How to Make a Pet Bed Out of PVC Pipe

Building a PVC pet bed is an inexpensive way to give your pet a comfortable place to rest. The entire family can join in for this project and the pet bed can be made for a pet of any type or size. PVC is so easy to work with that even the little kids can help.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • PVC pipe, ¾-inch diameter (amount depends on size of pet bed)
  • Hacksaw or PVC cutter
  • 4 PVC side outlets or 3-way corners, ¾-inch diameter
  • 4 PVC caps, ¾-inch diameter
  • PVC glue
  • Heavy duty fabric
  • Scissors
  • Needle
  • Thread or fabric adhesive
  • Velcro
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the pet on a flat surface and measure a square around the pet. Add about 2 inches on each side.

    • 2

      Measure and cut the PVC to the dimensions around the animal. Calculate the correct fabric length needed. To do this, add 2 inches to all the measurements and multiply by two. Cut the fabric to the correct dimensions. Decide how tall you want the bed to be and use a hacksaw to cut four legs from the PVC pipe.

    • 3

      Coat the inside of the side ports on the three-way corner connectors with PVC glue. These are the ports that make the "V" shape. Insert the pipes you cut for the sides of the bed into the ports and connect them together to make a square or rectangle.

    • 4

      Set the pet inside the square or rectangular shape and make sure the pet fits.

    • 5

      Run a ring of PVC glue around the inside edge of the PVC caps and slide them onto the bottoms of the legs. Glue the inside of the open port on the corner connectors and insert the legs into the ports. Allow all the glue to dry for two to three hours.

    • 6

      Fold the heavy duty fabric in half lengthwise and hem around the edges of the fabric so that the fabric does not become frayed. The double layer fabric will be sturdier and last longer. Denim and corduroy are both strong fabrics.

    • 7

      Measure and cut the Velcro strips. Take the length of each side of the frame and subtract 2 inches. Cut the Velcro to this size.

    • 8

      Stretch the fabric over the frame and pull it as tightly as possible. Attach the Velcro strip to the underside of the fabric and the fabric that is pulled around the outside of the frame. The tighter the fabric is, the less the fabric will sag.