Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's the new 10-level rack I've been working on. It's the full version of the 3-level prototype I've posted here before. It holds Sterilite 41 qt (#1960) tubs.
I bought some of the materials on clearance (tubs and melamine shelves), so the total cost was exactly $200. The heat tape is not installed yet, and will be a vertical strip of 11inch Flexwatt that will be attached to a hinged board on the back.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

The saw is probably overkill...but I don't care.

Next two pics are the shelf construction. Spacer strips were required due to the width of the tubs. They also help stabilized the shelves and make them easier to set up.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Here's an end view of one shelf with the spacer strips installed and the beginning of the rack construction.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Here are pics of the bottom shelf and top shelf ends installed on the vertical supports. I used select pine for the supports rather than the cheaper stuff in order to get smoother, straighter, better quality boards. These are easier to work with and easier to keep everything straight. I countersunk every single screw in the whole construction process for a cleaner finished product.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

I used select pine for the supports rather than the cheaper stuff in order to get smoother, straighter, better quality boards.

I built some racks almost exactly identical to these back in the early 1990's. I ran into a problem when over time the pine supports acclimated to the warm snake room and shrunk a bit, which pine is known for doing. The boxes actually seized and could barely be slid out of the rack.

It was a lot of work, but all I had to do was take all of the racks apart and re-assemble them after I felt the wood was fully acclimated. The good news is that these racks are still in use today. The friend I sold them to did have to take them apart and reassemble one time in the past ten years but that was because he moved across the country to a totally different part of the country and the wood had to re-acclimate.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye on that. I had hoped to make the verticals out of melamine, but the local Lowes didn't carry the size I was looking for.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

I kept the wood in my reptile room for 1 week to allow for warping/bending/curving/etc. It worked well for me. BTW, how are you doing Chris? ~ Jason

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net

BTW, how are you doing Chris?

BUSY!. I'm in Waukesha WI for my last competition of the year and then have to get back home and get our upstairs remodeled before baby #1 arrives in June. Trying to decide whether or not to stay employed or be a stay-at-home dad.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

I hear ya....I have 3 more months before school's out...and then this guy is heading somewhere tropical.lol. My daughter will be 3 yrs old soon and its amazing how fearless she is around reptiles. In fact, she takes better care of some of my herps than I do! It's just amazing to me how such a little human can be so caring and responsible.lol...it sure would be a shame if they enforce python/boa regulations. Anyway, glad to hear all is well. Sometimes no news is good news. ~ Jason
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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net

I put a temporary brace in the center of the back. This will be replaced with a hinged swing-out panel that will hold the heat tape and a metal heat deflector in place. Small bracing strips will be located on each side in the back rather than in the center. I put some plastic furniture sliders on the bottom to save my floors and carpet, as this thing weighs at least 100 lbs. with tubs. I also added 3/8 balsa spacers inside the center vertical supports to help center the tubs and to keep the snakes from pushing them outward and creating a gap. I used 1 5/8 and 2" drywall screws throughout and predrilled and countersunk all holes for appearance and to prevent splitting.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

These are the tubs I used. Got them ono clearance at Wally World because they had red and green lids instead of white. I paid $5 each instead of $8-10.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Nice Rack, and I mean that in the most non-perverted way.

Very professional in appearance and at 1/6 the cost of the manufactured alternative.

Dude...that is one awesome looking rack!! I'm sure you saved a lot of money by building it yourself.

Thanks! I did save quite a bit. The closest comparable Vision rack was $500 more and did not include tubs. Not that Vision racks aren't awesome, I just can't afford that.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Hi

I've used an identical design to build my own racks for years. Some differences are that I don't use extra pieces of wood for the sides and for stabilization and I use PVC molding to aid as tub guides and prevent the tubs corners from catching the posts. One advice though, make sure to put them on casters. It will be a lot easier to move and clean (or catch escaped snakes) behind them. Specially with your large tubs. I love the design and the cost is superb like you mentioned. One thing though is it is not ideal for humidity loving herps since it's an open air design. Awesome for your average kingsankes, milksnakes, and pituoiphis. Here are some pics.

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Jonel M. Lopez

www.spsnakes.com

OMG.......Carpet in a herp room, you are daring...

Thanks for sharing, great pics.

LOL. It has since been converted to pergo.
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Jonel M. Lopez

www.spsnakes.com

Very professional looking job, but I see you have the right tools to do the job.
The only thing I see that is wrong is! No SAWDUST!!! LOL
Again, Great looking job.
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

There is nothing that makes having a large collection as enjoyable as a rack that you are really happy with.

I really like the setup you have pictured here and considered building something like that. What did you use for the vertical supports and spacers? Is it fixed or can you adjust the height of each level by switching out spacer tubes?
I even considered using very thick threaded rod with nuts and washers to fine-tune the height of each level.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

the vertical supports are 6 foot long threaded rods (3/4 inch thick)

I have finese control over the size gap and can change tub sizes whenever I want. I can also break it down completely to move it ect.

I could have saved some time with all those bolts by using a tube between each level, however that kinda gets rid of the flexibility which was the whole point with this rack.

Cool. I couldn't tell in the first pic what you did, but this is exactly what I was thinking of. I didn't use this method because I thought maybe I was crazy because I hadn't seen anyone else do it. I might make my next rack this way.

Thanks for the pics!
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Zach,
Where did you find the 3/4" threaded rod and how much did it run you?
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

You can find it on online hardware supply stores under threaded rods. I am no metal expert, I called and went with their recomendations for making a large book shelf. After buying the 3/4 inch I saw some half inch in a store and was VERY glad my rack was sturdier. The rods range in price but combined with the bolts they were not cheap.

Make sure you understand what thread descriptions mean and that you buy the right bolts to fit your rod. Also, treat the metal rods carefully. If you damage the threads at all it sucks to screw on the bolts.

>>You can find it on online hardware supply stores under threaded rods. I am no metal expert, I called and went with their recomendations for making a large book shelf. After buying the 3/4 inch I saw some half inch in a store and was VERY glad my rack was sturdier. The rods range in price but combined with the bolts they were not cheap.
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>>Make sure you understand what thread descriptions mean and that you buy the right bolts to fit your rod. Also, treat the metal rods carefully. If you damage the threads at all it sucks to screw on the bolts.

I believe he means Nuts....

And the threaded Rod runs about $5 a foot on average

The nuts are around $50 per 100..

But they will last forever under this application.

Cheers
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child

n/p
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

I did mean nuts.

One more comment about nuts. If you use a washer you will increase the lives of the shelves that you cut. In this application I chose not to use washers and just screw the nuts down around each board. However I believe that this is the weakest link and after multiple breakdowns/moving/changing shelf height that this area of the shelves might be the first to wear out. On my next rack I think I am going to go with the extra expense and get washers too.

>>I did mean nuts.
>>
>>One more comment about nuts. If you use a washer you will increase the lives of the shelves that you cut. In this application I chose not to use washers and just screw the nuts down around each board. However I believe that this is the weakest link and after multiple breakdowns/moving/changing shelf height that this area of the shelves might be the first to wear out. On my next rack I think I am going to go with the extra expense and get washers too.

Fortunatly washers are dirt cheap compared to the nuts. They are a good idea.....
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child

Man, I'm not sure if Zach would want you to TOUCHE his nuts.

Sorry, I couldn't pass that one up.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Not even on kingsnake can I escape The Last Punslinger.

I am everywhere and cannot be stopped.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

That is really nice. What size melamine and bins did you use? Thanks for sharing. Derek

The beauty is that I can use whatever bins I want. Changing the shelf height just takes a minute with a wrench.

Each melamine shelf measures 46x32 (a little less between the posts)

That means I can use my 74 qt sterilights, my CB75s, and all different combinations of smaller polycarbonate tubs from cambro.

It looks fantastic! Does it weigh a lot? Will castors work? The weight of melamine was the main reason I decided against using it for shelf material. I always encourage anyone to try buidling their own rack. It's a lot easier than most people think. ~ Jason

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net

Thanks Jason,
It is on the heavy side; I estimate about 100-120 lbs. with the tubs in. I used plastic sliders on the bottom, but I'm sure casters would have worked, too.
My main reasons for using melamine were rigidity and easy of construction.

BTW, your setup looks pretty impressive!
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase