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Post by moonlight7wolf on May 29, 2015 7:18:49 GMT -8
Hi, I was under the impression that pine toys were okay because they had less surface area.
Anyways, I went to Home Depot and bought their 'common board' and built them a little hut out of it. I'm pretty sure that stuff is pine.
Now do you know if this is okay and safe? I tried to find out if it was kiln dried but couldn't seem to find information on the Home Depot common board.
So do you think these toys I've made are safe?
Do you know if the lumber at Home Depot is kiln dried?
If it's not kiln dried then would it be possible to kiln dry it myself even though I've already glued it together with Elmers glue already?
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Post by betty on May 29, 2015 7:45:56 GMT -8
Most shop-sold houses are pine in the UK at least - I have loads and the gerbils chew on them all the time www.amazon.co.uk/Superpet-100079175-Chin-Hut/dp/B0002AS5MI - so I think at least the wood itself is fine - however, I would imagine how it is treated is what is different - and that is what could be dangerous. It could have a stain or other chemicals on it or be conpacted wood with the wrong glue for animals. That is the only downside to non-pet products - they might be called the same but they could be made completely differently - be a completely different tree - and even the people selling them have a different concept of the word 'safe' when it comes to these things. And if it is the 'wrong' pine in the first place - kiln drying it yourself might not make much difference. I wouldn't want to comment on their wood - but if it is actual slices of a know species of pine tree and they say it is kiln dried, then you couldn't really do anything more could you? |
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Post by moonlight7wolf on Jun 2, 2015 18:53:24 GMT -8
Well the wood wasn't treated or stained or anything it was just a board of wood in Home Depot. And I glued the house together so I know the glue I used is safe.
But I guess I'm just worried now since I just assumed pine houses were okay, but are they only okay if they've been kiln dried?
Should I take it out of their habitat?
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2015 1:03:28 GMT -8
I don't want to comment on the safety of your wood as I don't really know where you find accurate toxicity reports for all the different types of pine, but if you wanted an actual answer you could contact these existing pine house making companies and ask them if their pine is kiln dried or not.
Alternately if you are still worried, you could stick with the well known gerbil mantra: if you're in doubt, take it out.
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Post by Lelouch on Jun 3, 2015 17:34:14 GMT -8
Hm, from what I know, on occasion you will get pieces of wood from Home Depot that have had a knot or some other deformity filled in with a mixture of sawdust and glue. I'm sure other vendors/distributors do the same thing.
And of course, I don't recommend using plywood/laminated wood, OSB, MDF, or particle board, as those all have glue in them.
Indeed there is the possibility of pesticides being in the wood. I've heard that some christmas trees were sprayed with certain chemicals which cause respiratory issues in humans!
I don't have a clue if the wood you have is kiln dried or not.
The drying process can cause wood to bend, bow, or split, but that is usually seen in long pieces. Drying wood out in normal ambient conditions can cause those too, so it isn't exactly a good indicator of kiln drying.
My gerbils have used pine huts for a long time, with no noticeable issues.
If you notice your gerbils getting a stuffy/runny nose (their mucus is a dark reddish brown color) then take the hut out.
-Ben
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Post by qtoffer on Jun 4, 2015 21:50:30 GMT -8
Home Depot common board is solid white pine. It simply has more knots that the premium white pine boards. It's kiln dried and gerbil safe. Just avoid knots and choose boards that don't have any sticky resin channels. I've made perches out of white pine scraps. Two generations of gerbils have been sitting and chewing on them for over six years.
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Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
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RIP
Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011
Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014
Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015
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Post by moonlight7wolf on Jun 8, 2015 20:38:48 GMT -8
Okay thanks! I was getting sad because I made some pretty sweet houses for my gerbils out of it and didn't want to have to take it all out. But I' would have if I knew for sure it wasn't safe. But I am glad to hear that it is safe after all  |
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Post by qtoffer on Jun 12, 2015 17:53:09 GMT -8
I make gerbil houses out of 1/2 inch thick aspen boards - available at Home Depot and Lowes. Very easy to cut with hand tools. I glue the pieces together with Elmers non-toxic white glue. They last about 4 years. My gerbils have enlarged the entry hole to the point that the house is almost cut in half - time to make another, I guess. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper -------------------------------------------------------------- RIP Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011 Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014 Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015 |
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