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Post by Markpd on May 13, 2021 13:46:32 GMT -8
I'm in the UK for starters, for those who don't know  .
Just been Googling birch wood tunnel after seeing one on an old youtube video, but man are they thin on the ground! Most places seem to have run out  .
I've only found 3 so far, Hayexperts, barksandbunnies and ratrations. The 1st 2 are a decent price, but I suspect the internal diameter will be too small (I've emailed the 1st one), the ratrations one is quite large (although not too large) but also costs £22 +delivery! (I think). (Btw Ham-stake is in Poland not the UK despite the url!) There's nothing on ebay. I've found 1 ibaste one on Amazon £9 (free delivery), doesn't say internal diameter (I've just asked there).
Anyone know anywhere else I can get one?
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Post by betty on May 14, 2021 16:31:42 GMT -8
Silver birch?
I have some - but I can't for the life of me remember where I bought them?
Update:
The HayExpert/B&B one will be too small for running though for sure (but baby gerbils can do easily) but could be used supervised at first until you saw what they did with it. Your boys might be too big to even try to get in them?
The RatRations one is huge - but wow - that is quite a price tag! Do you know anyone with an auger?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 14, 2021 22:58:29 GMT -8
My birch logs are from Rodipet and Getzoo. Occasionally Getzoo items appear on UK Amazon so keep checking there.
I had the idea once to make some at home with a drill press but it seems it's not easy outside of an industrial factory. You can easily drill a very deep hole or a very wide hole, but both at the same time is more difficult. You can get very large drill bits, but they can cost into the hundreds, and then you need the power to operate them, as birch is a very hard wood. A handheld drill won't do it and even a normal drill press for a home workshop might not be enough.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 14, 2021 23:12:28 GMT -8
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Post by Markpd on May 15, 2021 9:28:43 GMT -8
I did see that one (but forgot to mention it), I think I discounted that one as it's quite short (11cm), but I hadn't realised there is a longer one (16.5cm). The short one is quite poor value for money, but the longer one is better in both value and size, thanks for bringing that one back to my attention  . They don't say what the internal diameter is (only length, width and side hole size), although looking at the photos it seems the tunnel hole is bigger than the side hole, so that'll be fine . Rodipet and Getzoo are out of stock. What's with the Birch shortage?? Btw, re DIYing it, I thought about that too, and yea getting a hole cutter that size and being able to do that depth is going to be neigh on impossible for us I think. However another option is to use a 'regular' large and long drill bit and make multiple small holes to bore out 1 big hole (to cut the core out), with a deep pillar drill that will be feasible, not sure about a hand drill though as it would be difficult (at best) to drill straight! betty Ah ok that's a pity about the smaller ones, I have a feeling they're about the same size as the pine one I have which is small for them to get through (~4cm), so I don't want to repeat that mistake. Yea the big one is quite a lot more, I see that getzoo do an identical one (out of stock) for practically the same price, so maybe that's just how much they are? No idea what an auger is ,....... ah right, hole boring drill bits, wiki reckons the max size is 3cm though. ****** So the question is, do I want a 16cm (maybe 2?) or 35cm long one? Hmm...... |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 15, 2021 10:20:47 GMT -8
I don't know if there's a birch shortage but sea and air freight prices have doubled or tripled recently for various reasons which means a lot of non-essential things normally sourced from Asia just aren't economical to import to Europe right now. I don't know if birch is sourced from Asia but possibly? The 35cm one from Getzoo looks huge. It has an 18cm opening! It's nice but not sure it's worth nearly £30 (plus delivery is about £12. I have the 23cm one from Getzoo and it's nice because the gerbils can hide in it properly. This is the 23cm tunnel which belongs to Rocket and Storm right now:  |
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Post by Markpd on May 15, 2021 13:31:34 GMT -8
Ah I wasn't looking at the getzoo 35cm one but the ratrations one, it has an internal diameter of 9 cm (would be enough room for both of them to go through at the same time ). And like you said, delivery from abroad adds quite a lot. Looking at your photo, 23cm is just enough to hide themselves, including the tail . |
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Post by betty on May 15, 2021 16:23:04 GMT -8
That looks great modelled by Rocket and Storm. I have never seen these birch items so big!
I totally forgot about a birch feeder trough I have too - I got it free from someone and totally forgot about it - but have no idea how you would search for it?
It is about the size of that but is totally hollowed out from one side - like a giant letter box. Let me see if I can find them online as this would be easier to open up the end on with a smaller drill.
And I only said auger as I had it in my head that they were industrial sized - but perhaps not then?
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Post by betty on May 15, 2021 16:38:00 GMT -8
I can't find my trough yet - but these came up - I haven't looked in detail - but hopefully some of these types or styles are good alternatives? Birch Log - Bird HouseThere is even a video I found on how to make your own similar thing - no need for an auger - just a saw? Awesome. Make Your Own |
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Post by Markpd on May 17, 2021 11:16:03 GMT -8
After realising the rat rations log's outer diameter was rather large too, I went for the amazon-futuretime one, or rather 2 of them as they're a bit short . |
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Post by Scott on May 20, 2021 15:21:42 GMT -8
I can't find my trough yet - but these came up - I haven't looked in detail - but hopefully some of these types or styles are good alternatives? Birch Log - Bird HouseThere is even a video I found on how to make your own similar thing - no need for an auger - just a saw? Awesome. Make Your OwnThe way that guy uses his band saw, I'm waiting for his next video: woodworking without thumbs. |
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Post by Markpd on May 21, 2021 10:26:51 GMT -8
Lol, ..... I hope you're not serious!  I haven't watched the whole thing. |
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Post by betty on May 21, 2021 14:39:24 GMT -8
Yes, it was rather a 'confident' use of equipment...
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), late 70s
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I haven't watched the whole thing.