Handling Hardware Cloth. I can tell you how NOT to do it.

[yakibert]

Funny girls (*ducks*)

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Of course not! Misery LOVES company!

And we construct our own for transport for the most part. Or use dog carriers. We volunteer for our shelter and have 4 dogs of our own, so have plenty of pet carriers to use too!

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Funny girls (*ducks*)

Hmmm...... Maybe, but most people find it amazing that I did the majority of the building of our coops and I care for all the chickens myself! And I manage to do it, while still looking girly! So,

 

[ladyrsanti]

I've cut it with and without gloves but only with tin snips. I use a decent-sized pair that are angled in such a way that they get in-between the two halves, separating them and keeping one side down and the other up and away from my hands. After a few pieces, I wasn't getting scratched hardly at all and it goes pretty quick. Definitely tin snips.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

When I have to do more, if my scissors have had it, I think I'll invest in snips. I'd like to see that hubby of mine cut all that wire with just teeny tiny wire cutters. The scissors let me cut seveal inches at a time.

 

[jahphotogal]

Another question on this subject (hardware cloth) - is there a way to finish the edges so they don't scratch you every time you come near? The way my coop is built (hoop house out of PVC pipe) the edge of the hardware cloth is exposed. Duct tape doesn't quite do it!

 

[Poetical Peeps]

I cut the loose bits off as close as possible... sorry if I'm being all Captain Obvious there, just saying.

Gail Damerow recommends foil tape (imagine me gesturing angrily toward my cockeyed attempt at a pedigree box). It works okay -- better than standard duct tape and the adhesive is moisture resistant -- but it will puncture if the wires are too long. And if it doesn't work, you have a $13 roll of pretty tape laying around. You can do duct tape things with it and still convince yourself you're kinda classy. Worth having, methinks.

 

[MySuburbanLife]

Making edges as smooth as possible was easier with the wire cutters I have, since one side is flat-- I'd position the cutters so the flat side was flush with the horizonal, and snip the vertical as close as possible. My tin snips are rounded on both sides, so they were leaving a sharp little 1/8" wire... just small enough not to be seen, but just long enough to gouge my knuckle or ankle every time I got near. If you want the edges really smooth you could use a metal file, but that's a lot of work.

And yeah, it's tough being a woman! Wanting to be all DIY with the coop, but not wanting to sacrifice our manis in the process!

 

[Back2MyRoots]

And yeah, it's tough being a woman! Wanting to be all DIY with the coop, but not wanting to sacrifice our manis in the process!

Amen!

 

[furbabymum]

I have a metal cutting blade on my circular saw.