DIY Beardie Hammock Help

[Quelaag]

I feel so awful for making so many threads lately, agghh. Okay well, nothing major, but I'm currently working on making my own Beardie hammock thanks to the fantastic suggestion from Taterbug. I found a nice sturdy material from my fabric stash that should hopefully be perfect. Though now I'm stuck as to how to connect the hammock to the suction cups or command clips-- still undecided on which I want to use. I guess it's whichever I find first at the store.

Anyways, I figured I'd just make little fabric straps and sew them onto the hammock to connect, but I don't know if that would increase the chances of it falling off? Or should I suck it up and take the extra time to put in rivets? I'm not too fond of working with rivets, but I will if you guys think it would work better.

Also I'm trying to figure out ways to make sure he can get up there. What do you guys suggest? I figured putting a sturdy stick leaning against the glass next to it might work, but I'm still unsure. I also really hope Haru likes this.

Also since this is a DIY forum and I don't want to spam the place by making two threads despite this question being unrelated to hammocks: My fiance's going to be working on making a grout-based platform/hide for Haru. What would you all recommend we seal it with? I don't know what's recommended and I don't want to risk exposing him to anything that could potentially harm him.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Taterbug]

I'd go for rivets if you want something finished. But I also find rivets easier than sewing loops. If the fabric is study enough just holes would work. If it's close enough to the ground he can jump in, or any bit of climbable furniture or sticks rock.

I can't make a solid recommendation, but I'd look into acrylic waterproof sealer where I to do it again. I used modge podge as a sealer as the tutorials suggest and it's a joke.

 

[lisa127]

Taterbug, do you have pics of the hammocks you make to show us?

 

[Taterbug]

They are pretty ghetto. I've only got one pic right now.
I've never had a problem with him catching his nails or getting tangled, but he is still kinda little. It's also stretchy so once he is bigger and weighs more probably won't work. Of course a solid fabric would be safer for toes too.

 

[lisa127]

wow, he's a very pretty color! Fleece would probably work better for a larger beardie, no?

 

[Taterbug]

Yup, I like fleece since it doesn't have a weave like regular fabric. It's sturdy and doesn't tatter as easy if you are lazy like me and don't want to finish the edges/holes.

 

[Quelaag]

For mine I just sewed two somewhat even triangles together and flipped it inside out-- kind of like what you do to make a pillow. It's not the most visually appealing thing and kind of looks dumb, but it is sturdy and I didn't feel like hemming the edges. I even kind of tested it out by putting Haru on it and seeing how well it will hold; he's so light you can't even feel him on the fabric and it should last him quite a while. So now I just need to go out to Walmart and get some rivets and suction cups or command strips and I'll be done! I'll be posting pictures later probably. I'm also considering making a little pillow for his hammock-- though that might be a bit much. He does seem to really like pillows though.

Also I think yours looks really cute, Taterbug. Besides, even if they do end up looking ghetto, I highly doubt Beardies care so long as they can use it, haha.

Also what's wrong with modge podge? I only ask because that's what we're using for ours so I don't want to risk getting something awful. D:

 

[Taterbug]

They cost more but if get the command hooks. I've never had much luck with suction cups.

I don't mind the look personally, I change his furniture around regularly so I sometimes need to cut new hammocks and it's fast.

Modgepodge is basically like Elmer's glue. It gets sort of opaque and pasty again when you get it wet. Not terrible but I don't like it and I never felt like it was truly washable. A nice hard waterproof sealer would be my choice next time.

 

[Quelaag]

So uh... My hammock might take a bit longer. I ended up not being able to find Eyelets (didn't know that was the proper term, haha) in the size I wanted so I tried sewing on fabric straps. They work, but I have to twist the straps to get them to stay on. I also accidentally made the hammock a bit too big, though I guess since he still has a lot of growing to do, he'll grow into it. I'm not happy with it though so I may redo it...

And thank you for the heads up! My fiance has already started work on his new fake rock/hide, though he hasn't glued it together yet.

 

[dpejunk]

Hi all.

I was just watching Toothless, my dragon, getting ready for bed and he was a little fidgety getting comfy on a rock.

The majority of the material people seem to be using is the plastic mesh for a hammock. My concern is getting his claws caught in the material. Has this been a problem for anyone? I've seen some negative reviews of the reptile hammocks sold by Petco or Petsmart for just this reason.

Does anyone have any experience with using actual canvas? Or do you think this material may pose problems?
I was thinking of cutting up a canvas grocery shopping bag and using that for the material. Thinking of sewing the edges to make a type of chain pocket and then feeding a heavy copper coat hanger through the chain pocket. That way I can bend it to make any type of dip or slope. Or I may just fold over the edges and install a couple of snaps for ease of washing.

Large button snaps seem to be a better idea.

I just want to give him ALL the options for being comfy. The plastic mesh just looks a little stiff to me. I would imagine it's like a human sleeping on a giant tennis racket. Just doesn't sound too ... fun.

Thoughts?

Thanks
Dan

 

[CooperDragon]

Cooper loved his mesh hammock. Never had a problem getting caught in it. The only issue I had was that sometimes the suction cups would come loose and need to be reseated. That said, there are a lot of good options for hammock material. Some of the custom made ones on here look great. Lots of room for creativity.

 

[rempop]

I made one out of some scrap denim I had, and just used safety pins in the corners to hook on the Command Hooks. This let me adjust the tension on the corners.
Here is a picture when Blaze was a little beardie.

 

[Tonja]

here are some pictures of the hammocks, pillows and blanket sets I have made for my dragons.
fleece set, but the grommets will pull out if not careful, I made button holes in it finally
animal print set

Winnie the pooh set

princess set

each hammock was made with 2 pieces of fabric, used the large mesh store bought hammock as the pattern and sewed it together inside out then flipped it right side out, finished sewing it up...stuffed the little pillows and put quilt batting in the blankets if needed to make them a little heavier for winter. I got a grommet kit at home depot and put in the grommets. I made 7 sets for each of my dragons for a total of 14 sets. Each have cotton summer set and each have fleece winter sets. they love their pillows and blankets. I even made curtains for the sides of their tanks to cut down on glass dancing so they have curtains to match their hammock sets. A dowel rod and command hooks is how I hung the curtains and use command hooks for the hammocks.

 

[rempop]

The sets that you make are what inspired me to make one. They are so much nicer than what I have see in stores, and the beardies in pictures with them look so happy.
Now I have to make another one to fit in the new enclosure. :lol:

 

[Katiedud]

These are what I used. Grommets/eyelets from Wal-Mart, Worked perfectly.
Eyelets under $2, fabric $1, painstakingly sewed it by hand while out of work with a back injury, priceless .. Lol