Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/32

 partition as In Illus. 20. The top strips are short at both ends to allow for the pen’s back and door. If a cross-tie (C.T.) is used as in Illus. 17, 18, 26, 31, 40, top strips are cut short enough to clear same when pen top is lowered into place.

A removable top furnishes unusual advantages in that the pen may be thoroughly inspected and repaired if necessary without tearing it apart. But with a removable top, some satisfactory means must be employed to hold the tops of ends (sides) and partitions in their proper place for doorways. One way is the drop nail (DN) shown in Illus. 13, 14, 20. The other is the cross-tie, a permanent strip built into the pens, which is the author’s preference. Both are completely described.

Drop Nail: A small hole is drilled down through the top into each end (side) and partition, and a nail is dropped into each hole. An 8d common nail (2½x⅛) or a 1¾-inch roofing nail require a 3/16 drill hole. A 5/32 drill hole takes an 8d box nail. An 8d nail may be cut to 2 inches length and serve its purpose as well.

Cross-Tie: A 1x2x19 (plus) board is installed as per Illus. 17, 18. Partition is sawed barely enough to permit cross-tie to fit into its top edge as in Illus. 40, and back from front no more than required for closing of the doors. Ends of the cross-tie are secured at same position inside front ends of sides, as per Illus. 19, the side frames not being sawed, but nailed or screwed, Illus. 18. One of the best ways of securing this joint is by use of an inside corner angle iron plate (Illus. 19), cheaply obtainable from any variety or hardware store. Install same with screws into both cross-tie and sides. Care must be exercised to cut cross-tie of such length that the tops and bottoms of door openings will be of the same widths. If one uses solid board sides for these pens, both partition and sides (ends) are sawed out the same as in Illus. 40, and the cross-tie is nailed into the sides same as into partition. Two reasons why the cross-tie is preferred over the drop nail: First, when the pen top is lifted off, the strength of the pen unit is not lessened, since the cross-tie gives sidewise support to the entire front. Second, the front edge of the cross-tie makes an ideal stop for the top of the door, which stop keeps adult animals from rattling the doors.

Doors: As per Illus. 14, wire doors are constructed of No. 2, 3 or 4 hdw. cl. installed on inner side of frames made of 1x1½x9 and 1x1½x10 wood. Frame corners are joined by use of small finishing nails or corrugated fasteners, or by use of both. Hdw. cl. may be cut long and folded under at edges to be double against door frame as in Illus. 33 for added strength. Small hinges are used to install doors. A 2-inch mending plate makes a good door fastener (D.F.). Mending plates have holes driled in each end. A screw through one hole, into wood partition or side, installs this door fastener. A nail may be driven part way into the door frame, such nail extending ½ to ¾ inch to serve as a door pull (D.P.) and as a rest for the door fastener when door is closed. This type of door fastener does not rattle like the hook and eye-screw, and is more easily installed. If desired, another smaller nail may be driven in the partition or side about an inch below the D.F. screw, and near the edge, to keep the D.F. in a certain position while pen door is open. Since these pens have plenty of ventilation through hdw. cl.