Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Still on the search for a material that will be lighter to make racks out of.

Thinking of a thin wood frame with plywood shelves - but need to cover them - what is waterproof and safe?

Any sort of paint that can be used?

Cheers

Sam

I'll be using the same materials soon -- plywood and planks.

I'm also a little concerned about heat tape on plywood. I remember talking to someone who owned a wooden rack, and their rack started burning one day. Some kind of electrical problem. I don't really know.

However, my step-father reminded me that if the heat tape is cool enough to hold in my hand...it's cool enough to use on plywood.

Who knows?

Chris
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mean people suck

I was going to make a rectangular frame for the shelf, covered with the plywood. Across the length of the frame would be 2 supports (one 33% of way from back and one 50%) Then once the board is on I will route about 15mm deep strip the length of the shelf. This would be used for the 2 heat cables. One hot and one medium (for the thermal gradient)

To my knowledge the heat cable cannot heat enough to burn wood - and if I remember rightly form a previous thread (some time ago) wood combusts at something daft like 900 degrees - Please dont quote me on that as I could remember it wrong.

My main worry is what to cover the shelf with as Im not using lids on the tubs it will be in direst contact with the animals and the moisture. I need something that will be waterproof and most importanly safe and hygenic.

Cheers

Sam

Of course, I may still go ahead and save myself a few headaches and buy a pre-built rack system. The only problem is deciding between the Vision and the Animal Plastics models.

Guess I better start searching this form, huh?

Chris
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mean people suck

>>Thinking of a thin wood frame with plywood shelves - but need to cover them - what is waterproof and safe?

One problem with wooden sides and/or plywood shelves is the expansion and contraction that occurs with climatic changes. A big problem over in the UK for the most part.

But it can be done, especially if your herp room stays the same temps throughout the year. Just let your wood acclimate in that environment before cutting it.

You can use paint for sealing racks, although you'll want something that won't get scratched from the boxes sliding on it. You can also use the self-adhesive vinyl film available from the sign industry. That would be my choice.

Another thought on a light weight rack would be to use hollow core doors. See Riobravoreptiles.com for such instructions.

I build a rack from HC doors and sealed it with contact paper. Vinyl film would have been better.

Here is a picture. It is 82"x33"x52"

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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

This was posted on the ball python forum awhile back and I just copied it!

E-mail me for the pics.

Steve

Posted by: neilgolli at Sun Jun 26 21:34:52 2005 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

I put this rack together this afternoon, Its built from:
(1) 3/4 inch sheet of plywood
(5) 1/4 inch sheets of peg board
(7) 1/4 6ft threaded rods
(1) 2x4
(4) 5 inch casters
(4) 1/2 inch pvc

It holds either 80 small tubs (12quart) or 20 large (41 quart) and 20 small tubs.

Built from the bottom up drilling holes threw the plywood and bolting the threaded rod simply put a pvc spacer over each threaded rod and then slide down a piece of peg board (3ft x 4ft) and repeat until you've got 10 total layers. Very easy and took less than 2 hours from start to finsh...

The rack had room for one more level (8 more small tubs or 2 and 2) however it was just a bit high for me and would be more of pain to clean that it was worth.

The small tubs are back to back giving you 8 tubs per level

2x4's running across the bottom of the plywood help keep the entire thing from bowing under the weight and the casters make it easy to pull the unit in and our of the closet to service the tubs in the back.

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask here or send me an email and I'd be glade to help. ngolli@56kaccess.biz

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cheers for that,

just a couple of questions - firstly what are threaded rods?
and pegboard (probably a stupid question) Is this the stuff that is like plywood but with holes in?

Thanks once again

Sam

available at home depot or lowes

STeve