"Free Dumb-Breeder Rack" - PART 1: Planning

[Tim_Cranwill]

I was in the market for a new rack system to replace all of my "MJ" style "Feeding Machines" I had built in the past year or so. I just wasn't happy with the amount of control (or lack there of) I had over the temperatures and I knew there had to be a better way for MY situation (I say "MY situation" because obviously this racking system works well for some).

While doing my research on rack styles, I had been to tons of web pages with very similar designs and most of them used a strip of heat tape up the back. THAT was the very thing about my old racks that I didn't like but these same racks were "lidless" racks and I LOVED that about my old "MJs". But this time I wanted to use <b>Belly Heat</b> instead of back heat AND have a "lidless" rack. Was that even possible? (cue mysterious yet hopeful music...) :p lol

One rack in particular kept catching my eye. It used belly heat AND was lidless but it was FAAAAARRR out of my price range. It was a rack made by Freedom Breeder (http://www.freedombreeder.com/originalcage.php) and I just had to have one! (Please visit their web site and buy a few of their beautiful racks. :))

I decided that I could probably build something close to that for a fraction of the cost and I came up with a design (be it a copy-cat one).

http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~cranwill/net_pics/rack/prep-design01.jpg

And I planned out all of my cuts... Each shelf measures 2' x 4'7". With the leftover OSB shelving, I will be able to make 2 Carpet Python enclosures... very little goes to waste on this project. :)

http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~cranwill/net_pics/rack/prep-design02.jpg

I have now finished building the rack and I'm just waiting for the paint to cure and for my new thermostat to arrive. Over the next few days I will post the different stages from the Planning to the Wiring to the Building that it took to make this rack. I will go into detail on each step, the prices the lessons I learned and just about every other thing that comes to my mind.

Hopefully all of this will serve someone other than myself some purpose. If anyone has questions or comments, feel free to email me or reply to any of the threads over the coming days.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

TIM:

Very nice indeed, you know I am right there will you in the design stage and any help you got I will take of course. The post is great and soon the step by step on the delicate stuff will be appreciated by me and many others who want lots of animals but in a short space.

Keep us posted.

Thanx.

Cya...

Tony

[damzookeeper]

Great designs. My racks are belly heated but I never made any planns for it. I just drew a quick sketch and my hubby and one of his friends built it. They did a dang good job too.
Here is a picture of it. The smaller one I built myself. Not bad for my first rack.lol.

http://www.reptilerascals.com/leocage17.jpg

http://www.reptilerascals.com/leocage19.jpg

http://www.reptilerascals.com/leobabycage07.jpg

Can't wait to see your finished product. Don't forget to post pics of it and maybe you can do some pics as you build it. ;)

[Matt_K]

Nice work Tim!! Can't wait to see the finished product!! I'm using the 'MJ' style racks that you're talking about, and mine are also belly heat :)

[Tim_Cranwill]

Nice work, Deb!:) Or I guess I should say nice work Deb's husband and buddy! lol :)

Matt, I though about doing that was well but I was worried about the bins rubbing on the tape time and time again. Have you had any issues with that?

[vanderkm]

Looks great - anxiously awaiting more pics. Looks great - really looking forward to seeing the final product and the instructions.

mary v.

[marisa]

I'd also like to know if there are issues with the tubs rubbing on heat tape. I plan to make any with a grove too fit the tape slightly lower than the tub, but if its not needed it would save time.

Nice racks people!

Marisa

[Tim_Cranwill]

Mary, I was going to do it all in one post but there are almost 40 pics! lol I thought it would be VERY mean to those with dial-up connections. :D

More to come... don't you worry. :)

[morph]

Love the title that's too funny:D

But are those "cuts" drawings too scale? LOL

Can't wait to see the plans and finished product may have too make the switch too the "Crannie Rack"......... oooowwww that sounds gross


Scott

[Matt_K]

I've not had any issues.. I got the idea from Mykee, and from what i know, he's had no issues either.. Maybe he can post, as I know he's been using this method longer then I.. Mine have been going for a few months now with no issues at all..

-Matt

[mykee]

Hey! Heard my name....I also use the MJ Eating Machine racks with belly heat, I modified the method of heat tape use to be able to use one continuous piece by 'weaving' the tape between a groove I cut in the end of each level to allow the tape through to the next level:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1004rack1-med.jpg

I find this works great with even distribution of heat, though it may be more time consuming and initially more expensive to build. I ended up using 19 panels of 11" for this rack (I have two). I hold down the heat tape with thumb tacks an inch from the sides, and run a 1.5" piece of aluminum tape front and back to adhere the tape length-wise. I have had no problems with running over the tape, as the aluminum foil tape 'protects' the heat tape.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1004rack2-med.jpg

Above is a pic of one of my MJ Eating Machines from my old apt. As a sidenote, I will be ditching this rack as a home for my larger snakes as in MY experiences,( no offense to anyone) it does not live up to it's name. Even with a hide in it, and only my 1500g snakes and up, the rubbermaid still seems much too large for my snakes to feel comfortable eating, most of the snakes that were in it were medeocre eaters at best. Since they have been moved to a smaller rack; (26x16x9) they have begun to eat voraciously again. I will keep both of my MJ racks for use as a breeding rack, as the thermogradient in it can't be duplicated for that purpose.

[Matt_K]

NOW you tell me you cut a groove for the weave!! LOL, i didn't cut a groove.. I just weaved it through, i've had no problems, but it was a B*tch pulling it through in some spots.. LOL.. I was thinking, 'where does Mykee get the patience for this!' as i was doing.. Now that i know, all my next ones will be cut that way..

A side note, i use the aluminum tape too, and it has never lifted off the melamine or anything, never had to replace a piece of it..

[mykee]

Dude... that sucks! I shoulda given you some more detailed pics when I told you about the weaving thing. My bad. I can't even imagine how long that took you to weave.