How to Make a Cake Container Wheel:

Parts needed:
-4x stainless steel 1/4 inch hexcap screws (1/2 inch long)* -pack of 5 for 2.97
-4x stainless steel 1/4 wing nuts* -you'll need 2 packs of 2, totaling 2.42
-4x 1/4 inch small rubber washers* -again, you'll need 2 packs of 2, totaling 1.84
-1x swiveling 2 inch caster wheel with brake (just get one that spins well, has ball bearings in the rotating platform portion, and can support the lid)** -4.28
-1x pvc T-joint that looks like it can replace the wheel of the caster -0.28
-more pvc piping to make a stand (OPTIONAL and not covered in this tutorial >_> -???
-1x sterilite cake container 5 inches tall x 12 inches for the diameter -pretty sure this is the same one as the CWS, found at walmatr for 5.50
http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=qo4vyg0wmvj&thumb=4

**-caster wheels with brakes are optional
*-substitute 1/4 inch screws, washers, and wing nuts with corresponding parts that will fit with the caster you choose if not using the one I did

Total: 17.29 plus tax (18.50 with 7% tax)
Prices are from Lowe's and wallmrat but should fairly represent the potential dent in your wallet no matter which hardware store you decide to obtain the parts from. The pricing for additional pvc piping is not included.


Tools required:
-soldering iron and/or drill
-2x pliers
-small saw
-masking/cellophane tape
-a large flathead screwdriver
-scissor/exacto knife/knife/etc. with a blade that can fit about an 1/4 of an inch or more into a 1/4 inch hole


0. Remove the handle from the cake cover using a large flathead screwdriver working from the inside to unhinge it. The handle is secured to the lid with a hook-like mechanism.

1. Remove the wheel from the caster with the two pliers by holding it at one end, while loosening at the other.

2. Center the opening of the T-joint, that is perpendicular to the two other openings of the T-joint, over the center of the caster in place of the wheel. http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=3nmtzgdzdym&thumb=4

3. Drill/solder holes through the T-joint so it can be mounted where the wheel was.

4. Saw/melt/cut away a little of the half of the opening that touches the caster that is closest to where the holes are drilled. This allows the wheel to change its angle. http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=xmmjmdxjizb&thumb=4

5. Secure the T-joint onto the caster and make sure you can adjust its angle and lock it tightly.

6. Position the center of the caster over the center of the cake container lid.

7. Use masking/cellophane tape to hold the caster in place. I used masking tape because it was easier to adjust and test with while still holding the whole thing together.

8. Drill/solder through the 4 holes of the caster while it is still taped to the lid.

9. Remove any excess plastic from the newly drilled holes with a scissor blade/exacto knife/knife. Hold it at a 45 degree or so angle and rotate the blade around the hole while keeping the angle so it scrapes/cuts the excess.

10. Insert the screws through the holes of the caster.

11. Place rubber washers over each screw.

12. Use the wing nuts to hand tighten each screw. Hand tightening should be enough since pressure is still being kept on securing the wheel by the rubber washers. http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=lniw5jwydmj&thumb=4

13. Mount it somehow onto your cage. I chose to use the pvc T-joint because it has potential for being mounted onto many types of cages using wire, more holes drilled into it, additional pvc piping, etc. http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=zwniqmgtzct&thumb=4

14. Have your hedgehog get a good test run on it and make any adjustments.

15. Enjoy.

I made this wheel with these goals in mind:

1. easy to clean with just a wet paper towel as in the CWS testimonials
2. resilient to the "waste" of the hedgies (the caster is zinc, but the rubber washers are meant to keep anything from them)
3. adjustable pitch
4. easily disassembled for further cleaning
5. spins smooth and silently
6. easy to maintain
7. relatively simple to make
8. overall, it is cheap to make
9. parts are interchangeable if you want to upgrade or improve later on
10. assembly provides a way to accurately center the axis (the holes in the caster was very helpful)

I am delighted to report that I have met almost all of my goals for this project. The only problem I have encountered, is the fact that the wheel doesn't spin as smoothly as I would like it to. It tends to lag at one point every rotation, but then picks right up again. Gohan, my hedgehog, doesn't seem to mind. On the other hand, you may obtain different results for your caster and come out with a smoother wheel. Don't be afraid to modify/substitute parts and techniques, while following my tutorial, for a better result. I suspect a smaller caster may let the wheel revolve more smoothly. Goals 8 and 9 come to mind >_>, and I am glad that they are still met since the most expensive part, for me at least, was the cake container (5.50 plus tax).


Future plans for the wheel:
-a small/cheap pedometer mounted in the middle to help calculate the distance traveled every night; it'll give me insight into his running habits
-upgrading to a stainless steel caster when I find one
-making a pvc base that works well with the sterilite cage
-complete disassembly of the caster to see if I can improve the ball bearings in some fashion to make it run smoother

Suggestions for improvement are welcome!