DIY Sliding Screen Doors

by chiroptera Wed 09 May 2018, 8:26 pm

Hello again, PMF! I wanted to start off my return to the forum with a DIY guide. I personally find it easier to use written instructions than a video alone, so I'm going to make a step-by-step guide. Note that I did not come up with this idea; I'm using the sliding door design from Curtis Lasane, as seen in these two videos:

To start out, you will need:

An adjustable window screen (here or here), sized to fit the front of your bin cage
Non-toxic glue (I prefer hot glue)
Painter's stick (here or any hardware store)
Wire mesh (1/4" or smaller)
Zip ties
Mounting tape
X-acto/utility knife
Wire cutters
Duct tape (optional)
Non-toxic black paint (optional)
Staple gun (optional)

Step 1. Create the doorway

First, you'll need to make (or modify) the doorway to your bin cage. If you don't already have a "window" on the front of your bin, you'll need to use your utility knife (or hotknife, jigsaw, etc.; whatever you use to cut into your bins) to make a rectangular opening that is slightly smaller than the size of your screen. If it's already been cut, you just need to remove the wire mesh that is already there and remove any tape/zip ties/etc. that were holding it there, so that the front of the bin is as clear as possible.

Step 2. Prepare the screen

First, decide which way you want your door to open; this will determine which way you'll glue on your screen. Then, take the paint mixer, and cut off the end so that it's the same length as the wooden part of the screen. Using your non-toxic glue, glue the stick to the metal side of the screen so that both vertical ends of the screen are wooden. This will later be glued onto the bin, so try to make it as even as possible.
Cut out the mesh from the window screen entirely, taking care to remove any pointy bits of mesh that might hurt your mice (or yourself).

Note: If your mice are not strong chewers or their bin is located somewhere with no chance of escaping, you may opt to leave the screen on, and only cut a hole through the back part of the mesh. However, they will be able to chew through the thin mesh, so I recommend replacing it with wire.

Step 3. Replace the mesh

You'll want to measure out your wire mesh so that it fits over the frame of the screen completely, leaving no gap between the wire and either wooden plank. Rodents will find the smallest spaces they can to squeeze out of, so make sure that the wire mesh overlaps the planks on both ends.
Optionally, you may paint over your wire mesh with non-toxic black paint; it makes it a bit easier to see inside through the screen.
Put your mounting tape along the external horizontal bars (not the side that will be pressed against the bin). Use the tape to attach your mesh to the frame. I had some trouble getting the wire to stick to the tape, so I weighed it down with heavy objects while I secured the other ends.
Zip tie the wire mesh tightly to the vertical metal part of the door. Remember that the wire should extend past this bar so that it is overlapping (but not attached to) the wooden end of the frame.
If you have access to a staple gun, you can use it to staple the mesh to the wooden vertical bar. If not, I used zip ties around the entire plank to tightly secure the mesh, and reinforced it with hot glue.
Similarly, go over the horizontal bars/mounting tape with your glue. Again, I weighed it down with heavy objects to make sure it would stick to the mesh.
I used duct tape to further reinforce the horizontal bars, as I had some issues with the bar on the top coming free from the tape/glue. If your mesh is sturdy, this is optional.

Step 3. Attaching the door to the cage

Once you have the screen attached and secured, attaching it to the bin just requires hot glue. You should have the original wooden plank from the frame of the screen on one side, and the improvised plank from the paint mixer on the other. Simply hot glue both pieces of wood, and quickly attach them to the bin over the door you cut out. It may be easier to glue one side at a time, so that you can make sure that the screen is laid on straight.

And there you have it: a sliding door for your bin that's chew-proof. It's very nice for taming, interacting with them, and spot-cleaning, and allows easy, safe access to your pets. Smile

And here is the finished product!:

Sorry for not adding progress pictures, I didn't take them when I was fixing the screen. May edit this later with pictures, but no promises. The videos I linked should give a good visual reference, though!

by CallaLily Wed 09 May 2018, 9:14 pm

Nice update to this idea of his! I had seen the first video some time ago and wondered how long it would hold for his mice. They absolutely can and will chew through window screening very very easily. Adding the hardware cloth would be a must in my opinion. Smile

by chiroptera Wed 09 May 2018, 10:04 pm

CallaLily wrote:Nice update to this idea of his! I had seen the first video some time ago and wondered how long it would hold for his mice. They absolutely can and will chew through window screening very very easily. Adding the hardware cloth would be a must in my opinion.

Yeah, it's a slight bit more work but well worth it! A wild mouse chewed INTO Pumpkin's bin (he now just has a regular mesh window, might re-do his door when I have some more money lol), and then the girls started to chew through theirs, so I was planning on attempting this before I saw his second video, but found that he'd already updated it, which was convenient. his hammy chewed right through the screen too Razz

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DIY Sliding Screen Doors