How to Build a Guillotine Door for Animal Cages

A guillotine door is defined as any door that slides up and down. The door is often operated by a cable attached to the top of the movable portion of the door and routed through pulleys to a position outside the animal enclosure. This allows the operator to open or close the door without entering the pen. The door is made up of a few simple components. It is more commonly used in commercial kennels or dog shelters than by home pet owners.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2-inch plywood
  • 5/8-inch plywood
  • 1/4-inch thick, 2-inch wide flat iron
  • Power drill
  • Power saw
  • Rope
  • Pulley
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the door for the guillotine from a piece of 1/2-inch plywood. The door should be at least 2 inches wider and 2 inches higher than the door opening and the kennel wall. Drill a 1/4-inch hole about an inch from the top at the center of the door.

    • 2

      Create the tracks for the guillotine door. Cut two pieces of 5/8-inch plywood 4 inches wide and twice as long as the height of the door. Attach these pieces of plywood on each side of the door opening leaving a gap of the width of the piece of plywood cut for the door plus about 1/2 inch. Fasten the plywood to the wall with fasteners appropriate for the wall material. These are the track spacers.

    • 3

      Cut two pieces of 1/4-inch thick, 2-inch wide flat iron to the same length as the track spacers. Drill screw holes in the flat iron every 12 inches. Attach the flat iron to the track spacers with the inner edge extending about an inch past the edge of the track spacer. This creates the track for the guillotine door.

    • 4

      Drop the door in place from the top. If there is not clearance between the top of the track and the ceiling, the door may have to be placed before the final flat iron portion of the track is installed.

    • 5

      Tie a rope or cable to the hole in the top of the door. Pass the cable through a pulley attached to the wall or ceiling directly above the center of the door. The other end of the cable extends to the outside of the kennel pen. The door can then be operated by pulling on the cable to raise the door and releasing the cable to lower the door.