Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got several of the boaphile ballroom racks. I'd like to make each stack mobile and possibly find a way to get the stack off the floor. I'm looking for suggestions on:

1)How can I make the rack mobile? Each rack consists of 3 boaphile ballroom rack.

2)I'd like to find a way to have the rack off the floor.

The only reason I like the FB and Vision cb 70 racks are because they are mobile. Since I don't have the money to buy these racks at the moment I'd like to deal with what I already have. Any suggestions is appreciated.

One idea I had was designing a platform with casters.

Frank

Hey Frank,

A platform with casters is the way I would go. Maybe include a slight lip or maybe even bolt the racks to the platform.

You emailed me a while back and I tried more than once to reply. It bounced back every time.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

Hi Chris,

After thinking about it I'm going to get some 3/4" MDF and cut to the size of the base of the rack. Attach casters.

Creating a lip might be a good idea. I was wondering if I should attach the base to the rack but it I ever sell it might decrease the value of the rack.

I suppose this is one of those things I'll decide in the moment.

Not sure why the emails bounced back. I ended up calling the manufacturer of the foil barrier and he told me how to install. It is working ok but I think I'll end up installing drywall with installation. I was doing all this to get better temp control to breed my boas I've been raising the last 3 yrs. Well, despite my concerns they bred anyway. All I did was bring them in the cooled house for a month or so and put them back out in the garage. If the breeding was successful I'll have some nice morphs this spring.

Best,
Frank

The lip idea is a good one, then you do not need to attach the racks to the caster base. Even 3/8" thick stop molding will work for that.

If the racks are a bit heavy, consider strengthening the base. You can use MDF but strengthen it with 2x3 crossbeams or whatever you want to use and attach the casters to the crossbeams.
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Mark

This doesn't apply to Jeff's racks cause they are heavy but when ever using caster's with lighter racks always be sure to use locking caster's.

I regret not getting locking brakes for my racks as they are very light and tend to roll when sliding tubs in and out. The heavier the tub the worse it gets.

My "New" cages and eventually new racks will be equiped with locking caster's as well as leveling feet. I hate unlevel cages. I have just recently begun using leveling feet on my LEGO cabinents (other hobby), world of difference, and they don't even have water bowls.

Just a few thoughts.
Cheers
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Great ideas. Jeff's are heavy. That's one reason I'd like to eventually get some Vision racks. The other thing I don't like about the boaphile ball rack is how he secures eack rack when stacking.

Not sure if you've ever saw them but the only thing that keeps them stacked is two small pins in the front of each rack. Once I knocked into one stack of 3 and I had a bad situation. The top stack practically fell on the floor (yeah imagine a 140 lb dude catching a boaphile filled with adult ball pythons and ceramic water bowls in mid air.)

Also if you try to move them you will be guaranteed to knock them off track because the back isn't secured at all. A bad design in my opinion.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic. I appreciate the advice. I've decided to use melamine instead of MDF. I'll make some lips for the sides and the back.

Best, Frank

I've uploaded a pic to show what I'm taking about. As you can see the pic shows how the racks are stabilized when stacking. The only thing keeping each rack on top of the other is the pegs in the front. The back has no pegs. There is also no support on the sides so each rack can slide on top of and off each other.

After thinking about it further last night I think I'll need to find some method of securing the side so when moving they don't slide off each other and cause a catastrophe.

The racks are solid and hold humidity well. But safety should be a consideration.

Just thought I'd illustrate with a pic of a Boaphile Ball Rack.

Eventually I'll switch over to Vision of a FB rack.

Best,Frank

Frank,
The Boaphile rack were not made to be moved when stacked. That is, they should be unstacked before moving. Plastic racks like that in general are not strong enough/thick enough to be moved as a stacked set without some difficulty. I wouldn't consider it bad design, but more simply a design where "stacked" means stationary stacks, not moving.

In any case, if you want a rack that wheels around, Vision is a great choice as you stated. They are modular, strong, versatile, roomy and IMO were made with the keeper's convenience in mind. I do give them props time and time again for a functional design, especially the ability to run more or less heat as desired per level.

Freedom Breeder's are great too, also functional, versatile, roomy, strong, modular, etc.
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Mark

>>Freedom Breeder's are great too, also functional, versatile, roomy, strong, modular, etc.

You forgot one Mark..................Expensive!
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Yeah, well it keeps the gangs out.

>>You forgot one Mark..................Expensive!
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>>Jeremy
>>
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Mark