Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone new of a site, or had any information on using expanded pvc as a rack-building material. I would like to use either 1/4" or 3/8" PVCX, but am unsure how to attach the shelves to the sides as I think screws will be too big, unless I used wee-bitty screws. I saw the one guys design that used a 2x4 or board for the sides, but I would like the entire thing to be plastic.

Thanks,
A.J.

Use at least 3/8" for the shelves and either use screws or rivets through the sides and into the shelves. #6 drywall screws or any coarse thread screw should be fine. Buy a counter-sink/pre-drill bit that matches the size of the screw. You might need to go a size smaller than #6 if you use 3/8" material.

If you're building a large enough rack or more than one rack you might be able to mix plastic thickness'. So you could use 1/4" for the sides and 3/8" or thicker for the shelves. You won't lose any strength or rigity but will cut down on cost and weight.

If it were me I'd probably use 1/2" for the shelves and 1/4" for the sides, assuming the project was big enough to justify ordering more than one sheet. I just assembled a cage carcass from 1/2" PVCX and it was very easy to drill together. If I had used 3/8" I probably would have had to be a bit more careful with centering the bit when I pre-drilled. But it would not have been difficult by any means. 1/4" is more difficult and not worth the trouble, IMO, not to mention that I don't consider it to be rigid enough for most rack application.

Do be careful with your design. Even 1/2" PVCX is not quite rigid enough for super large boxes containing colubrids. I recommend keeping the rack narrow to avoid flexing on the shelves. Avoid doubling up boxes per level so you can keep the rack narrow if possible. Hatchling racks would be one exception to this.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Thanks for the info. I was only wanting to make a 4 slot 27-32 qt sterilite rack as I currently have a 10 slot 28 qt sterilite rack that is made of melamine, which is ridiculously heavy. Had I been wiser I would have made 2 5 slot racks, or even 2 8 slots to cut down on weight. Also I was unsure of the weight comparison, but everywhere keeps saying that pvc is WAY lighter, from what I've read it still seems like it's a fairly heavy material. The one site I went too had racks pre-made out of 3/8 and the four slot rack weighed 40 lbs. That still seems pretty heavy, although at least one person could move it.

Thanks again,
A.J.

A.J.,

For the typical 28 to 32 quart sweater box, the design of the rack and materials used probably does not matter as much unless you're keeping really good escape artists, like small Milk or Kingsnake species.

Normally when I build a sweater box rack I make it so the 28 qt. boxes slide in width wise. Then I can use two 12 qt. boxes from the same company and fit two of them per level that slide in lengthwise. I'm not sure I would attempt this with PVCX, although it clearly can and has been done. I just don't know if it's the best idea. I have heard of a few people who ordered professional racks of this design and they have complained that the boxes sieze slightly after a year or so. In some cases the boxes siezed but the gap in the middle front of a level got larger. Enough so that not any old snake could be placed in that level.

The upshot is - if you don't need the smaller, half-sized boxes I would recommend having the boxes slide in length-wise, therby making everything more sturdy.

Regarding the weight of expanded PVC, weights are ALL over the place. As I have posted before, 1/2" PVCX can be HEAVIER than 1/2" plywood and close to the weight of 1/2" melamine. If you shop carefully, however, you can buy 1/2" PVCX that is quite a bit lighter than 1/2" plywood.

I researched this topic quite a bit two years ago and the lightest of the most readily available brands of PVCX was Celtec 550 (ironically, Celtec also makes one of the heaviest). I can't say if this is still the case today.

If weight is important to you I would shop carefully. I have had a large handful of people take advice on building with PVCX but have ended up disapointed with the final weight of their project.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I looked up the data I found from two years ago. The weight range of 1/2" PVCX in 4' x 8' sheets is anywhere from 43 pounds to 70 pounds. That's a 63% increase! Very significant.

You mentioned a company with a 40 pound rack. Imagine if they made an order for PVCX and ended up with the heavier product. That rack would now be 65 pounds. Which one would you rather have?

It all depends on the company and the exact product. Most companies that make expanded pvc make more than one product, with the primary difference being density.

Again, shop carefully.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

http://northeastsnakes.com/racks.html
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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net