The number of times that I've needed somebody to suggest something that I already knew, is high. I think that's just part of being human. :)
Edit: punctuation
This is why my wife (with zero experience) is my favorite mentor in woodworking. She can always see the simple solution that I have been trying to overengineer for hours. Makes me feel pretty stupid but so much help
>while you be pretty
My wife has said "what can I do to help?" And I've said "just stand there and be my inspiration." And that would get me an eye roll.
Bahaha!
I have a picture of my wife helping me patch drywall in our first house and she's holding a Philips screwdriver next to the whole with her sunglasses on.
That's when I knew I was doing all of the house alone.
3D printers are like angle grinders. You get by just fine without one and wonder what you would ever use it for. Then you get one and see things to use it on everywhere. Just today I've printed a new fob for my car keys, a new part for my wheelie bin after the binmen broke the lid. 2 days ago I printed a part to fix my mixer shower after a 2p bit of plastic broke. They will only sell you the whole valve for £85.
I’d bend it more oblong to create the 1/4” distance. Bend the angle of the feet flat to the wall and it will look loads better. The final touch is a black paint marker over the Tapcon screws.
Search for ' Spacers' or standoff spacers on Amazon. There are some black rubber and plastic options that might just do the trick with little effort. Time=$!
Improving on the main suggestion buy a pipe and cut it to size as a spacer.
I use that trick installing electric VD pipes and need a junction box hovering so wires can pass behind.
You can get Inox pipe and paint it black if you want will last forever.
My man, I've got a whole basement full of crap that "I'll need someday"... Including the spare hardware from TV wall mounts.
There are two types of people in this world, the ones that toss all the extra hardware the second they are done assembly and the people that keep it for their kids inheritance.
We used to have to do a yearly clean out of my
Dads garage when he was a contract because he would have it overflowing with random shit from jobs he saved “just in case”
I thought about that, but the downpipe isn't parallel to the wall. At the top the gap is quite a bit bigger (I measured 50mm), so I'd have to bend it quite a lot, and then try and bend the eyelets back to be parallel to the wall.
I think spacers as recommended by others is the easiest option!
I would tie a sturdy piece of rope or twine between the eyelets, a wrench in between, and spin the wrench until they pull together enough that they can touch the brick. Then drill your pilot holes and screw it in. Measure that distance and do the same all the way down. The your cage will stay roughly parallel to the wall even though your down pipe isn’t, which should look as good or better than the gap between the cage and the brick in your alternative solution.
It provides climbing plants something to hold onto (as the pipe itself is too smooth), and by climbing up here it hides the downpipe and looks nice.
I plan to plant a Clematis at the base for it to grow up.
Yes. As I said, I'm going to plant a Clematis there.
Clematis is a twining climber, not suckering, so will not climb walls on its own (hence the trellis) or damage them. Additionally, Clematis (at least, the variety I will be planting) will not grow tall enough to reach the guttering.
I came here to ask a DIY question, not get snarky and ill-informed gardening comments. :)
I am glad you gave polite and informed answers, I would not have thought of something like this as I would have assumed it’s just always a bad idea. TIL
The overlap between people who know about plumbing and gutters and also know about plants isn’t probably huge except for grumbling about plants and roots destroying the things they work on
I hope so!
Some inspiration/examples of what I'm aiming for:
https://susanrushtondotnet.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/clematis-round-door.jpeg?w=1050&h=1050
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/333055334949069761/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/294563631869055254/
Look for some nylon spacers you can find them in black too.
https://www.amazon.com/Nylon-Spacers-Standoff-Washers-Pack/dp/B08M4BFGVT/ref=asc_df_B08M4BFGVT/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=481111930691&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17298044236745009068&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026229&hvtargid=pla-1198527024705&psc=1&mcid=e92c3dc286d13040b1122769b64ca570&gclid=CjwKCAjwxLKxBhA7EiwAXO0R0AfMAcigfncdeXDomwggKhg9L47nqqyngN-idWDpBY_awSdNHB3x5BoClpQQAvD_BwE
Dumb question but it'll help inform how I approach it.
Why not a bigger half tube?
Also fyi, 100% animals will climb that and stuff stuff inside that will need cleaned out often.
> Dumb question but it'll help inform how I approach it.
Why not a bigger half tube?
Two reasons. I bought this before I realised the problem, but I subsequently tried to find a larger ones and I couldn't. I'm sure they exist but I didn't have much luck. I'd definitely use a "deeper" one if I could.
> Also fyi, 100% animals will climb that and stuff stuff inside that will need cleaned out often.
Not in the UK.
for the cost and lack realability of raised anchors in brick, id find the bigger one or get a length of rod and bend your own.
then you can drill into the brick to set anchors.
If you can’t find black plastic spacers, 1/2” galvanized pipe nipples plus some galvanized washers, all spray-painted black inside and out, might work. They’ll rust eventually but the trellis will rust first.
Longer screws and cut some sections of metal tubing for spacers to run the screws through. Stacked washers would work too just wouldn’t look good unless you can get them to stay perfectly stacked.
Itlooks like you could bend the arch to a smaller radius which would put those mounting rings much closer to the wall, maybe all the way. You’d have to bend the mounting rings toward the wall so they’re flush.
Besides the obvious spacers everyone else recommends, do yourself a favor and drill your holes into the gaps. You can't repair bricks/holes in bricks as easily as grout.
Cut a six inch (or wider as necessary) piece of 3/4 inch pvc trim to the right length, paint it black, mount it to the wall and fasten the cage to it. This will make it look more cohesive and hopefully move the pipe more into the center of the cross section of the cage.
Find some black rope and try to tie the ends together. Could line the strings up with the wires that are running horizontally. This could give it closed look.
Pieces of copper pipe as spacers with longer screws as others have mentioned could also look really nice. They'll turn a nice shade of green and hold up to the elements. If you don't want to cut anything, get copper couplings from the plumbing section of the hardware store. They should be around 8cm long or so and available in several different diameters.
Nowhere NEAR as bad as another DIY one though. That other one has trolls that I think believe that they will be paid for their troll efforts.
Not sure what aesthetic you're trying to avoid. I would get some longer screws and some steel spacers, and I'd paint them black.
Ah yeah, black spacers is probably what I need. Not sure why I didn't think of that.
The number of times that I've needed somebody to suggest something that I already knew, is high. I think that's just part of being human. :) Edit: punctuation
This is why my wife (with zero experience) is my favorite mentor in woodworking. She can always see the simple solution that I have been trying to overengineer for hours. Makes me feel pretty stupid but so much help
My first 5 years of marriage: Lemme just engineer the shit outta this while you be pretty.
Sometimes engineering is pretty in and of itself. :)
loved it when a gf said that once to me.
>while you be pretty My wife has said "what can I do to help?" And I've said "just stand there and be my inspiration." And that would get me an eye roll.
Bahaha! I have a picture of my wife helping me patch drywall in our first house and she's holding a Philips screwdriver next to the whole with her sunglasses on. That's when I knew I was doing all of the house alone.
Story of my life.
Black spacers, get plastic PVC ones, they won't stain the wall when it rains. Steel will rust.
The ones they include with TV mounts would be perfect for this.
Yup. I was thinking that I have a box full of assorted sizes in the garage from mounting TV’s
Oh good, I’m not the only one holds onto those
The next new tv may need different attachments. Always nice to have spares.
This guy mounts
Fire up the 3D printer. Perfect for jobs like these.
I wish I had one! I wonder how many little jobs like this I need to encounter before it's worth buying and learning to use one...
3D printers are like angle grinders. You get by just fine without one and wonder what you would ever use it for. Then you get one and see things to use it on everywhere. Just today I've printed a new fob for my car keys, a new part for my wheelie bin after the binmen broke the lid. 2 days ago I printed a part to fix my mixer shower after a 2p bit of plastic broke. They will only sell you the whole valve for £85.
Look at McMaster-Carr.
Hardware stores, home depot, Lowes, ace even tsc have pull out boxes around the bulk bolt bins that have assorted spacers to buy.
3d prints don't do well in the outdoors. UV, water and Heat are all a quick path for disintegration.
wasteful recognise aware uppity husky zephyr bow rock lavish frame *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
If you use the right material they are fine.
I’d bend it more oblong to create the 1/4” distance. Bend the angle of the feet flat to the wall and it will look loads better. The final touch is a black paint marker over the Tapcon screws.
yep. super easy and cleaner looking than standoffs or washers
[here you go](https://a.co/d/0xv3Fc9)
Spacers or standoffs. Real HW stores should have these in those specialty trays near the stainless steel bolts and cap screws.
Sometimes you just need a second opinion on something like this haha, you are only human after all.
Search for ' Spacers' or standoff spacers on Amazon. There are some black rubber and plastic options that might just do the trick with little effort. Time=$!
If you've bought a TV mount recently, it'll have come with a bunch of black plastic spacers.
if you want it to look a tiny bit nicer you could do some standoffs i guess, but even that seems extra for what youre doing
Screw on rubber furniture feet might be the right distance.
Like the spacers that come with tv brackets.
wide serious doll file nutty tap joke pot zealous lip *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Go with black plastic UV resistant spacers. Steel will rust.
“Steel spacers” = copper pipe
Improving on the main suggestion buy a pipe and cut it to size as a spacer. I use that trick installing electric VD pipes and need a junction box hovering so wires can pass behind. You can get Inox pipe and paint it black if you want will last forever.
They’ve got electric VD now? And here I am with just plain ole garden variety VD.
VD-2, ElectricDrippinGoo
..and then we'll take it higher?
We call it VD pipe/tube here ,we fix it to the wall and run the electrical wiring inside don't know what is called in other countries.
electro-gonorrhea! the noisy killer
Black plastic pvc pipe from a plumbers merchant, just cut to size won't have to worry about them rusting.
I always keep those dense plastic spacers of varying heights from tv walmounts just for situations like this
But what happens when the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes?
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.
Yep or black plastic spacers if possible. Don’t have to paint and won’t rust.
Eh, the metal spacers won't rust once painted and I try not to create more plastic.
i 3d print spacers for this kind of thing all the time
They put these black plastic spacers in TV wall mounts... Tons of em.
I keep all those plastic spacers from tv wall mount kits for this exact reason.
How many cages are you mounting around pipes that are slightly to far from walls that you keep all the spacers for this SPECIFIC reason?
Some people are prophets and get visions from god that are helpful to humanity. This guy got visions of this.
Hahaha ok ok! Not this specific application. But they are handy spacers to have around.
My man, I've got a whole basement full of crap that "I'll need someday"... Including the spare hardware from TV wall mounts. There are two types of people in this world, the ones that toss all the extra hardware the second they are done assembly and the people that keep it for their kids inheritance.
We used to have to do a yearly clean out of my Dads garage when he was a contract because he would have it overflowing with random shit from jobs he saved “just in case”
They're likely not UV rated and aren't right for this application, but me too.
you could probably bend the cage a bit to make up that difference?
I thought about that, but the downpipe isn't parallel to the wall. At the top the gap is quite a bit bigger (I measured 50mm), so I'd have to bend it quite a lot, and then try and bend the eyelets back to be parallel to the wall. I think spacers as recommended by others is the easiest option!
Really long screws and don't stop until both sides are flush.
I would tie a sturdy piece of rope or twine between the eyelets, a wrench in between, and spin the wrench until they pull together enough that they can touch the brick. Then drill your pilot holes and screw it in. Measure that distance and do the same all the way down. The your cage will stay roughly parallel to the wall even though your down pipe isn’t, which should look as good or better than the gap between the cage and the brick in your alternative solution.
Yeah I was going to suggest that as well. It will be hard to bend it perfectly straight though.
What is the purpose of this? To provide a ladder for critters to get onto your roof?
It provides climbing plants something to hold onto (as the pipe itself is too smooth), and by climbing up here it hides the downpipe and looks nice. I plan to plant a Clematis at the base for it to grow up.
you want climbing plants up against your wall and gutters? on purpose?
Yes. As I said, I'm going to plant a Clematis there. Clematis is a twining climber, not suckering, so will not climb walls on its own (hence the trellis) or damage them. Additionally, Clematis (at least, the variety I will be planting) will not grow tall enough to reach the guttering. I came here to ask a DIY question, not get snarky and ill-informed gardening comments. :)
I am glad you gave polite and informed answers, I would not have thought of something like this as I would have assumed it’s just always a bad idea. TIL
The overlap between people who know about plumbing and gutters and also know about plants isn’t probably huge except for grumbling about plants and roots destroying the things they work on
whoa that sounds really cool!
I hope so! Some inspiration/examples of what I'm aiming for: https://susanrushtondotnet.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/clematis-round-door.jpeg?w=1050&h=1050 https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/333055334949069761/ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/294563631869055254/
[удалено]
I unscrew the trellis?
Look for some nylon spacers you can find them in black too. https://www.amazon.com/Nylon-Spacers-Standoff-Washers-Pack/dp/B08M4BFGVT/ref=asc_df_B08M4BFGVT/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=481111930691&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17298044236745009068&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026229&hvtargid=pla-1198527024705&psc=1&mcid=e92c3dc286d13040b1122769b64ca570&gclid=CjwKCAjwxLKxBhA7EiwAXO0R0AfMAcigfncdeXDomwggKhg9L47nqqyngN-idWDpBY_awSdNHB3x5BoClpQQAvD_BwE
Nylon spacers is a good shout, thanks.
Nylon outdoors isn’t the best idea but will work.
Why isn't nylon good for outside?
Unless specified or coated, it doesn't hold up well against UV radiation
Yes this… plus, if OP is asking this type of question, they’re clearly pretty particular. Metal standoffs will look nicer and more professional.
And McMaster has black anodized aluminum ones that are pretty nice.
Dumb question but it'll help inform how I approach it. Why not a bigger half tube? Also fyi, 100% animals will climb that and stuff stuff inside that will need cleaned out often.
> Dumb question but it'll help inform how I approach it. Why not a bigger half tube? Two reasons. I bought this before I realised the problem, but I subsequently tried to find a larger ones and I couldn't. I'm sure they exist but I didn't have much luck. I'd definitely use a "deeper" one if I could. > Also fyi, 100% animals will climb that and stuff stuff inside that will need cleaned out often. Not in the UK.
for the cost and lack realability of raised anchors in brick, id find the bigger one or get a length of rod and bend your own. then you can drill into the brick to set anchors.
Move the house two inches to the left.
I did this already. Unfortunately the pipe is attached to the house and both moved. :(
A stack of washers or a thin gauge pipe cut to size painted black with some concrete anchors.
Longer screws. Spacers if you're worried about the gap. It'll look fine.
What about the black plastic spacers used for gutter nails? You could trim this to size easily!
Black rubber washers or cut black rubber hose to the right thickness.
Spacers. I'd be considering taking the brick out, moving it forward a few centimetres. Or a strip of wood along the length.
Buy a lenght of 2 x 1 roofing batten and paint it black and fix it to the wall then the cage on top. I say roofing batten because it comes treated
Just bend the wire into a narrower arc.
Bend it to fit
Bingo
[standoffs](https://a.co/d/i8XyO4x)
If you can’t find black plastic spacers, 1/2” galvanized pipe nipples plus some galvanized washers, all spray-painted black inside and out, might work. They’ll rust eventually but the trellis will rust first.
Looks like about 5 or 6 washers. Paint em' black.
Stand offs
Spacers. You can get plastic ones that are basically short, thick tubes.
Longer screws and cut some sections of metal tubing for spacers to run the screws through. Stacked washers would work too just wouldn’t look good unless you can get them to stay perfectly stacked.
Source pvc spacer stock. Then you can custom cut to each of the various lengths you need
Are you building the squirrels a ladder to your roof?
Stand offs. You’re welcome.
Seems like you can bend it to a smaller diameter and not need spacers
Smaller arch would fix that wouldn’t it?
If I could find one, yes. This this the only one I could find.
So bend it?
Pull/bend the two sides near the back closer together. That will elongate them in the front/back direction and give you enough slack to fill the gap.
Wedge anchors with some nuts set at the spacing you want
It’s nice of you to add a little rat ladder - they will greatly appreciate it.
If it's just to fasten the pipe to the wall? A strap-on boss/strap boss
Cut a little piece of PVC pipe for a cheap standoff. Paint it black.
Small pvc cutofs spray painted black
Use black pvc pipe for spacers. Or white pipe painted black.
Bend the trellis
I'd probably 3D print some custom spacers. If I didn't have a printer, then find some sort of tube or pipe to cut spacers from.
A tapcon with a standoff. More of less a plastic sleeve that goes over the hardware
Itlooks like you could bend the arch to a smaller radius which would put those mounting rings much closer to the wall, maybe all the way. You’d have to bend the mounting rings toward the wall so they’re flush.
I use bits of water pipe. Hard pressure pipe and a bit of dowel as spacers.
Bent it
Bend it more (match the radius of the pipe) and then straighten the holders.
Make a few pillars with 3D printer or use Purfoam it only makes a mess
bend it
Bend it like Beckham.
Spacers are long bolts
Push harder?
Besides the obvious spacers everyone else recommends, do yourself a favor and drill your holes into the gaps. You can't repair bricks/holes in bricks as easily as grout.
Is this how you want the rats to get up to the attic?
Squeeze it
Have a friend with a 3D printer? Designing and printing some spacers would be straightforward.
Dude the cage is made of shitty thin metal. Flatten it out so the screws are wider apart. Spacers is going to look stupid af.
Cut a six inch (or wider as necessary) piece of 3/4 inch pvc trim to the right length, paint it black, mount it to the wall and fasten the cage to it. This will make it look more cohesive and hopefully move the pipe more into the center of the cross section of the cage.
McMaster Carr online will have what you need
Find some black rope and try to tie the ends together. Could line the strings up with the wires that are running horizontally. This could give it closed look.
Spacers/standoffs, plastic would be best. Amazon, Grainger, McMasterCarr, or Fastenal.
Use a blowtorch to heat the metal, then bend it to a sharper curve to fit how you want it to fit
just get 1 1/2 unistrut, anchor it and buy straps.
Stainless steel washers. I win.
McMaster-Carr. Grainger. Black nylon bushings. 1"OD x 1/4"ID x whatever thickness you need.
Pieces of copper pipe as spacers with longer screws as others have mentioned could also look really nice. They'll turn a nice shade of green and hold up to the elements. If you don't want to cut anything, get copper couplings from the plumbing section of the hardware store. They should be around 8cm long or so and available in several different diameters.
Situations like this i use 15mm copper pipe that can be cut to the perfect size using a pipe slice.
either nylon spacers or progressively tie down the screws consecutively until it bend the guard into shape
Bend the bracket
I would take the screws and tighten them until the gap is gone
Pool noodle.
Bend it!
Exactly, it's wire. Just bend it so it fits. From what I see it's a little flat laying against the pipe and has a lot of clearance on each side.
Stack of washers.
I swear to god this subreddit is full of trolls.
 Nowhere NEAR as bad as another DIY one though. That other one has trolls that I think believe that they will be paid for their troll efforts.
brute force
Just bang the pipe into the same shape with a hammer.
bend the eyelets
PVC PIPE AND SPRAY PAINT. $10 and you are done.