Be careful not to pinch yourself in the handle of the shears when they quickly come together as you do the snip... (and don't cut off too much).

Feel free to put a comment below. Let others know what worked (and what didn't work) for you... Edits or questions for this Instructable are also welcome.