Planning Rack need help

[lnwolf88]

Questions for experienced Rack builders

I am planning a rack, rack will be housed in spare bedroom with temps between 70-75 degrees

the design of this rack utilizes melamine sheeting from lowes that is 16" wide

3 shelves will house sweater boxes and the other 3 shelves will use a single 27qt blanket box

1. Belly heat or Back heat using flex watt was thinking of using two 11" strips attached to plastic begboard backing (is this overkill)

2. joints would be glued and sealed with silicon

3. Is it necessary to use a rheostat wired to outlets with a ranco temp controller

my plan is similar to these
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/4086Rack6-med.jpg

here is a picture of my plans

http://wakeland.us/suncoastherpsociety/images/Rack.png

Thinking of moving recessed panel to bottom row and increasing shelf with allowing more container space

[mykee]

Doesn't sound like you need any help at all. The only advice I would offer is with a rack that large, I would look into using a Helix as the proportional thermostat.

[BoidKeeper]

Like Mykee said I think you have it covered.
Here is what I built building 16" shelving,
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/289Baby_rack_finished_26_06_04_2-med.jpg
My rubbermaid sweater boxes are too big to use with the shelving they are 17Wx23L so I'm not sure if you'll be able to use them or not.
Two things you mentioned that I didn't do that I think I will sometime soon is the peg board back and sealing the edges with silicone. For the back on mine I used to long narrow stripes of thin panelling. For hear I'm using 8 exo-terra heat pads. I control them buy plugging them three at a time into an extension cord that has been wired to a dimmer switch. My ambiant doesn't change so my hot spot doesn't change so I don't need a helix. If I need to turn up the temp, or down I can do with the dimmer switch.
Cheers,
Trevor

[RICHJ]

Boidkeeper , do you get a big temp difference between top and bottom boxes ?

[Kyle Barker]

use more than one thermo stat for that.

the main thing i dont liek is the weight dist. in racks. center braces will help TONS, especialyl closer to the bottom.