How can I build a metal box?

Question

I want to build a metal nesting box for my cockatiels, how could I do this? What kind of metal do I need and what sort of tools?

Answer 1

buy a ready made wooden box

Answer 2

I own a male umbrella cockatoo. I read one day that these birds live in the cliffs. They dig out caves and sleep in them. I had always thought they were content sleeping on a branch. I began looking through my stuff and ran across an old speaker cabinet. It had one big hole and 2 smaller one. I hung it above his cage which I normally leave open. He took to it with in minutes. with in an hour he was running in one hole and out the others. His was absolutely thrilled and now spend most of his down time inside the speaker cabinet.

Your cockatiels are smaller are smaller but there are 2. I highly recommend a speaker cabinet. You can go to a goodwill or salvation army store if you don't have one. they are extremely sturdy.

If you are stuck on metal, I would get a roll of roof flashing. It is well galvanized against rust. Roll it out and draw a line every 6 0r 8 inches. until you have marked off equal sections. Now mark off a section that is 1 inch longer than the others and a 5 & 6th that are 2 inches longer. Place the first line directly on the edge of a sturdy piece of wood. Place another piece of wood on top of the line and so it is in alignment with the wood on the bottom. Clamp or screw the pieces of wood together but don't screw through the metal.

Using a block of wood and hammer., Knock down the side that is outside of your clamped wooden supports until you have created a corner and move on to the next line on the metal. when you get to the fourth. 1 inch longer piece. Make a bend 1 inch in from the end and cut off at this line. You should now have 4 equal size sides plus 1 - 1 inch flap to wrap around and secure to the first side.

Now take the 5th and 6yh pieces and cut them loose from the roll. Make a bend 1 inch in from the each of the cut edges. These last two pieces will close off the two open sides. Cut a door way.

Answer 3

If you still really want to build a metal box still, it is not hard to do. You can get galvanized sheet metal in the duct aisle at Home Depot, or sheet steel and aluminum too. Then cut to size or use the ready made sizes they have, and join together with aluminum corner angle stock put together with pop rivets.

Answer 4

They are both right. The fact of the matter is that while building a box can be satisfying, you can probably get one that's twice as nice for half the price on the internet. There are people and companies that do nothing but.

Answer 5

ScreamingRadical is right... a metal box is a bad idea for a number of reasons (rust, heat absorption, condensation,etc.) Wood or plastic is a much better solution.

Answer 6

Unless you can weld (then why ask question) do not even think about it! Fasteners would be a possible source of egg breakage.