TOzie gave me instructions on how to build what she calls a "totem pole". so called because her macaw likes to sit at the top and resembles the top carving on a totem pole. IT actually looks more like a coat tree.. so I called it a bird tree.. Officially though, it is a Tozem pole because it is her idea and design.
she gave me a shopping list and I went to home depot and lowes for two HOURS getting the stuff I needed. :D
linoleum square
cement
center pole AKA the "mast" (untreated wood!) can be round like a closet pole or square like I chose.
stainless steel hardware
bucket, I have a smallish one, I have a smallish bird...if oyu are making it for a macaw,, go big! like BIG big.
caster wheels at least for inches, like for a desk chair or furniture
sandpaper
eye screws for toys
dowels of different sizes
clear silicone quick-dry caulk to seal the casters from the inside so when you pour the cement it does not seep out.
spray bottle of water
string or rope to use as anchors for when the cement is drying so you can hold the pole (mast) upright
drill
level (two if you can)
cutting blade for linoleum
the plaaaaaaaaaaans
the linoleum, choose the smoothest they have w/no nooks and crannies -easier to wipe off
da bucket.
measuring out where to cut so you can slide the linoleum down once the bucket is affixed.
measure 3 times, cut once
this is how it will look in place
wheels
drilling holes for the wheels
in go the wheels
and we are rolling along
view of the inside, see the extra holes? big oopsie on my part. they shuld have been more centrally located, and I had to redrill. thank goodness for caulk.
caulking wheels. I did all this outside, I might add..fumes, sanding dust, cement dust, etc.. not good for indoors. :silence:
hubby made me a mater sammich for lunch. it was so sweet of him he gets a nod here
sand EVERYTHING VERY WELL (mental picture of splinter in fiddie foot...sands more) it should feel like velvet.
this is the most nerve-racking part..once you pour you cannot go back.. i paced the room for 5 minutes before I m ixed it to psyche myself up. this stuff is really awesome, and not too much in a pkg.
checking to see if cross pieces are the right size.
and we're off! secured the sides to the bucket for support, bigger boards will need more support
secured the level with a twistie so the mast cured plumb
one each side so it didn't go all TOwer of PIsa on me
almost dry, time to set the auspicious occasion in stone ;p
keep slightly moist while curing, i have this bottle set to mist. not stun. I repeat not stun.
dowels of differing sizes for good fiddie feet.
cut the dowels to your individual preference.
bouquet of dowels-now perches
drilling out each end, one deeper than ther other so it will be able to accomodate the long screw to secure it to the mast, and one for the toy loop.
perch going into mast
for the toys
perch one is done
VOILA!
now it needs toys!
5 foot tall person showing scale
YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
