Frayed end on rope boing? Easy DIY fix!

[Kiwibird]

Imagine my displeasure when I noticed the rope boing I paid $30 for less than 3 months ago was starting to fray and become a potential safety hazard Figured out a pretty easy fix that should extend the life of the boing and thought I would share Only the top was fraying, but I fixed both ends to make sure the bottom didn't go the same way as the top. If you can sew on a button, you can do this (please forgive my poor photo editing skills here)-

Fraying at the top part:

What you will need:

A: Twist fray and push back into end as much as possible

B: Cut 2 circles the diameter of the top of end. Fold circle in half, and cut halfway to center, then cut notch (yellow circle). Will look like purple circle open

C. Cut 2 strips wide enough to completely cover end and cover some of the rope, long enough to wrap around the end

How to sew (use a blanket stitch [preferred for stability] or whipstitch):

A: Starting next to center of circle, sew towards outer edge

B: Sew strip to circle

*C*: (The blue line! Looks like I did a second "D" instead of a "C" lol) Sew strip shut going down toward bottom

D: Sew strip to rope (go around 2X for durability)

[Hint: you are basically encapsulating the end in fabric and stitching the fabric to the "good" part of the rope to prevent more fraying]

How it should look:

(I also added some strips of fabric where the bell that came on the boing was

Hope this is helpful and not confusing You know how it's easier to do it than explain it sometimes:52: I don't know what einstein decided to use a wood bead for an end of a parrot perch in the first place (probably someone who doesn't own a parrot, thats who!).

Edit: Before someone brings it up- yes I routinely inspect Kiwi's toys and perches for safety issues and will continue keeping my eye on this one especially. However, after tugging on it, twisting it, pulling it, pushing it....I think this is a solid fix.

 

[henpecked]

We'll see, LOL. Do you think you could melt the end with a small torch? Would it seal the end?

 

[Kiwibird]

Well, all that appliqué I did in Kiwi's carrier is still in tact after what? 4 months of near-daily use now... If anything will happen here (with Kiwi at least) it will be on me, not him. He doesn't tend to bother fabric. Even wood, he's not the biggest ever chewer of. Eh, even if it gives another 3 months, that's better than tossing it out today!

FYI The rope they used for this boing is cotton, so it would just burn, though for synthetic fibers thats not a bad idea.

 

[henpecked]

I wish my nape didn't like to chew fabric,, biting holes in my tee shirt is great fun. Some of my shirts look like they've been shot with a shot gun.

 

[Kiwibird]

I wish my nape didn't like to chew fabric,, biting holes in my tee shirt is great fun. Some of my shirts look like they've been shot with a shot gun.

I guess we really lucked out with Kiwi. He's very tactile with his beak, but not a big chewer. I don't think about it most of the time, but I guess a lot of people on here do mention their "bird shirts". Maybe it's because he's not allowed on shoulders or maybe because we worked HARD to train him not to chew away from his cage/stand (like furniture and cabinets) so he just doesn't chew hardly anything (though he does seem to have *some* basic level of understanding that it's ok to chew a toy in his cage but not the furniture and walls).

What gets me about this is he has 3 rope perches in his cage, one of them thats been in constant use for several YEARS with absolutely no damage to any of them. This one I bought a few months ago, and it's falling apart. Theres really not *that* much damage to the wood end either. I think this one is of poor quality, that or the way he swings about like a crazed demon could have something to do with excessive wear too (he crawls inside the coil, upside down and swings around like a nut).

 

[henpecked]

IMO the biting holes in my shirt is for attention. She only does it when my attention is else where, like on the phone,computer, etc. She know very well not to do it and completely understands NO. it's just her way of demanding attention.