Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to build a new rack, and was thinking about making it out of Stainless steel. I know I'll have a hard time keeping in the heat, but as I heat the whole room, it's not that big of a deal. I can get any kind of sheet metal, and I was thinking stainless would look better. Is there any reason not to use stainless? Is there any reason not to use sheet metal?
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Please...
Keep an OPEN MIND, You'll be AMAZED...

It might be a little expensive, no?

If not, I think you can buy stainless sheeting where they sell counter tops.

I got a buddy that works with the stuff, he's going to get a few sheets for free just to see how it works/looks.
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Please...
Keep an OPEN MIND, You'll be AMAZED...

I wonder if you could use a stainless steel "Metro" cart and tack-weld the stainless sheeting to the sides to enclose them?

My wife uses these carts at her store for display and the look great, are very sturdy with adjustable shelves.

The name brand "Metro" is more costly, but the knock-offs are good and alot less expensive.

http://www.metro.com/Commercial/index.cfm

I would think with all that humidity.

Also.

That is just another reason we were thinking stainless would be better. As far as I know(I really don't I'm just guessing) any kind of rust proofing would be bad for the snakes.
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Please...
Keep an OPEN MIND, You'll be AMAZED...

water and humidity it would be a freakin' nightmare. Any coating would be dangerous and messy.

make sure you wire whatever heat scource you use VERRRRRY carefuly. just imagine walking in to a buch of electrocuted snakes.

The snakes won't get electrocuted because they aren't grounded...yourself on the other hand, that's a different story.

Yea, I thought of that too, but as I just heat the whole room I don't see it being any trouble. Besides I don't think the steel would hold the heat that good anyway, so I would have to heat the room.

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Please...
Keep an OPEN MIND, You'll be AMAZED...

Much like freedom breeder racks...I don't know whether it would be cost effective though.

sheet metal may be a pain in the butt ot use as a wrack. for the frame and rails it would be better. with the tubs hanging off the rails.

the problems i see with metal shelving, unless it is really worked, is sharp edges, tendency to bend or dent, if not really heavy gauged. also, overall weight may be alot with stainless steel. heat conductivity and possible electrical current conductivity can be a problem. electricity can be dealth with easily enough, making sure no bare wires touch the metal etc. rusting i don't think is a problem with pure stainless steel, hwoever i am sure you can buy a sort of oil for stainless steel countertops that may not be harmful to snakes, which will protect it from water and scruffing. vegetiable oil could be used and having excess wiped off with teh same effect, and no harm for your animals.

since you know somebody who works with steel as a living, if he can use the tools at work, it should eliminate alot of the work with crimping, shaping etc the steel into the shapes you need for the rack.
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PHLdyPayne

"since you know somebody who works with steel as a living, if he can use the tools at work, it should eliminate alot of the work with crimping, shaping etc the steel into the shapes you need for the rack."

Yea, It helps, If I had to buy all the tools needed to build it I wouldn't even try it. I want to see how nice it works/looks before I spend that kind of money.
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Please...
Keep an OPEN MIND, You'll be AMAZED...

Hey,

Ralph Davis has a great rodent rack building explanation on his site, but for snake racks....

Gus at Rio Bravo Reptiles has a great plan using hollow core doors- I used it and modified it- best of all using doors my neighbors threw away!

You can buy rack plans- I've used those to build hatchling racks using threaded rods and pegboard

Show us pics when you're done, and don't forget to consult the cage forum.

May God bless,

Steve Harrison
Jacksonville, FL