Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A few years ago I built a plywood rack to hold 32 quart, and 15 quart sterilite boxes. But melamine seems like it would be a better building material. Pretty soon my yearling colubrids are going to out grow their 15 qt. boxes and i'll have to build another rack to hold 8 more snakes that will require at least 32 quart boxes when they reach adult size. Where can melamine be purchased? Their is a lowes in my town but they only have 12" wide melamine shelves. Does melamine come in 4 X 8 sheets like plywood? How much does melamine usually cost? Also does anyone have tips on how to make the shleves as straight as possible? My current rack has a few cock-eyed shleves. Though I've never had an escapee. I'd just feel better about it if the shelves and the rack were all stright.

I'm really considering purchasing one of the vision racks. They look excellent, and aern't that expensive (when compared to other racks with much less space.) Would it be cheaper just to buy the vision rack or build one from melamine?

I have built most of my racks but also have two prototypes of their original Vision aluminum rack and they are very nice. Very nice, actually.

They changed the design and from what I understand the new design is nicer across the board.

For a larger box I would take a hard look at the Visions. The reason being is that the CB-70 sized boxes tend to waste a fair amount of lumber that typically comes in 4' increments. You could probably still build the rack cheaper yourself but there would be diminishing returns.

If you only need another 32/15 qt. box then consider building your own. And maybe look for a 28/12 qt. box combo as you'll likely be able to fit 7 levels in a 4' tall rack vs. 6 in a 32/15 qt. combo.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Melamine is available in 4x8 sheets and a muiltitude of colors as well. It is available from Home Depot and Lowes but often it's the lower quality stuff.

You can find the higher quality stuff at a Cabinent supplier or maker.

Also to answer your other question, I assume you meant straight cuts. For this I use a Table saw, but the same can be done with a little patience and a proper setup guide system with a circular saw. The last option would be buy it from the cabinent supplier and have them cut you pieces to size. Often they will only charge a little extra for cuts, and they are pros.

Never let Home Depot or Lowes cut your wood, they suck.

If you meant straight, in the assembly aspect a carpenters sqare and clamps are your best friends.

Good Luck
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Jeremy

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

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

I always see you guys posting that you can get a better grade from a cabnet maker, but when I go and ask a few of my locals they say the stuff is all the same, and they sell me the same brand as home depot has.

I was wondering is there a certain brand you guys use or look for...

If I told you Tembec made some of the best construction grade lumber, would you know who they were or be able to find them in your part of the country. Possibly,but probally not, you see you can't shop for brands when it comes to wood products. Many of them are avaliable in only certain parts of the country. Old growth maple is pretty hard to find in the upper midwest but not in the east or even parts of the west. It all has to do with you distrubutes where and what is available in the local area.

As far as melamine goes there really are like three grades. The foil faced product which is probally the cheapest, and than two varieties of the thermal infused plastic product. Most cabinent makers use and sell the higher grade because it lasts longer and is all around a better product. This may just not be the case in your area.

There are also two base products when it comes to melamine as well, at least to my knowledge. There is the typical particle wood core and than there is a product made of wheat particles.

I may have a scrap of melamine with the label some where so I will look and see who the manufacture is for you latter but thats all I have for you now.

And for the life of me I can't remember the thermal infused grade right now either, maybe Chris will respond.

Good Luck
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Jeremy

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

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Like Jeremy said there is more than one grade of melamine. I'd be very concerned about dealing with a cabinet company that sells the cheap Home Depot quality stuff. Not only is the particle bard interior of lower quality but the melamine coating is just a cheap melamine foil that is applied to the PB. But I will say this stuff is more than good enough for racks and even some cages that will have something more durable applied to the floor, something I would do for a melamine cage anyways.

The next level up of melamine has a higher quality melamine interior and the plastic coating is called a thermofused melamine. There is a weight rating that refers to the amount of melamine resin per square meter that is baked on. The weights, IIRC, are 80, 100, 120 & 140.

The 80 weight melamine is a bit thin so it almost has a greyish cast to it and you can see the particle board texture through the plastic. 140 is usually hard to find so I think 120 weight is good for most reptile applications.

Lastly, I think many distributors carry whatever brand they make their most recent bulk order from. The last piece I purchased was from Columbia. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact product nor the weight rating. I was pretty impressed with the stuff, though.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Do you use bar clamps or any other device to hold the pieces straight when you are lining them up to put the screws in. This seems like the only way I can think to hold it straight.

And I make solid spacers to accurately hold the spacing between the shelves.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
11.24 BRB
10.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats