Opossum Exercise Wheel (How to Make)

Here are plans for a simple exercise wheel for opossums;
Materials:
	Wheel:	- Two 24 inch diameter pre-cut plywood or particle board circles to be the sides of the wheel after using a drill and jig saw to cut out the 1-3/4 inch center holes and access spaces (see sketch below), plus as an option, two empty 6 oz. cat food cans with both the tops and bottoms cut out could be glued and/or nailed to the inside of the 1-3/4 inch center hole of each wheel side to reduce wear - Two 1/2 inc diameter by 12 inch long wooden dowels to be glued and nailed in place between the wheel halves near the axle to stabilize the center of the wheel -Seven feet of 12 inch wide small gauge rat wire or other suitable material to be glued and stapled around the edge of the wheel as the running surface - Four 12 inch long aluminum carpet strips or other aluminum braces to be evenly spaced and attached over the rat wire around the edge of the wheel between the wheel halves (see sketch)
	Axle:	- One 1-1/2 inch diameter by 22 inch long wooden closet rod to be the axle (over which a 1-3/4 inch diameter by 15 inch long plastic pipe could optionally be placed as a protective sleeve) - Two 4 inch long finishing nails to be inserted through pre-drilled holes on each side of the axle just outside the wheel and those nails slightly bent so they stay in place and keep the wheel on the axle
	Frame:	- 1 inch by 4 inch pine boards for the supporting frame assembled with glue and nails, but with three wood screws used on each side at the joints over the axle placement (see sketch)

Tools/Supplies Needed:

hammer/nails	tinsnips	metal/wood glue	straight edge
hand saw	drill & bits	measuring tape	screw driver/screws
jig saw	staple gun	wire to suspend wheel from frame

Follow the directions below to complete the Opossum Exercise Wheel

cut 1-3/4 inch hole in center of wheel sides with a 1-3/4 inch drill bit or a jig saw, plus cat-food can with tops and bottoms removed could optionally be glued and/or nailed to the inside of these holes	Click on the image to view an enlargement
cut out openings in the sides of the wheel with a jig saw

1-1/2 inch closet rod as axle, with an optional plastic pipe over it as a protective sleeve	Click on the image to view an enlargement
insert large finishing nail in predrilled holes on both sides of axle outside of wheel and bend the nails slightly to keep them and the wheel in place an the wheel in place on the axle
wooden dowels are placed between wheel sides near axle to stabilize wheel center
glue and staple wire or other running surface around edge of wheel and secure it further with at least four aluminum braces evenly spaced around the wheel between the sides

similar measurements for the braces at the opposite bottoms of frame	Click on the image to view an enlargement
screws/glue used on each side of frame to connect center board of frame
wheel suspended under cross of frame by wire

Click on the image to view an enlargement

NOTE: The Opossum Society of the United States would sincerely appreciate and suggestions on improving these plans and the design from those building such an opossum exercise wheel