Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I can't get the hardware cloth to lay flat. I am wondering if I am going to eliminate rolling the wire around the front and back pipes. I can do that with no problem, This just seemed like the best way to do it. Does anyone have any techniques they use to stretch it taught?

Thanks

-----
Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

My snakes aren't fat, they're big boned.

Jodi
It's hard to tell from the photo but here are a couple of things that you might try. Using zip-tyes along the frame to keep the cloth tight or possibly using pop rivets with larger heads on them or putting flat washers between the screen and the rivet head. Good luck.
Bruce Delles c/o Twin Cities Reptiles

Zippy ties are what I have used so far. I am going to try a couple of other things. I have all five levels built and will be assembling the rest of it tonight and tomorrow. I am going t try to put the hardware cloth on all of the tops before I continue assembly.
-----
Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

My snakes aren't fat, they're big boned.

Beats me...but WOW!! I am loving it so far!!
-----
www.heatsherps.com

Jody,
Heres one idea that comes to mind. Assemble the wire tops just as they are in your pic, BUT... don't glue the back pipe in place. Once you have the top together turn the back pipe thus pulling the wire cloth taut and then screw in a screw right through the connector and end of the back pipe. This should hold the back pipe in place and keep the wire cloth taut. Don't know if that will work but it's worth a try. Nice looking rack by the way. Can I ask why you chose not to use wood? Ron
-----
The Crawl Space

the rack is not glued together. Also, because of the tight fit of the joints I won't be able to turn it but I get what you are saying. I will take it into consideration as I try to come up with a solution to this problem.

I chose to use pvc for ease of assembly and dissasembly. I bought all the materials for about $200, including tub and watering system. Also, the rack can be built without any expensive tools. I did use my saw to cut the pipe, but a $10 pair of pvc pipe cutters from Home Depot can also be used along with a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer and a pair of wire cutters are all it takes to make this rack. Due to the fact that they are able to be disassembled, they are easy to ship and if you ever decide to move you can disassemble them and take them with you. PVC is also easier to clean. Imagine a rack that you can take out in the driveway and spray clean and let dry in the sun. Weight was also an issue. I hope this rack will weigh less than 20 lbs without tubs. I can also add casters to the rack if I want.

After I test this rack with rats for a couple of weeks, I am going to design a rat grow out rack and a rat birthing rack. I might also try a mouse rack if I have requests for it.
-----
Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

My snakes aren't fat, they're big boned.

Jody,
I would sand down the ends of the back pipe so it can turn. If its still hard to turn then drill a hole through the pipe and insert a screwdriver to use as a handle to turn it. I was thinking about building a 28 qt. snake rack using PVC. How many tubs will the rack have? thanks Ron
-----
The Crawl Space

It will hold five tubs. The tubs will hold 1.3 or 1.4 each. I know most people who build racks with these tubs use the 1.4 option. The figure I came up with at 1.4 is 4 females x 10 rat pups a month x 5 tubs = approx. 200 rats/month production.

What were you going to use for tops on the rack? I would think pegboard might work.

I think I found out why the hardware cloth didn't stretch well. It's kind of hard to explain, but has to do with the way the zippy ties are placed. I will try to fix that today.
-----
Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

My snakes aren't fat, they're big boned.