DCN not so sturdy?

[Anjel]

Hi!

I just picked up a used DCN. Put it all together and while the cage itself is sturdy, the legs are not. Is this a problem with the DCN's that fit together like a puzzle or am I perhaps missing something? (Though it all looks normal? just a little wobbly side to side)

[luvmybabyboys]

Yea my one and a half pound little guys can shake their 100 pound cage when they bounce up the levels. It doesn't affect how it stands and I have had it for over a year and never had it collapse or anything of that sorts. You should be fine it's just another con of the critter nation cages they are a bit wobbily.

[Anjel]

Alright!

They haven't been able to shake it around too much, it's not awfully wobbly just a bit. I was just concerned that I had put it together wrong or was missing a piece but if it happens with DCN's and they're still fine then that's good. I don't really plan to move it other than to roll it outside for a house down so I guess it'll be fine.

Thank you! 

[Annahra]

Hm, my SCN is rock solid--no wiggle at all. I roll it around every few days to clean it and sometimes more often if they are being noisy and I want to kick them out of the bedroom for the night. Not sure if the DCN is less sturdy?

[Pied]

Mine really only wobbles when I'm pulling it across the carpet. I think they're all a smidge different though.

[RooRat]

Mine feels a bit wobbly when I move it around to clean behind it, but other than those times it's a pretty sturdy monster. Though when they get really excited, they have been known to shake the entire thing and they're only two rats 

[Anjel]

Mine basically just wobbles when I move it, but it does lean to one side while standing (but doesn't wobble). I did a forum search and found a thread that said it's caused by having too much wiggle room on the bottom, and that you can reinforce and fix it with zip ties? Anyone have a photo or know what that is about?

[ceopet]

Mine is rock solid. We used a hammer to hammer in the pieces. Maybe you can take it apart and try putting it together that way? I think the hammering really helped it not to wobble 

[Anjel]

Mine is rock solid. We used a hammer to hammer in the pieces. Maybe you can take it apart and try putting it together that way? I think the hammering really helped it not to wobble 

I'm afraid of making it worse.  lol. I might just take it off the stand and set it on the floor. The rest of the cage is solid so that might work (or I am going to try taking it apart and maybe filling in some rubber around the base?)

[Ratatata]

Trust me, these cages ren't gonna break when you hammer the pieces into place.. :)When I set mine up, I also used a hammer. are there any gaps anywhere?

[Anjel]

I can't see any gaps other than a wee tiny bit where the top slides into the sides of the cage. I don't really see how hammering would help though? The floor seems loose side to side so i dont think hammering would help

[ceopet]

I can't see any gaps other than a wee tiny bit where the top slides into the sides of the cage. I don't really see how hammering would help though? The floor seems loose side to side so i dont think hammering would help

It may or may not. Hammering make our fit super tight and nothing wobbles. I know a lot people decided to hammer the pieces in and I think wobbling may have been the reason.

[Anjel]

Well I'm cleaning the cage today so I'll just take it apart and try hammering it and see if that helps. 

[VampireSmeezeGirls]

Mine doesn't wobble in the least.  But I also admit, mine was used off CL from ferrets who had gooked it so bad, I had to take a flat head screwdriver and sledgehammer to get it apart to destink/gook the cage.  Then I just used a mallet to get it back together all the way.  I got the pieces set in place so it held mostly still, but wobbly.  Then DBF held cage and I whacked it together. 

Some chips on the outside powdercoating, I think it's from the screwdriver being used as a wedge to break apart the gook or the sledgehammer.  The girls, despite all attempts at cage destruction and evil doings, can't get to the chipped area and they haven't yet been able to pee on those areas, so it's a minor issue. 

I think it was a bit "warped" on the side opposite of the shelves until I ordered more shelves, so they have two shelves per cage half.  Keeps it nice and square.  I also fully suspect we did the warping with the sledgehammer.

Mallets work fine to get the cage together.  I suspect if I have to break it down again, since it's not ferret gooked, the mallet would work to get it apart.  Sledgehammers are a bit excessive.

But fun.