Nice Rack... and she's cheap and easy!

[Brent Strande]

Well, I am pumped! I just built my first rack, and the collection may begin to boom! I was surprised at how easy it was to do.

Here's a quick rundown (I am planning on another one and will most likely include more picturese!) with somewhat step-by-step instructions:

First, I purchased the materials. The rack only took a few pieces:
(2) 15 1/4" x 48" melamine (3/4") shelving
(2) 23 1/4" x 48" melamine (3/4") shelving
--I had this ripped into (3) pieces measuring 23 1/4" x 16" to be used as the individual shelves. The lumber store also made the cuts for me...

Honestly, that's the only wood that I bought, but there is room for a few more shelves, so I will be going back for I more piece of the 2x4 melamine tomorrow hopefully.

Other than that all that I needed were a few screws, some edging (which I haven't applied yet) and the rubbermaid/sterilite bins.

Here's a pic of the supplies all laid out, cuts already made...


Next, I put the top piece on the table and put each of the sides in place. I predrilled and screwed the first pieces together and then placed the first rubbermaid into place (upside down since I'm working from top to bottom.) In order to prevent too tight of a squeeze and binding, I placed a CD-R under thre rubbermaid as spacers... CDs are cheap.

On top of the rubbermaid I set the next shelve, then predrilled and screwed into place. After removing the CDs the rubbermaid slid in and out with just a tad bit of friction, worked great!

I added the other five pieces (and will add the other three in a day or so) and it now looks like this...


I'm holding off until I add the rest of the shelves before I do the rest of the edging. I'm not sure if it'll be easier to do before or after completion, but this way saves on materials (edging) and I'm cheap so I decided to give it a go this way.

The only thing left to do in order to make the rack inhabitable was to then add the airholes, which I marked out with a template and then burned through with a soldering iron. Here's a nice close-up...


Well, that's about it. I was planning on running an 11" piece of heattape down the back and relying on back heat, but now am considering trying to run 4" heat tape back and forth as belly heat (the next rack will be 3' deep so I will go with 11" belly heat.)

The cost was not too bad either since my melamine shelving was on sale at the time too. Cost breakdown:

(2) 15x48 melamine @ $4.88 each
(2) 24x48 melamine @ $6.99 each
melamine edging @ $1.49
Subtotal: $26.74 with tax

Then I had to get some more edging (first store only had one 8' roll left) and the screws. Total there came to $10.65

Finally I got the Rubbermaids 5@ $2.94 came to $15.59 with tax.

Total cost so far: $52.98

All that I need still is the heat tape and one more piece of melamine, so this will EASILY fall under $100 total construction.

Any questions just shoot me an email. (or post 'em here obviously!)

Have a good one,
Brent Strande

[Brad C]

Wow, very nice

[Jeff_Favelle]

PERFECT! That's exactly how you do it people. Make this a sticky thread and we won't get the same question EVERY week "how do I build a rack?". Welllll........actually, we probably will.

[Tim and Julie B]

Well that totally beats my first attempt! Kicks it's butt really. Nice job.

[MouseKilla]

Sweet and simple, just like me.

But how much did it cost??? LOL

[Brent Strande]

Originally posted by MouseKilla
Sweet and simple, just like me.

But how much did it cost??? LOL

Much much less than one would expect to pay retail! I suggest everyone going out and building one today!

[Scales Zoo]

I like the title of the thread - very clever!

Just put one together for my mother, an hour ago, (Same way, upside down, top to bottom shelves) but it holds 20 big rubbermaids. Cost less than $90 (3 peices of melamine and some screws)

Ryan

Ryan

[Brent Strande]

Definitely great deals and extremely easy to build! They actually don't look bad either! We'll just have to see how I react to melamine, I prefer real wood most of the time.

[mudflats]

Great looking rack. I plan to build one soon, How much is heattape? And doe melamine hold up to heat good? thanks, jon

[Double J]

This is one of the times that I can say "NICE RACK!" and not get a slap in the face o>

[reptiguy420]

Hey Brent, nice rack man lol...what are you housing if you dont mind me askin

[Brent Strande]

So far it looks like two of the tubs will each house a corn (individually) and I'm still waiting on confirmation of the bullsnake and possibly the hognose at my university. That's the only concrete plan for now... and that's not too solid yet!

[Oni5000]

That's a great rack. In those size of tubs, would they be good for an adult ball python? or only a growing one? What did you decide on for heat?

[Brent Strande]

I am still waiting on my 11" heattape that I ordered. And, I'm not sure if I'd house an adult ball in there, but I have heard of many people who currently do.

[Oni5000]

Ya same here with the waiting. Damn mail. I have snakes on hold waiting for me to finish this rack too. I built one thats pretty much exactly the same as yours and another thats the same but with 36" bins for the big girls.