Question about rodent bins

Since I've been busy rethinking our rodent caging a question has arose I'm hoping you handy sorts can help me and my blistered fingers with.

My current way to cut into these heavy plastic bins to install the wire mesh is to melt out the edges then jam a heavy pair of shears in and cut madly away. It's hell on my fingers *waves her currently bandaged hands up high*

I've tried just melting out the rectangle but with these new big rat bins....well I don't have enough brain cells left to chance that much melting plastic LOL (seriously I do melt plastic only near an open window but it's still stinky and takes forever).

So guys and gals, is there a tool out there that will either really quickly melt a cut line through plastic or slice through it efficiently and without ripping my poor hands to shreds? Some sort of power tool or whatever. I'm going to be doing a lot of new rat bins over the coming months and I'd like it to be a more efficient and less painful job.

If the lids are thinner plastic, you can use a box cutter. I've done that ALOT and it works really well. Some of the thicker sterilite lids, it can't cut through, but most of them it can.

It's a definite NO on the VE-175 christmas tree tubs, LOL! Took me 45 minutes to cut a 12x12 square in the lid with my soldering iron.

They do make little propane powered soldering irons, maybe try one of those.

These are a fairly heavy rubbermaid Becky but not quite as big as the Xmas boxes. Mike showed me up totally by grabbing his heavy duty work box cutter and slicing through that dang plastic like butter! After it took me most of an hour to snip, melt and curse my way through the other one. :oops:

One more loveshack (okay that's breeding tub for you boring folks LOL) to do and I'm done messing with rat tubs for the day! :banana:

I used serrated kitchen knives on mine. Sliced right through, but you have to be careful to control where it goes.
Then you have to clean the edges up a bit, scrape it with the knife.
I used drilled holes and zip ties to fasten my wire into place.
Hope it helps, and glad to see you found something that works!

Dremmel to works wonders and is very fast! Otherwise I'd go with a utility knife.

LOL Jo, I gave up after a couple tubs and just had BF & our neighbor build a rack!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

Dremmel to works wonders and is very fast! Otherwise I'd go with a utility knife.

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Oh thanks Heath, that was the name of that tool I couldn't remember! I looked at one at Home Depot the other day and was amazed at all the gadgets that one can buy to use with that thing. I'm thinking a good Xmas idea for Mike from the kids! :D

Definitely go with the Dremmel. They are the greatest for everything from sanding rough edges on pvc to cutting through metal. And the usefulness really makes up for the initial price. :) Otherwise, try to find a heavy duty utility knife rated for thick materials. I got mine (and the dremmel) at Lowes for fair prices.

The Dremel is a great idea. But just to throw one more idea into the fire, you can buy a soldering iron that has interchangeable tips, one of which holds an exacto knife blade. Heat that blade up, and you want to see a knife cut through plastic like butter????? I think I got mine either at Lowe's or Hobby Lobby, don't remember which.

Steve

Wow I've never heard of that Steve. Well there's another great idea! I'll be doing a lot of these new rat tub setups as I'm slowly changing everything over to this new tub design/size so anything that saves me time and blistered hands is golden! I'll have to go look for one of these today....thanks! :)