Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just built a rack for adult kings and corns. Eight spots - one bin wide, 40 qt. tubs, lidless. I used pine 1X8s and 1X10s to construct the bulk of the rack. Everything turned out pretty good.

I really want to put a good sealer on it as I know the tendency for pine to warp - and everything slides real nice right now. What is a good sealer to use, and can I paint over the sealer? - if so what type of paint.

Also, what is a good method to "lock" the tubs in place? I have had a cat pull out a couple tubs before, and we also have a baby on the way. I am looking for a simple way to keep the tubs from being easily pulled out by cats, or curious two year olds??

Thanx alot for reading and/or responding.

Matty

>>I really want to put a good sealer on it as I know the tendency for pine to warp - and everything slides real nice right now. What is a good sealer to use, and can I paint over the sealer? - if so what type of paint.

I would suggest using a polyurathane wood sealer if you are going to go with the plain wood look. A latex paint however could be used by itself IMO. However I would suggest priming the wood prior to painting it.

If you want to paint over the polyurathane you can use a primer first. I did this for my old Iguana cage, but like I said I don't think you need the polyurathane. The paint will be sufficant.

One problem I see is that once painted or sealed which ever you prefer, it will add some thickness to the wood. Which good inadvertantly cause the tubs not to slide as well. Just a note of caution.

>>Also, what is a good method to "lock" the tubs in place? I have had a cat pull out a couple tubs before, and we also have a baby on the way. I am looking for a simple way to keep the tubs from being easily pulled out by cats, or curious two year olds??

Best way is to ditch the Baby and Cats, stick with reptiles. Just Kidding. Although I recommend get a seperate room at some point, but thats besides the point. I can't really answer this without seeing the rack itself.

But I imagine ther is some type of upper shelf above the tub. You could simply drill a small hole and drop a nail down through. This would keep any cat or child from simply pulling the tub out. Your imagination can make it more complex but the nail bit will work. You could even put a padlock through the upper shelf when inserted the tub can't slide out.

Hope that helps
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
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Thanx for the tips. I will post some pictures tomorrow, maybe that can spark some ideas for the "locking" problem. In the past I drilled two 1/2 inch holes per shelf - parallel with the tubs in the front halfway up. I then slid 1/2 inch copper pipe all the way across the front - through the holes. This is very effective for preventing tubs from being pulled out, but kind of a pain, and looks a bit silly.

This is a cool forum, but the search engine on K.S. is brutal, it's real hard to go back and find relevant threads from the past.

Later

Matt

>> but kind of a pain, and looks a bit silly.

Just remember it for the safety of your animals and you loved ones!

>>This is a cool forum, but the search engine on K.S. is brutal, it's real hard to go back and find relevant threads from the past.

Agree I tried it yesterday to find an old post and it was such a pain I gave up. It needs to be more like a search engine I used to use but is no longer active. www.Go.com which actually used to be something else, but changed in the ninety's.
Post those pics it may spark my imaginative side!
Jeremy

My new rack under-construction!

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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
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

>>
>>Also, what is a good method to "lock" the tubs in place? I have had a cat pull out a couple tubs before, and we also have a baby on the way. I am looking for a simple way to keep the tubs from being easily pulled out by cats, or curious two year olds??
>>
>>Thanx alot for reading and/or responding.
>>
>>Matty

Drill holes in your shelves or use small eye screws in virtical line, and use one rod to slide through the holes to secure the tubs.

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