Learn how to Construct a Faux Tree for an Animal Enclosure

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In terms of designing animal enclosures, the effort and time put into it isn’t only for us people–it’s for the animals too! Wether you run a rehab or a sanctuary or are simply retaining an unique pet, well-designed enclosures are important for permitting animals to stay their greatest lives. If you’re something like me, you will have discovered yourselves questioning how zoos construct faux timber for adornment and enrichment of their enclosures. Effectively, after a number of analysis and hands-on coaching, I lastly have a solution–it’s largely wire and concrete! For the previous few months I’ve been engaged on constructing a big, animal-safe faux tree for my pet raccoon enclosure, and now I’ve a tutorial for how one can construct one too.

This tree was designed and constructed with pet raccoons in thoughts, however it will additionally work properly for different small animals that climb corresponding to opossums and grey foxes!

What You Want To Construct A Faux Tree

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Supplies

Please be aware that portions of supplies will very tremendously relying on the scale and form of what you’re constructing. Earlier than buying something, learn by means of your entire tutorial and use your greatest judgement.

Plywood
2x2s
Exterior Screws
10 Gauge Galvanized Wire
Zip Ties
Hog Rings
½ inch 16 Gauge Welded Wire Mesh
1/4th inch 23 gauge Welded Wire Mesh
Foam Pipe Insulation
Portland Cement
½ inch shredded fiberglass
Concrete Polymer Fluid (I used the one from SBC)
Concrete Clay
Latex Gloves
Yellow Rubber Gloves
Concrete Stain
Acrylic Paint
Wooden Stain
Concrete sealant
Concrete sealant spray
Dropcloth
40 grit Sanding pads
Staples for Stapler gun

Instruments

Drill
Noticed
Hog Ring Pliers
Heavy Responsibility Wire Cutters
Scissors
Stapler Gun
Handheld electrical sander
Rasps
Nook sanding block
Paint brushes
Paint curler
5 gallon buckets
Cement mixing attachment for drill
FIBERGLASS RESPIRATOR
SAFETY GOGGLES

I’m not joking round after I say you must use a fiberglass respirator and security goggles. These are a MUST.

Step 1: Design Your Tree

The very first thing you must do earlier than you get began is determine what you need your faux tree to appear to be. Get a pen and paper or a pill when you’ve got one and begin sketching. I might advocate doing a couple of sketches, simply to see what you want.

You additionally must consider how you’ll clear your tree, as a result of you’ll be constructing one thing for animals. With this in thoughts, it is very important at all times ensure you’ll be able to really get into the construction to wash it.

When designing your tree, you’re basically going to wish to make some form of picket construction after which construct an precise sculpture round it. Prioritize the construction first, and then give attention to the precise design. I discovered that constructing a half-circle bookshelf kind construction could be best for me, that means I solely needed to make half of a tree. You don’t even should make a tree, although, you may make something you need. Simply ensure it is possible for you to to get in there to sand and clear all of it.

Step 2: Construct Your Base Construction

Relying on what you’re creating, your base construction might look completely different. For simplicity’s sake, I’m simply going to go over how I made my very own. I had two items of plywood minimize after which had my dad screw them into the nook with exterior screws (I work with comfortable supplies, okay? I’m not a woodworker. Please don’t ask me to cope with wooden.)

Growth.

Then I measured the nook and drew the form for the piece I wanted utilizing a measuring tape and a pencil on a picket board. Actually the identical means I might do it if I have been stitching a circle skirt. Then, I had my dad minimize out the items.

We took some 2x2s, minimize them down, and screwed them into the plywood to make shelf bases. We put the picket pizza slices on prime of them and screwed these down.

Step 3: Stain The Wooden

Use waterproof wooden stain and sealant in a coloration of your selecting. Keep in mind, that is for raccoons, you’re gonna wish to seal it.

Step 4: Set up The Wire Rods

You’re gonna wish to take your 10 gauge wire and minimize a number of flooring to ceiling items. You might be additionally going to wish to minimize a number of items to go across the tree horizontally.

Drill holes within the ceiling and flooring the place you need your flooring to ceiling wire (however don’t go all over the ground or the ceiling. Do the identical within the partitions the place you need the horizontal wire.

Put the wire in and use zip ties to attach them. Use your staple gun to staple the rods to the facet of the plywood cabinets.

If you must, discover the locations you’ll need your entrances and minimize the wire away. However I’d simply advocate not making the entrances the place the wire is within the first place.

Step 5: Form the wire mesh round your rods

Use your wire cutters to begin slicing out sections of the 16 gauge wire mesh the horizontal size of no matter construction you’re constructing. Begin on the backside and use hog rings to attach them to the wire rods. Work upwards, putting and shaping extra sections of the wire mesh–proceed to make use of hog rings to attach them to the wire rods in addition to to one another. Use the staple gun to staple the wire to the ground and partitions.

Step 6: Make your entrances to the climbing construction.

Mark the place you wish to make your entrances on the wire with tape or one thing–or simply wing it like I did–after which use your wire cutters to chop them out. Use foam pipe insulation to wrap across the uncooked edges of the wire just like the photograph beneath.

Step 7: Use the 23 Gauge Wire Mesh To Element

That is the half the place you’re really going to begin sculpting with the wire. Use the thinner wire to chop strips, bending them in semi-circles or tubes to create offshoots and branches. Use hog-rings to attach them to the thicker wire.

Step 8: Combine Up Your Cement

USE A FIBERGLASS RESPIRATOR AND SAFETY GOGGLES

Now it’s time to create your cement mixer. For this half, you’ll want your bucket, Portland cement, concrete polymer fluid, fiberglass, and water.

The concrete polymer fluid and fiberglass will be sure that your construction is powerful and never brittle or straightforward to crack.

SERIOUSLY. USE A FIBERGLASS RESPIRATOR AND SAFETY GOGGLES.

That is going to be the toughest half as a result of I shouldn’t have precise ratios I can provide you, extra so “combine what you need till you are feeling it’s proper.” I began with a couple of gallon of cement, a gallon of polymer fluid, 1/eighth cup of shredded fiberglass, after which added water till I ultimately acquired it proper. It took a number of finagling although, and I at all times ended up including extra Portland cement. Ultimately you’re going to get it, although. Most likely.

IT HAS TO BE A RESPIRATOR FOR FIBERGLASS. BUY ONE AND USE IT.

Step 9: Pack the Combination Onto The Wire

I attempted to make use of a trowel, nevertheless it didn’t work, so I moved to packing it on with my fingers. If you happen to go this route like I did, ensure you put on two layers of gloves. Put on some latex gloves, after which over them the place some lined rubber gloves. Don’t press too laborious or it can fall by means of the mesh.

Additionally, you’re gonna wish to lay down a plastic drop material for this half, and possibly tape one to the partitions too. I didn’t and remorse it. However it’s what it’s, I suppose.

Step 10: Sculpt

Let the combination on the tree dry for about an hour after which begin sculpting. I used my fingers to scrape down the concrete combine with a view to make the bark. In case you have clay instruments, you should utilize these as properly, however I discovered my fingers labored simply positive.

Let it dry for a couple of days.

Step 11: Fill In The Holes

If there are any holes in your tree, combine up some concrete clay and fill them. Concrete clay can be good for including extra particulars. I used it to make a knot within the tree in addition to to carve my raccoons initials onto the tree.

That is the form of concrete clay I used.

Let that dry for a couple of days.

Step 12: Sand, Sand, Sand!

PUT ON YOUR FIBERGLASS RESPIRATOR AND SAFETY GOGGLES

after which seize your rasp to first break off any form of bizarre chunks hanging off the bark. Then, put some 40 grit sand paper in your palm sander and sand and sand and sand till you possibly can’t sand any extra. After which sand some extra. Keep in mind, we’re making this secure for residing animals, and fiberglass is a nightmare. I went by means of about 40 sanding pads. Sand inside and outdoors the tree. You may sand over any uncovered mesh on the within, it’s positive. Then, seize your angled sanding block and get within the crevices of the bark actually, very well. You’ll most likely undergo 15-20 sanding blocks. You may as well fold up tremendous low grit flooring sanding pads and use them to get in between the bark.

Step 13: Paint the Concrete

You may have concrete stain combined into any coloration you possibly can dream of. I’m portray a easy tree, so I simply acquired brown. Paint your tree with the stain and, whereas it’s nonetheless just a little moist, you possibly can seize acrylic paint and paint highlights and lowlights if you need.

Let that dry.

Step 14: Seal the Concrete

The final step of the faux tree development is to waterproof and seal the concrete. Simply use a paintbrush and brush it on. For the within of the tree, I made a decision to make use of spray can sealant as a result of I didn’t care that it had a “moist look” and admittedly my again was hurting and I needed to be achieved with it. Simply ensure you open a window and put on a paint respirator!

Step 15: Make Certain It Is Secure

Now that your faux tree is completed, you must ensure it’s secure. Once more, that is for stay animals, please ensure there aren’t any fumes within the room. Additionally, go forward and run your fingers over the whole lot to test for any fiberglass or sharp uncovered wire factors. Uncovered wire mesh such as you would discover in an enclosure is ok, however pointy bits aren’t.