Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I made a couple of racks and learned more each time. My last rack (pictured) is working out great. I heat the underbelly of the sterilites with 3 inch 6 watt flexwatt. Didn't know if the design is good enough to be able to sell these racks locally at a descent price. What is a good price for a sturdy rack like this one with sterilites included with or without heat? Just wondering if a rack like this would sell?

Thanks,
Phil Hemingway and Chris Schorr

I believe there is still a market for locally produced melamine sweater box racks, at least given the prices some people are still paying for heavier-than-they-suspect plastic racks. I think some people are still willing to pay for slightly heavier racks if they can pick them up locally and save some money.

I assume those are ~12 qt. sterilites and that the rack could also hold ten full sized, ~28 qt. sweater boxes?

Assuming I'm right about the size of the boxes, I would say less than $150 without heat. With heat, I have no idea.

One tip I have if you plan to do this is to pick a plan that is easy to build, uses material efficiently, and is a size that fits into the back of the typical 4-door sedan. If you find such a design you can build jigs for both the cutting of the material and the assembly of the panels and save a significant amount of time. You could easily build two racks per hour. You could even do more but then you'd need the space for a lot of glueups, which is really what can make a lot of woodworking expensive.

Ultimately your customers are paying for your space, time and tooling. How much you want to invest in each is up to you. For local sales of wood/melamine racks I would keep it to a minimum.

I agree whole heartedly with what Chris said but wanted to expand on his last paragraph;
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>>Ultimately your customers are paying for your space, time and tooling. How much you want to invest in each is up to you. For local sales of wood/melamine racks I would keep it to a minimum.
>>
Essentially he is correct that is all they are paying for and in return you are providing said given product. That is totally on you as the producer of the product. For example I myself am more than willing to build racks for local sales but since I am not in the buisness I don't pursue sales. I am more than willing to do so if someone asks however my time is exactly that my time and you will pay for such.

My point is that this is a hobby and it should be treated as such because when it stops being a hobby and starts being work than it is no longer enjoyed. Leave the mass construction and large quanity work to the big boys. Enjoy what you do and do it well.

The tools are expensive and I justify my needs by "as long as I use them" I have a particular tool that cost me well over a hundred dollers that I haven't used yet and tools that cost 95 cents I use everyday. Remember that!

My advice is build a sample let it be seen and build what the customer wants. If they are happy they will return and most likely recommend your product to others.

But by all means know what you can do within cost. I have several designs that match particular material usage, down to a certain point any variety of cage/rack will cost the same.

Have a plan, build it well, be prepared for feedback and by all means share what you learn. We are all in the same community, I myself always enjoy the ideas and pics shared by others.

Good Luck and Enjoy!
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
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