this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
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DIY

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Like the title, I have a small DIY project where I’m going to put a gerbil tunnel system connecting two of the enclosures in the image together. Because the transparent window is thin clear plastic they aren’t really strong enough to handle any force at where the tunnels will connect to the windows.

So, I want to put stabilizing bars connecting both enclosures together at their frame. I’m thinking like a 1”x1” hard plastic bar, that’s 6”-12” long, at the corners of the window that lock into square plates that have three sides lifted (“c” style) to slot and lock the bar into. I don’t know what this would be called. Idk where I would find it. But, this seems like something I’ve seen before and should exist.

Does anything come to mind?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I would just get a 1x2 board and screw it on the back. Or onto the legs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe a closet rod holder and you could get a closet rod and cut to size? Unless I'm thinking of something completely different from youre describing

https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/d2d96b0d-6b73-465a-956a-2e160b11cdcf/svn/matt-black-everbilt-closet-rods-eh-wsthdus-543-64_600.jpg

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

This is similar to what I had in mind, but rectangular instead of cylindrical, and that had a lip on the ends of the bar that slotted and locked into “C” plates on both ends.

But, unistrut bars across the backs of the cabinets also might do the trick, instead of bars in between.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

too bad you can’t get plastic unistrut. that would be perfect.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I suppose I could put two unistruts across the backs of the enclosures, near the bottom and top of the window top half. That would stabilize it enough that you wouldn’t really be able to flex the fronts together.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

although apparently you can now get fibreglass unistrut. how healthy are your lungs feeling?

https://unistrutstore.com/fiberglass-unistrut/fiberglass-channel.html

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Are you trying to stabilize the tunnel or the whole cabinets to each other? Or both the cabinets to the wall?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Cabinets to each other, probably 3-4 stabilizers, 1 per corner of the windowed sections between the two cabinets.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Why not stabilize the cabinets to the wall, like with child proofing wall anchors?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

What's going in the middle? I think the easiest/best looking way to do this is to add some shelving at the bottom/middle and that could stabilize the two cabinets together. And if necessary add extra bracing in the back behind the cabinets.