Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I am in a bit of a bind mentally.
I could save myself a whole lot of time and order a prebuilt pvc rack that only holds 3 snakes for $250 shipped.

or I can buy all the supplies and attempt to build myself a 5 snake rack (out of the same expanded pvc), wire all the flexwatt etc.
At the moment I only have 3 ball pythons, but I want to get at least 2 more in the near future.

How easy is expanded pvc to work with?

How much do you estimate it would cost to build a 5 snake rack that holds 41 qt boxes?

Just looking for opinions. Thanks

Expanded PVC is very easy to work with. It cuts easy with a table saw. If you clamp the sides in to the shelves you glue it together with MEK. The downside is that you are only building one rack. You will need to build spacers for the shelves. You have to have an accurate table saw, if the cuts aren't straight and fit tight it won't glue. Who sells racks built out of expanded PVC.
Mike

animalplastics.com has several types. Some built for sterilite containers and some for rubbermaid. They also come with an option for botton heat or back heat. All made of expanded pvc

If your going through all that trouble...I would build one fo at least 10! Doubt if you are already saying Maybe "5" that you are going to stop!
I thought I'd just get one, a year ago... I'm up to 8 and 1 borneo., and have plans to buy at least 2 this season... not to forget all the babies I hope to have next year!

Be prepared for the addiction!!!

Good luck!
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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
COLD BLOOD.........WARM HEART

Does the commercial rack include the thermostat to control your heat tape? If so, what kind? I'd think that $250 for the whole system wouldn't be a bad bargain if it included the thermostat to run the heat tape. Is the commercial rack expandable? In other words, could you add another rack of the same kind on top of this one without needing more floor space? If it isn't expandable, then your limiting factor might someday become floor space. In that case, you'd be happier making your own system that would house 5 snakes in the same floor space. Although I'm happy having just two snakes, my limiting factor right now is floor space.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

..and really good at cutting perfectly??

...Go to BoaPhile and get some Ballroom RHINO RaXX

or go to PMHERPS.COM and order some big racks from him........

...........
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..................gottaLuvIt!!

Although I haven't worked in expanded PVC, I've build a number of melamine racks that were compairable to purchased racks. Yes doing it yourself is cheaper, but when you take into consideration picking up the materials, cutting it all out, routing out a groove for the heat tapes, putting it all together and wiring up the heat tapes, you'll find that it took a lot more time then you thought it would. If you have the time to spare, go for it. Otherwise the Boaphile or animal plastics make some very nice racks.

Mark

>>So I am in a bit of a bind mentally.
>>I could save myself a whole lot of time and order a prebuilt pvc rack that only holds 3 snakes for $250 shipped.
>>
>>or I can buy all the supplies and attempt to build myself a 5 snake rack (out of the same expanded pvc), wire all the flexwatt etc.
>>At the moment I only have 3 ball pythons, but I want to get at least 2 more in the near future.
>>
>>How easy is expanded pvc to work with?
>>
>>How much do you estimate it would cost to build a 5 snake rack that holds 41 qt boxes?
>>
>>Just looking for opinions. Thanks

I built a bunch of racks recently for a variety of different snakes. You can check out my site for detailed instructions on how I did it all. I highly suggest working with PVCX as it is very easy to use.

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@aol.com