Instructions and photos courtesy of Cindi (chinnie@onlink.net)
The following instructions were modified by Cindi from an original design found here:
http://chinmania.tripod.com/chin_wheels.html
Here is Cindi's description of how she made the wheel:
After buying all the parts I couldn't find a roller wheel anywhere. So I changed the plans and simplified them. I bought a used pair of roller blades from a thrift shop and used a wheel from the skate.
Click on image for larger view
I cut the bucket off, drilled the hole through the center and put a washer on the bolt and put it through the hole from the inside. I then put the skate wheel on the bolt from the outside bottom of the bucket. I put a nut on the bolt and threaded it down to secure it.
I put the bolt in my vise to hold it tight and took 4 drywall screws and drilled them through the bucket into the rubber on the skate making sure that they were evenly spaced and straight. I removed the bolt and cut away some of the plastic bucket from the inside of the hole, if you don't the wheel won't roll.
Click on image for larger view
I then took a grinder and cut the tips of the drywall screws off that went through the rubber wheel. I then put the washer, bolt and nut back through. Next I added two washers and a wing nut so I could secure it to the cage (The cage wire is in between the two washers).
Click on image for larger view
I sanded the edge of the bucket to remove any rough edges and used my dremel to cut ridges on the inside of the bucket so the ratties would have traction. It is important to make sure that the bucket is drilled in the center and that the screws are put in straight, this will ensure that the wheel rolls on center. It works great, is safer than a wire wheel, my rats love it and it was very cheap!
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