Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that the sheets at the place I am going to buy the melamine they are 49 by 97 inches. I am going to have the shelves 49 long just to keep from wating all that melamine. And 30 inches deep. I am going to have one shelf of 3 31 quart rubbermaid bluish containers from target I have like 6 I bought too many. about 6.5 inches tall. And two shelves of 41 quart or maybe one of those bigger (a older container bought a while ago that is now almost empty used to hold reptile equipment) 6 or 6.5 inches tall. And finally a shelve of shoeboxes I don't know what ones but I am going to have a lot of extra snakes soon (My friends who were into herps are giving their corns to me and a hooknose.) Maybe one more shelve of something I don't know yet. I will have the place cut the sheets of the size up from 1/2 inch I think 5/8 or something. They will be cut to 30 inches. That will give 3 shelves per sheet. And the sides will be the same as the shelves so I would need 7 sheets so three boards will give me 9 shelves. The extra I will use as a kick stop on the bottom. I will heat it using rope light (yes the christams stuff I forgot to buy extra so I will just use what I have.) hopefully on a thermostat (they had one at the reptile show that I didn't buy because I don't know why. It think I covered everything without too many typos because I don't feel like reading it over I will later maybe. Thanks for the replies so much Josh.

Rock on The Hard lessons (a kick band that I just saw)
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thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice (has mites how do I get rid of them prevent a mite fast answers before I have a collection of mite infested animals)
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake
1.1.0 childrens python
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

if i understand you correctly your going to use 7 sheets of melamine to build this monster rack? if so add a trailer hitch as it will weigh more than a 4x4.

a 49" span without support will definaetly sag in the middle.

instead of making shelfs different heights why not use tubs with the same approx.height,sterilite 12,27 and 41qt. tubs can be used in the same opening.if you want to use shoe boxes in these openings you can with weighted lids.

i hope i'm understanding your plan correctly.have fun!

I must have forgot to mention the supports on the back from a scrap piece or two and that I am going to put a back on once the heat is set up. I know I have it at different heghts but it is just easiest and I alreay have all the boxes for it. Thanks for the responses Josh. I am building it in place so weight isn' the biggest deal.
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thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice (has mites how do I get rid of them prevent a mite fast answers before I have a collection of mite infested animals)
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake
1.1.0 childrens python
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

Weight may not be a big deal now, just hope you never have to move it?
-----
Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I agree: Sterilite has come out with a 6 or 7 qt shoe box with what looks like a very escape proof locking lid (latches both ends)which you could just set in your 12 or 27 qt. shelfs if needed.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html
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RBICHLER

...............things clear i have never used small (4-6qt.) tubs with latching lids for hatchlings.i use 4qt. sterilites with lids and patio blocks on top and have never had an escape.have fun!

When I read through the post I got the feeling that your plans are rather haphazard. I just didn't get the impression that you had really drawn out the plans with accurate measurements. 7 sheets of melamine? 49 inch shelves? Weight and sag will be an issue. Also, don't forget that melamine shelves that sag have a tendency to also split at the screwhole. I've built racks and rebuilt them and used melamine for garage storage cabinets/racks as well. I've never seen shelves in those that were longer than 32 inches hold up for very long. I've even seen one come tumbling down on itself when they tried to move it across the garage with the shelves in place.
I would suggest that you reconsider the design. Maybe just build a taller unit with shelves that hold one large box per shelf. You can build it to take a single large box sideways or two smaller boxes from the same series, say 15 qt boxes, per shelf. Do some shopping online and look at the pics to get some ideas and designs that you may want to build into your rack.
Just making a suggestion, hope you don't take this wrong.

I will have the place cut the sheets of the size up from 1/2 inch I think 5/8 or something.

For the size you are suggesting I would go with 3/4".

But there is something about your post that does not make sense. You say the sides will be the same as the shelves, which tells me you plan to make a rack that is a bit over 49" long, 30" deep, and 49" tall.

I don't see you fitting over seven levels in a rack that tall, especially with the size of some of the boxes you listed. That will make for EIGHT shelves at 30" x 49" and TWO sides, also at 30" x 49". That's only ten panels of melamine.

If you limit it to six levels, which I think is likely, then you'd only need three full sheets of melamine.

So are you planning on building two racks?

Sorry for being confusing yea 3/4 is what I meant I just couldn't remember. Yes it is only one rack. I will have one extra shelf from 3 sheets. Would you say that saggin would still be a issue if I put the supports on the back I was thinking like 3 supports. I forgot one more thing I am going to put a shelves at the top for structural purposes. My only concern is it sagging now I didn't realize that it might sag and break. Would it sag with the supports screwed into the back? The extra shelf will be for if I need to put more animals on the rack. I will only have 4 openings for cages so that isn't that tall. Thanks for the advice. Sorry for not beign clear because I didn't reread it.
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thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice (has mites how do I get rid of them prevent a mite fast answers before I have a collection of mite infested animals)
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake
1.1.0 childrens python
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

I'm still not coming up with seven sheets, even with leaving a panel for the back (this was the first time you mentioned a back). More on that later.

Also, I don't believe the extra shelf at the top is necessary. Any extra weight should be distributed to the sides if at all possible.

I believe the sagging can be controlled, although I'm usually very careful when building a hatchling rack that wide. You mentioned a row of shoeboxes so I assume you're planning on some hatchlings. The hatchling row will need tighter tolerances so even minor sagging can be an issue.

I would encourage you to skip the row of shoeboxes and build a separate hatchling rack.

I would assemble the rack with Confirmat screws and polyurethane glue. I would also get the melamine from a cabinet shop so you can get glue-line quality cuts. The particle board interior will be better than what you can get at Home Depot and hold the screws better.

But back to the material usage, I don't think you'll fit seven levels in that rack if you take my advice and skip the shoeboxes.

Seven levels would mean eight shelves at 3/4" each, or 6" of vertical space due to shelf thickness. Subtract that from 49" and you only have 43". Divide that by 7 and you only have have room for 6" boxes. Not only are most boxes taller than 6", you've already mentioned that some of yours are 6.5".

So I would encourage you to stick with six levels. That will allow for your slightly taller boxes and leave room for an air space and a toe-kick.

So you only need 9 panels at 30" x 49" for the shelves and sides. That's three full sheets with a bit leftover for cleats, supports, etc.

Then one more sheet for the back panel and you'll have half of that leftover for an extra top shelf if you really need it and even an extra shelf if your box height allows a seven level rack.

Sorry, I'm only coming up with four full sheets.

One other thought. Are your boxes of a width that will allow you to really take advantage of the 49" width? Unless the boxes are 16.25" wide or less you won't be able to fit three per shelf.

I would strongly look at what your exact needs are for a rack. Personally, I would rather build two racks without a back than one big rack with a back. The material usage will be about the same and the sagging issues will be reduced.

But I'd need to see the exact boxes you'll be using before making that decision.

I am only putting in the shelves I need right now and not filling the rack with all the shelves I can. I am using a 41 quart box for one of the shelves which I don't have the numbers for becuase it was a holiday storage and it doesn't have any but it was the same as a 41 quart sterlite. just a different top and sticker. Then the rubbermaid revelations 3a28 31 quart it is only 15.5 wide so I will have three on that shelf. Then I may use a box from a while ago a 2129 ? rubbermaid wrap and craft. It is 42.5 x 19.5 x 6.5. I may be able to build another hatchling rack but I want to know about this one first. Any other ideas are welcome. Thanks Josh.
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thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice (has mites how do I get rid of them prevent a mite fast answers before I have a collection of mite infested animals)
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake
1.1.0 childrens python
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

I'm still having a difficult time following your design. It sounds like you're taking on too much and trying to make this rack too versatile. I'll assume you know what you're doing.

I don't have an issue with using boxes of different heights in a rack - I've done it myself. I had a rack built around a tall box that I could not always find. So I would just shim up each shelf with posterboard and strips of hardboard and it worked great for shallower boxes.

But it sounds like you'll be using boxes that vary a lot in length and width which seems like a waste to me but I guess I don't know your specific needs.

Like Chris I am having trouble following your plan but he has that covered.

My concern is are you taking the measurments off the tubs them selves. You mentioned the sticker missing so you guessed on dimensions? I would seriously advise you to take a tape measure and use it. You'll find the manufacture is never correct and that the measurments include the lids. which is fine as long as you know this. A 41qt is actually in the 5.5" area not 6" like the lable says but like I said this is 6" with the lid.

Do us a favor and measure once cut twice.

My 2 Cents
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

I think you have that backwards

"Do us a favor and measure once cut twice."

or did you say it wrong on purpose?

Measure TWICE, cut ONCE!
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

opps
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Now that I think about it maybe I should read twice, submit once. LOL

Thanks
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Like we all have not done similar....I know I have!!!
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Sounds like you're designing more on not wasting material than on practicality and/or usage of rack. I agree with the others that 49" even with back support is quite prone to sag. For the cost of two additional uprights you could make two racks. Not sure how this would work with your various tub sizes, maybe make one rack for one size and a second for another?????? with additional sizes worked into one or the other?
-----
Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats