I have made 5 of these sifting boxes.I drill about 4 times as many holes.First with a tiny drill bit then a larger bit.i use a old oven tray insert with all the holes as a template and use a ink pen to put all the dots on.I then use sandpaper to remove the burrs which takes a few minutes.I also add a third box with the complete middle removed which i have in the middle to raise the top a bit to make more space in the bottom which works for my cat.

@frostflower5555

2 жыл бұрын

That would be a good idea. I was hesitant to buy these 2 boxes because the gap was too small - if you put a bit of pressure with your hand and it will practically touch the bottom of the box under it. So if a cat goes in the bottom will touch the wet litter so it will make all the dry litter above it all wet. Wonder if there's a deeper box made by the same company.

@paulh6395

2 жыл бұрын

@@frostflower5555 Hello using 3 boxes has raised my top box with the pallets.The gap between the very bottom on mine and the bottom of the tray with the pallets is 85mm.Each week i empty the bottom tray and move some of the top pallets to the bottom tray to absorb more of the urine.I then add new pallets to the top which gives it a new pallet smell.After a month i dump the lot and install all new pallets.

@jennie9

Жыл бұрын

@@paulh6395 This is a great idea for creating more space at the bottom! Like you, I also put pellets in the bottom layer to absorb the urine that dribbles through.

@twinfin8571

6 ай бұрын

I think it would be easier to just put some wood blocks or something in the bottom to raise the top up. Also. Puppy piddle pad would absorb the dripped urine and make clean up less messy. I haven’t done this yet but I’m about to try it. I’m tired of the clumping litter. And it’s gotten so expensive! My cats are elderly and may not adjust but if I make these instead of buying the expensive litter boxes and they don’t use it, I won’t be out much money…….and I’ll find a way to use the containers…..maybe in the garden…..sifting leaf mold. Lol.

@kathybolj7527

5 ай бұрын

@@twinfin8571 I’m just starting the conversion to pellets. My kitty is 11 ,so I am slowly doing this. I am going to use a potty pad on the bottom. It has to be so much cheaper anyway versus the cost of clumping litter these days

If you drill from the inside using a piece of wood underneath to drill into, it helps to support the plastic and it’s less likely to crack.

Thank you so much for this fatastic DIY video! I wanted to tell you about the cheaper and stirdier version of litter box. My hubby got a 9 US gallon mortar mixing tab from Lowe's (it cost only $7 plus tax). They are big, stirdy and work great! He then screwed cut PVC pipes to the bottom (to create spacing) in 4 corners and in the center (I wish I could attach images). But you are right, use what you have! Great video!!!

Great idea! I started with drill and stopped due to cracking. Used soldering iron and this worked so much better and faster with no residue.

@patlee7949

Жыл бұрын

Drill is definitely not efficient. Soldering is the way. Your holes will be more uniform.. wish I could send you pic.Soldering kits are inexpensive .

To prevent hard plastic cracking, use the lowest speed and never apply pressure. To clean the hole you can drill reverse. Sanding gently is also an easy option to clean the edges

I am going to try with a soldering iron instead of a drill bit. Very inexpensive at Wallmart and should make the process faster 😉

Also ( a little over half way now) if you ever do this again, a countersink bit would work great for the deburing process.

@michaelechivester6478

2 жыл бұрын

Is countersink bit the same as a step bit

@rockingrogershomestead

2 жыл бұрын

@michael echivester no, i wish.i could add a picture of one. Counter sink comes in different sizes for different screw heads to sit flush with the surface

@rockingrogershomestead

2 жыл бұрын

@Sonjo i think that would make clean up a little harder. Instead of shavings to scrape off. You would have melted plastic, which honestly could go either way.

Great job! Thanks for sharing!

You should be able to use a countersink on the end of your drill and clean the holes in a few minutes, no hand cutting. Countersinks come in many sizes, and they will all counter-sink a quarter inch hole. That's basically what you're doing, trimming off the excess and putting a small radius on the hole.

Great idea thanks

Very nice. Suggestion. Use a Rubbermaid tub. They won’t crack. If they nest too snuggly then you can add something to keep them separate. Like a cookie cooler in the bottom box

Better way? Drill from inside against a board (s) you don't care about putting holes in. Then, just touch the holes lightly with a larger drill. I hear going in reverse takes longer but won't make cracks.

I have the same type of boxes and I was concerned about the spacing between the two. I looked at a few different options that I didn't like. While walking around the store where I purchased the boxes I came across wooden clothes pins. Perfect! I have a pin on either side of the handles on each end and 3 along each side. I clipped the pins to the top of the bottom box and the spread of the clip end pushes the other end together and it fits perfectly into the underside edges of the upper box. Made about 3 inches between the bottom box and the top box with all the holes in the bottom. I don't have to be concerned about how gross whatever I would need to put into the bottom box to create enough space for the sawdust to drop through would get or need to clean it or change it.

Love this idea. However, the handles don't create that air gap... there are reinforcement tabs all around that support the tubs

@frostflower5555

2 жыл бұрын

Where do you get the reinforcement tabs?

In the world of plastic part productions when they trim the flash on plastic they use a specific tool that's like a little toggle that you put down in there to remove all the flashing from your hole. The best thing I could think of would be to find one of those tools to get rid of all the yuck that you've got on the top and bottom of each hole would be a lot better on your arm and your hand and it would be very quick in time saving.

If your still making videos, do one where you have a third tote container, heating the bottom part with a hair dryer and cut the bottom rectangle with an extango knife to have an even more space gap for the bottom. Shifter/hole/regular.

Oh, dangerous Knife. What you need in German names „Ansenker“. A tool to make the holes smoother.

There is now a litter box specifically designed for pellet litter. I believe it’s called Mr.carman.

I would sand it with sandpaper it would do it very quick

There's something called a round file that you could possibly use for deburring. Most hardware stores carry them.

I’m definitely going to try this. What about drilling from the inside out? Would you still have to cut away the plastic around the holes? Thank you, great instructions!

@theundergroundzoo2665

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I did try drilling from the inside out (on a previous box I made) to see if it would help lessen the plastic I was cutting but it didn’t really lessen any of the trimming I had to do unfortunately. It helped clear out the bigger chunks but still left enough smaller sharp plastic tidbits that I was concerned that their paws may catch on it.

@Coupe420

3 жыл бұрын

@@theundergroundzoo2665 use a paddle bit, it won't burr up! I used a 3/8 paddle bit worked perfectly

@constancerobinson1377

3 жыл бұрын

What about burning holes?

@theundergroundzoo2665

3 жыл бұрын

I’ll definitely have to try that next time! Thanks!

U use pine pettes for litter. Turns to sawdust when they urinate. Buy it fron storage supply

Sander instead of exacta?

What are u cutting with?

Does anyone know how to drill holes without cracking the plastic?!

@red-switch

2 жыл бұрын

Use a dremel style tool. Because it spins much faster than a normal drill, it won't crack the plastic. I've found that placing the tip of the drill bit at a 45 degree angle works best, and when the hole is made, then put the drill bit straight.

@JellyBellyNelly21

2 жыл бұрын

@@red-switch thank you!

I saw this on other diy but when I looked at the totes in the store I said to myself there is no way that the bottom of the tote will not touch the bottom of the 2nd tote under it when the cat goes in. It is not very rigid and will move with pressure of a cat. This is what I want to avoid because the litter will always get wet from the dirty litter under it. I would need to have a wider gap. Not sure if there is a deeper tote made by the company.

@brendalee9034

7 ай бұрын

Another person used a cut pool noodle on each side to raise it up

Where do you get your liter from?

@theundergroundzoo2665

3 жыл бұрын

I get my litter from Tractor Supply. It runs about $6 for a 40lb bag

@marythompson7910

Жыл бұрын

Tractor supply. Pine pellets. Actually horse bedding

Why not buy a ready made tray with gridlines?

@jessicaharris1608

4 ай бұрын

The Tidy Cat Breeze system is the pre-made version of this BUT it's pretty pricey considering what it's made of.

Drilling would suck....why not buy a $10 soldering iron and burn holes using the hot tip? Better than drilling and/or heating up metal objects.

You might wanna complain less and maybe time yourself before posting your video and give us a better experience in watching a diy. And I would drill holes from the inside to the bottom if the bin as you're doing a sift box and it might drain better and save a step in the process. And a dremel nay be faster to use to sand it if thats what you feel like doin2