Chains and bells?

Hi! I've searched but can't find answers to these questions.

I've had an IRN now for a few weeks and have collected quite a few toys for him (or her). However, how can I tell if the chain used is safe stainless steel? Also, how do I know if the bells are made of a safe material? Currently I am removing any chain and replacing it with sisal rope, but that might be a waste of time and money. I am cutting off any bells but those might be some of the more fun aspects of the toys. Stainless bells are available but wow! They spensive! LOL

Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!

I always buy from safe places like Mysafebirdstore or Foster and Smith...
I fear sisal ropes and associated fixtures... nails can get cught in sisal, and bells, etc..... hmmmm... who knows if they're safe...
The stainless stuff will last forever... well worth the bucks, say I.
Good for you for reaching out and being careful!

Thanks for the reply.

Oh no... so even sisal rope isn't safe? So confusing!

The issue is I already bought lots of toys and I'm afraid to use any of them. I'm hoping someone can tell me how I can tell if the chains I have are stainl or if the bells I have are birdo safe.

There are a couple of tests, that can be used.

- Stainless Steel is non-magnetic, so if it reacts to a magnet, its not SS.
- Understanding that (as you know) its expensive, the cost of the toy will reflect the use of SS.
- Stainless Steel is commonly Powder coated as most paints adhere poorly smooth surface SS. The combination of Stainless Steel and Powder coating really pushes the costs sky-high. So, SS is rarely coated!
- Bells are rarely Stainless Steel, especially the small ones. Its a price point thing, no one is going to pay that kind of money for a small bell! Big Bells mean more Stainless Steel and the costs sky-rockets, so no one is going to pay that kind of money for the big ones either, hence, Bells are rarely SS.

Testing other metals that are non-magnetic requires some basic understanding of metals.
- Aluminum, bronze, brass, and copper are rarely used for Pet Toys as it commonly requires either machining or die-castings and this pushes the price super high to set-up the machining or tooling. Older Bronze Bells are out there, but costs even in garage sales are high because there is an active market place for them.

- Steel, either hot or cold rolled is very common in chain manufacturing and they commonly chrome the surfaces. As you may know, there are different levels to the quality of the chroming process. Cheap and dirty means flaking and the flakes are considered heavy metal and are to be avoided. The mid to high end chrome work is more expensive and eliminates them from use for low cost toys. I am told that one can see the color difference, but the colors that I see are not in that range.

Steel chains that are non-treated are safe, but commonly rust in Parrot applications.

Anything that states Zinc or Galvanized coated (which are the same) is classified as a Heavy Metal and should never be used anywhere near Parrots.

Ah... thanks!

I didn't think of magnetism. I noticed most of the toys had the screw clasp, not the spring clasps which is good, since it seems like those spring clasps are dangerous. I've cut a few chains out, and they seem to be the same type. I'll check with a man gent tonight. In terms of the bells, they seem pretty flimsy. I might just remove them and see if I can find a couple of decent SS that I can add to toys, which I'm going to keep constantly rotating in and out every week.

'Boats is correct, 300 series st st is non magnetic, or ever so slightly. Get a magnet from Hoe Depot. Try it on the head of a hammer. That's how steel parts will feel. Strongly magnetic. Now try it on some dinner ware, which is usually 300 stst. Safe 300 series stainless (301, 302, 304, 316 and 347 alloys) have a slight background magnetic field , weak, <2.0mu, but on light things like chain and bells might fool you.If it snaps to the magnet, it's steel. I am finding that bells and chains really st st lately, it the attaching links that that always steel, but again a trip to home Depot to get some st st link, and use those over and over . Salty LOVES his long stainless bells and never fails to play with them daily. Fun but noisy.

Thanks for the replies. So the chain is barely magnetic, and I think it is stainless. The links they used to connect the chain to the the toy- Very magnetic! I think I can use the chains but attach them differently. The bells are crud. I'll have to spend yet more money and get some small stainless steel ones. lol