DIY CAGE

[Kyle]

I can make a cage from steel, but what do I paint it with? Unfortunatly there are no chromers in Botswana, there may be powder coaters though. I have a compressor but dont know what a safe paint will be. Any DIY guys out there?

[TheNzJessie]

if you are making a cage from stainless steel i wouldn't see a reason to paint it. but im no expert

[Kyle]

I wish...

No, stainless steel is way too expensive, I want to make a very big cage, also I dont have a gas welder, just a normal arc welder. But yes if it were stainless I would not paint it.

[Michael]

Do not use galvanized steel. The zinc coating can poison the bird. Powder coating is commonly used on cages. Are you using it indoors or out?

If you can afford it, aluminum also takes care of the painting problem.

[Kyle]

Thanks for the replies, Im really only asking if there is a easy to get paint that is not toxic. Dulux, Plascon ect... Although you probally have different paint brands over there.

I have considered everything I can get at our hardware. I cant weld aluminum, need argon gas welder.

[Shani]

Any reason you're looking to make your own cage, instead of buying one? I was originally looking into making a cage, but if you don't have the tools/materials required to make your own (you've mentioned you don't have the right kind of metal - galvanized steel could well kill your bird if it ingests any zinc) it's a near impossibility to do it right.

As for those paint brands - I assume that's house paint - it will not be bird safe, 99% sure... and no, getting a bird safe paint to use will not be easy I don't think.

[Kyle]

I may end up buying one, not going to give up just yet! I found somone to powder coat and I can get plain uncoated steel grid + steel tube ect... I guess it all depends on the coating charges if its better to buy one.