I Suck at Failing | Wiener Dog Handicap Ramp
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 бер 2016
- This handicap ramp for my wiener dog didn't turn out as expected.
Subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/1XTHlSF
More photos, details and plans for this project: goo.gl/
OFFICIAL SPONSOR
Micro Jig: amzn.to/25oZn4A
PROJECTS, PLANS AND TUTORIALS
makesomething.tv/
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES USED
amzn.to/1RLxSrW: Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Screw Kit
Learn more about my shop and the tools I use: goo.gl/KaDZ10
Want to help support MAKE SOMETHING? Get early viewing, a weekly exclusive vlog and more...
makesomething.tv/support
SHIRTS, STICKERS, PLANS AND MORE!
makesomethingstore.com/
FOLLOW:
/ drunkenwood
/ makesomethingtv
/ makesomethingtv
/ makesomethi. .
David Picciuto
PO Box 2499
Toledo, OH 43606
© Picciuto, LTD - Навчання та стиль
Could the issue be that Weenz can't get traction on the ramp because it is too steep? Perhaps adding friction/grip tape or small slats on each board would give him the control he needs to feel safe using the existing ramp. Just an idea.
My dog wouldn't use his ramp until I put an indoor/outdoor carpet runner on it. I guess the added traction gave him confidence.
What if you lowered the top of the ramp so that Weenz would take one step down to the right, then go down a shallower ramp?
Was gonna suggest same idea..... Good thing I looked at comments before I posted
What if you redid the steps to have wider treads? You might be able to find through experimentation a tread width that Weenz would be forced to take one at a time but people could still walk up without much extra annoyance or taking up too much of the space.
David, You might have failed a bit at the ramp, but you have succeeded at being a GREAT dog dad.
That's WAY more important in my book. Thanks for sharing! You're the man! : )
I don't know what you ended up with. We just made a dog ramp yesterday outside of our kitchen door, about 40 inches high there, for our elderly dog. No trips to the home improvement store. We used everything we had here. It's all temporary but very sturdy. Just posting because maybe it will give someone else ideas if they are in desperate need of a dog ramp...
First, we extended the top step just under the door with a heavy duty plastic pallet to give us an upper landing. So at the top, this pallet rests on the steps themselves. At the bottom, concrete block piers, 3 1/2 blocks high, at the outer corners hold it up safely. We turned some blocks in the pier 90° and rested them on the lower step to interweave the blocks and make the piers stronger. No concrete to hold it together, it's just stacked blocks but very sturdy.
We have some masonry scaffolding and for that we have 2 of those expandable aluminum walk boards, 8 to 13 ft length and each 16 inch wide. They form the 32inch wide ramp itself. Just concrete blocks underneath to hold them up. We laid them at an L, turning the corner off of the top platform to run parallel with the house from the landing. On the inside corner near the kitchen door, we set a portable shed to make sure no one could fall off right there as you open the door. We can't open the plastic shed door, but we weren't using it anyway. You've got to use what you have.
We used one piece of masonry scaffolding on its side, each section is 4 feet by 5 feet, at the outer part of the landing across from the door, and attached it with woodworking F clamps to the concrete blocks ( through the holes in the blocks). [ Got to find something to use instead of woodworking clamps -- I need those inside! Later. We just needed to see if this would work. ]
The scaffolding has huge gaps in it and we figured our dog would go right through it when he comes out the door, because he's almost blind. So we took a bunch of old lengths of rope and tied it off across the scaffolding to make a grid and cris crossed that effectively closing in the gaps in the masonry scaffolding.
The expanding walk boards are interlaced like two sets of fingers and when you draw them apart to make a shallow enough ramp it leaves gaps. We had some old carpeting with rubber backing. I just laid it along the ramp so that his feet didn't go through the holes. Thought we were going to have to go to the store for the cheapest weatherproof surface we could find to lay on top of the ramps, but we were saved. I'm going to go get a 2ft by 12ft piece of indoor outdoor carpeting to replace it with for $12. Later.
For railings along the ramp, I was thinking more pieces of masonry scaffolding set alongside and clamped to the ramps, but we looked around and took an old aluminum extension ladder, took the two parts separate and just clamped them onto the outer edges of both walk boards. It's not a high enough railing for a human or for building code, but it's high enough for a dog in a temporary structure.
The dog took to it very quickly and is now going in and out safely by himself where he was falling down the stairs because he couldn't see. And he has an old leg injury. This is going to be an easy winter for us, hopefully, just open the door and he wanders out.
It works so well that I am now trying to think what else we have that we could put together another ramp even longer and higher for my sister who has rescue dogs, elderly and infirm. I have another extension ladder, broken, that a contractor left behind. But I'm just trying to think how to build another temporary ramp without going out and buying some of this lockdown lumber! I'm running out of materials here...
It occurs to me that we might go logging. Build it camping style out of cut down trees. or my brother has a bamboo infestation he's trying to get rid of slowly...
Had exact same problem; tried all kinds of ramps. Then the Vet suggested smaller steps. I made 5 inch steps, 4 inch drop THEN added Carpet . Worked Perfect ! He even sits halfway down them just chillin. Did for the neighbors dog and it worked for them too. Really enjoy your work and your videos. Google mini dog steps for some good images for examples.
+Don DeSpain Right on! Thanks Don!
When I got to the end of the video all I could think of was Triumph the Insult Comic Dog saying "Nice ramp... FOR ME TO POOP ON."
That isn't you sucking at failure. That's you winning man! If you can't learn from it, that is when you fail.
It is not a failure, but a learning experience.
I don't see this as a fail. you came away from it learning something and that's what is important. If I thought every misstep in woodworking was a failure then I may have become discouraged and gave up. I chose to learn from it and now continue to grow in the craft.
Forget the ramp, have you considered a firemans pole? Dogs love those!
I appreciate you showing the learning process we all go through. It encourages me to know that I'm not the only one who sometimes struggles.
Nice storytelling, btw.
You didn't ask for suggestions, but the idea of a fold-up sliding ramp feels complicated.
1) You could have an L shaped ramp with a landing closer to the top, maybe 25% down. That shifts the long part of the ramp away from the steps and next to the fence, and won't require it to extend so much out from the house while still being a more gentle slope. Being up against the fence would protect him from falling on that side.
2) The ramp doesn't have to come all the way to the top step. Depending on his abilities, he can step that last little bit. This will allow a more gentle slope.
3) Not sure the situation with the fence, but if you could swap the gate with the third section of the fence, a longer ramp wouldn't be in the way so much. You'd have to move/add pavers on the other side.
sorry if I missed it in the comments but what was the gauge you were using against the blade of the chop saw?
great video and linn is on to something. perhaps an arduino-powered draw bridge so weenz could push the button when the call off doody beckons?
Looks like you have more space between the fence and steps, what if you make it like an S going down to the ground? Go down a little then turn and go down a little more, and so on.
I think you've inspired me to think twice before angrily deleting my fail footage... Maybe I'll just start fail footage file, and make a fail bloopers clip some day. :)
Go Weenz! I wonder if rails on each side of the ramp (with an access point at the top) would make it look less intimidating to Weenz. Maybe 6" tall?
+GarageWoodworks Maybe! Thanks Brian!
hhaha great ending!! love that saying "Fail as much as you can" best way to learn!
I agree. No failure = no learning. When I moved to Brasil 30 years ago an old White haired missionary told me; You can't learn Portuguese without making one million mistakes in it, so you might as well get started!
Absolutely agree, being "ok" with failure is a good thing. Keep up the good work.
My in laws just lost their two Winer dogs about four months apart. Amazing how attached we get to pets.
Can you move the location of your gate so you can make the ramp longer?
One step down at the top of the ramp?
+Dustin Penner I've thought about this.
+Make Something looking at it from a home improvement/ content creation aspect, I'd say your best bet would be to build out a small deck and turn the stairs 90*. That'll give you enough room for a ramp.
+heygeno1951 that's a good one too! Hinge the entire ramp.
Did you ever make that over-the-steps ramp?? I need to build one
hahaha... super cute dog, love the name too.. and great message too! Look forward to the hinged slider version!
Joe
Add air springs (like on a tailgate), the ramp is fairly horizontal and then lowers slowly as he gets to the end.
Well Dave.. It's obvious what needs to happen.. Since the gate is messing up the putting in a ramp.. You'll have to rebuild the fence and move the gate.. And since your moving the gate, you should update the whole fence. Which will probably mean you'll need to dig in some new fence post hole. And if your doing that you might as well build a deck out on that side of the house for all bbqing and that.. Then you can make a ramp that is the main walkway onto the deck.. But make sure you make the ramp way wide enough for a wheelchair cuz then your deck & house is wheelchair accessible! So! A new fence with a moved gate, a new deck.. Then you could upgrade the BBQ (cuz... Why not?!).. Then you get your ramp for the dog AND!! For wheelchairs! :)
Your sucking at failure means we get to learn from your mistakes. Thanks for being honest!
Great! Loved it. Especially your outro.... "go out and make something".... I did not see that one coming. LOL
Nice one
Thank you
I think Weenz had the best project in this video, and he didnt need pocket holes to build it
Best thing I've seen on your channel. It was very Edison like. He found thousands of ways not to make a light bulb.
Part of success is building on failure.
Time for me to go see what today holds.
I have had several dachshunds thru my life. There spine kind of acts like a slinky spring. With very small front legs, obviously braking becomes an issue once momentum is gained. Instead of a smooth ramp, I would suggest a very shallow stair step, say two or three steps per human step. You could still use the existing ramp.
I couldn't agree more... Don't fear failure!
I like that "fail as much as you can"
A small gap between the slats give grip on even a steep slope. I've done something similar in the past, both dogs and humans used it. Plus water won't gather between adjacent slats.
Great video David - thanks for being willing to show your failure helping come up with a better idea. Question for you, what is the tool you used to check the miter saw blade position (checking for square I assume)?
GREAT teaching, mentoring video. Thank you
I'm an absolute dog lover. I love that you recognize the need for Weenz to have a ramp. Great idea David, keep trying, for the sake of the dog.
How about a draw bridge type of ramp. The ramp would always be in the up position attached to the wall next to the door. But when you need it, you unlock it using a pin or one of those bathroom door stall door locks. You would need to find a torsion spring or some other mechanism, maybe gas struts to make it easier to lower the ramp. You could make it as long as you need and once he's down you can raise it back up out of the way. Maybe...
You didn't fail. You just found one way that won't work. It's all about perspective.
Loved this video! Great initiative for your old doggy :) Good luck on the next try, I'm sure it's going to be way better!
I had to build something similar for my aging Golden. I built it over the steps as well, but I also placed small one by slats across so there was no slipping and gave him a place for his paws to grip if you will, and it might give weenz a little more confidence that his paws would not slip and he wouldn't fall. Winter weather and rain will make it slippery and one slide up or down and he may look twice at using your idea again. Good Luck!
"Fail as much as you can" T- shirt.
I'd buy one
well I've spent a good part of my life figuring out the wrong way to do things. I'm pretty happy in spite of myself. keep on doing !! and sharing!!
Adorable dog! I just thought of an idea that might make a cool video and be useful for Weenz. You make a much longer ramp that acts like a draw bridge with a simple pulley system that you control from the inside of your house. That way you can easily release the ramp and then bring it back up against the house without it ever being in the way.
+Darbin Orvar That would be amazing! I would probably need your help in developing this! Thanks Linn!
+Make Something I'll be right over ;)
What about making the stairs half as high on that section to the left of the door? So basically twice as many stairs that have a shorter rise.Good to see the failure taken as a lesson rather than something negative.Sincerely,Tom Z
You could also try adding horizontal strips to your current ramp so they act as steps. Some kids playgrounds have that on their steep ramps.
We must be the same kind of weirdo, I laughed so hard when Weinez was going poop. My wife is madly in love with my pitbull (Bubba) so when I have a day off and she's working I txt here pictures of him pooping. LOL she says I'm a weirdo but I can't help but laugh.
what if u switched the grill eith the ramp giving u more space to extend the ramp.
Before scrapping a perfectly good ramp, I'd consider alternatives. The first thing I'd consider is how slippery a dog might find ramps, especially if wet. Gluing sand to the surface might be worth a shot. Also, that dog's legs and feet are smaller than yours -- why not make a staircase with shorter, smaller steps? It would essentially look like a ramp to most humans, and you could probably test the theory with scrap-wood and an air-nailer. Best luck!
Nice video! Goes right along with what you guys always talk about in the podcast. Fail until you get it right!
As an industrial designer i learn't to embrace failure as it helps you learn so much and improve your design. Prototyping is a great and efficient way to do this without committing too much time in the build. For example you could have put a piece of plywood down the stairs to quickly check the gradient and see if Weenz is interested in using it. Keep up the great work and "Fail often to succeed sooner" (Tom Kelly).
Great dog, great lesson. I'm always so hard on myself when I fail at projects. Good to know the pros do it to. Very encouraging!
+Mark Gstohl Thanks Mark! I wouldn't call myself a pro. :)
Have a ramp of similar size for our wiener dog to get on and off the bed. Hated her jumping off the bed cause back issues are often a big problem with these dogs. Took awhile to get her to use it. Had to train her to use it with treats. I put carpet on it for traction. Maybe use indoor/outdoor carpet and he might feel more comfortable using it because of better traction? Non skid strips or paint?
try to adder rubber mat for softness and help him to not slide on the ramp ?
Nice attempt - thanks for sharing. It is so easy to gloss over the failures which prevents others from learning.
-Todd
since he's going to use it only to go down, turn the steep ramp you already have into a slide. you only need to find a metal sheet to cover it.
he seems like an adventurous dog, I bet he would have fun with it
what did u do to your long stairs in your house?
Would you please please respond? 🙏
how about putting a Flat platform on wheels with a counterweight at the top of your new ramp. Dog gets on a nice flat platform which is then too heavy for counterweight and platform/dog rolls down. Dog gets off and the counterweight bring it back up. probably wouldn't work well in the winter though
I have two wieners and I did fail at the first attempt at a ramp. I ended up with a 3 level ramp, with 12 foot lengths. They still don't use it because I think it would stood complicated for them them to figure it out.
doing something cool for your dog is always a win in my book. love dogs...
What about a ramp on the orther side where the grill is running parallel to the house ?
+Art Connolly It would work if the door can be hinged on the other side. I should take a look.
Hey David - did you ponder the idea of changing the swing of your door and having a longer ramp on the other side? Or perhaps a slip'n'slide?
What about making the ramp on the other side of the steps and extending it that way so it doesnt interfere with the door? Or scrapping the ramp in general, rebuild the steps with longer and more steps to see if he will go down those.
I like the idea of fail as much as you can. Now I just have to figure out how to be in such a good mood about it like you are! Keep up the great work David!
+Josh Millar I've been sitting on this failure for a few days and have had time to cool off. I wasn't too happy at first but now I get to make something even better!
That's a great way of making things not only better but better on your mind!
You make also want to put something (rubber matting, old carpet) on the ramp. Older dogs can be afraid of things they find slippery, especially on slopes.
Good advice!
I had a wiener dog that died last year with 15 yo. He liek to play superman also and jump from 4 feet high walls. This cause hin to have a back problem, the vet said that this dogs can not jump even the steps of a stair. So i build a ramp to him and he use it all the time! I made my 2 inches wide boards and with alternating highs tah way he would not slip. His claws has something to catch as he gone up and down. But we have to replace de stairs and put the ramp instead, otherwise he would not use it. They are very very stuborn dogs! Good luck!
I would try putting indoor/outdoor carpet on it with a couple of 1x2 slats across. With a little grip for his paws he might use this ramp.
Have you thought about making the top of the ramp at the height of your second highest stair to reduce the slope of your ramp?
+matthew vera then weenz still only has the one stair but the ramp doesnt end abruptly with one stair at the bottom
mmmm why don't you just double the stairs so it will be 8 half height stairs on the side?
Yes he can jump but not big stairs.. but tiny may can!
weenz just made something!
But did he stay passionate?
+mikedaguanno I never win anything lol
project with a message, I'm loving it. and about time someone made something for their pet, they must feel so left out watching humans make things for themselves.
🤔This is not a failure, yet it is a potential upgrade to a proof of concept! Thanks for sharing! Hey Weenz🌭!
Try using 3M Safety Walk Outdoor Tread. I believe it could give the traction needed. I made a set of stairs for my dachshund for a similar reason. He also refused to use the stairs until I put those treads on for traction.
I purchased the Kreg HD and weather resistant screws just for outdoor projects like this. Such a cute dog. Hope the next project works, you could make a custom pet stair lift for your inside stairs, few on you tube. :-)
A platform counter-balanced with something weighting a little less than the dog could be a lot more compact than a ramp. Caster wheels could guide it to go up and down smoothly.
Nice , I love your attitude ! Maybe a dog slide behind the grill!?
+David Waelder I like that! Thanks David!
+Make Something I was going to suggest maybe behind the grill too
David, you and jimmy need to weld Weenz up a set of prosthetic legs. Give the dog some real legs and he'll be fine. 😊
Failure has been my professor to learning how to do things right!
what about replacing the ramp with a set of lower profile stairs
The person who never made a mistake never tried anything new
A fellow who never makes a mistake must get tired of doing nothing
always get me past the mistakes i make and the different between a master and a beginner is master know how to hide their mistake.
hi from England :)
Hey David, thanks for showing us this project and encouraging failure...such an important, yet at time frustrating, part of getting it down! oh, and I like how Weenz made something at the end, nice touch. SUBBED!
Try making the top of your ramp at the third step so it's one step down, then a reduced angle on the ramp?
I was thinking you can put those anti slip strips across it but then I remembered that dogs have that padding on there paws so you might not need those.
Cool video Dave, thanks for sharing (especially the end, haha). Hope to see version 2.0 in the future
+Robin Lewis Thanks!
You should try to make some sort of spiral stairs but obviously without stairs ! Just a good slip but in spiral, wouldn't that reduce the amount of space it takes ?
Failures are gifts. Good stuf!
You could make like a zig zag style with less slope. When businesses don't have the room for the correct slope it has to be zig zagged.
i would put 1' sections of 4x4 in the valley of each step (on the side of the fence). that would essentially double the number of steps that Weenz could use. He has little legs and doing this would give him a dog friendly rise and run.
I hope Weenz is still doing okay.
I know the ramp was at the old house, but here is a thought. The top of the ramp is even with the top step. You said Weenz could manage a step. Could you have built the top of the ramp lower, possibly even with the second step? That would reduce the slope without extended the footprint. It might need a side panel to keep him from bouncing off the fence.
great ideas...what if you tried adding the sticky sandpaper type stair treads to the ramp boards. That would break it up and to weenz look like stairs.
+Jeffrey Anstey I bought outdoor carpet for it but never bothered installing it but it's just too steep.
I had to make a ramp for my mothers old cat. Ended up being 2ft high and 6gt long, so whatever angle that is. But even with it being so shallow the cat didn't like going down till I added carpet on the top. Extra grip or maybe even just the comfort got the cat to use it. So I'd say scrap the stairs completely and replace it with a ramp, add some astro turf or outdoor carpet and cleats for human feet.
I was a professor of 3D design and my students always had a hard time understanding the importance of failure. Learning what not to do is better than learning what to do.
You could build a 4 foot by 6 foot deck off the back and make 16 inch deep steps going down next to the house. You could get the grill on the deck, Weenz gets deeper steps (like a landing for each step) and you should still be able to get through the gate.
How do you like those black and decker drills?
+Simon White The battery dies pretty quick on it but other than that it works great.
+Make Something thanks!!
I make a lot of mistakes making mostly because of rushing through things. I learn a lot but it still can be very discouraging.
Way to go Weenz!! Talk about no fear on that last step. Perhaps Weenz has just been telling you in his own way that it's time to move into a house with no steps and a bigger shop :)