28qt rack build - Page 2

Lankyrob · 12-23-11, 01:34 PM

How about just a simple piece of wood that rotates down across the front of the tub? Just swing it up and away when pulling the tun out and back down when its pushed in?

**lady_bug87** · 12-23-11, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm66

The rack is done. Four tubs have substrate in them, I'm letting it run overnight so I can troubleshoot anything that needs it and get the thermostat adjusted properly. I also need more substrate. The tubs are bigger than I though.

With luck everything will be OK and we'll get the snakes transferred tomorrow after work. It was an easy project though it cost a bit more than I had anticipated. I'll work up the cost tomorrow and post it so folks can have an idea. It was extremely easy to build, my wife and I did it in about 4 1/2 hours and we are hardly what you would call handy.

Materials:

Starting construction:

Here's a pic of the finished product w/ Jerome's tank on top:

And with a drawer pulled open:

did you buy all the pieces pre-cut?

**millertime89** · 12-23-11, 02:34 PM

Norm, it is possible, the retic breeder in my area had a BP do it and when it got out it pushed out a bunch of baby retic and SD retic tubs, mine was in one of them...
If I were you, a solid latching strip of wood in front of the tubs will keep that from happening. All you need is 2 pieces of wood running the entire height of the rack, and 4 screws/nails, drill holes in the end of the pieces of wood where the screws/nails can pass through and it acts as a cheap and simple deadbolt.

Norm66 · 12-23-11, 03:31 PM

Ladybug, the pieces came in 8' long sections. I had them cut to size at Home Depot. It's easier and much quicker for them to do it.

Kyle, I guess it depends on the design but I've seen tons of pics and watched dozens and dozens of videos of people's racks and none of them have any kind of lock on them. Snake Bytes TV, Ben Siegel's videos etc. Also none of the commercially available racks (boaphile, animal plastics etc) have them either. I'd like to see how that BP got out and wonder if it wasn't operator error.

Rob, that's what I'm thinking but it's gotta be easy and not look too bad.

All the worries about the tubs being easy to slide out aside I have the opposite concern going right now. I don't know whether it's the weight of Jerome's aquarium on top, the stuff taking on some moisture (can't see how this would be possible in this dry place) or maybe the heat causing expansion but the tubs are all very difficult to pull out today. I think I'm going to try and install spacers in between each tub cut to just the right height to try and take some weight off each one. If I cut them accurately I shouldn't need to screw them which is good since there's no way to do that. I think next time I'll use something thicker as a spacer on top of the tubs next time.

exwizard · 12-23-11, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Just a concern from a worrywort - is it possible that one of the snakes can brace itself against the "roof" and force one of the tubs out on its own?

This design is similar to the Animal Plastics racks I have now. There is no possible way for any snake to escape unless the tub is not shut all the way.

Norm66 · 12-23-11, 07:58 PM

Well I think I'm going to hav to re-do the top shelf. It's just too tight even without the aquarium on it. I put Jerome in the rack thinking it might help him feel more comfortable. He's a flighty little sucker.

spots · 12-23-11, 10:02 PM

Norm where did you get your flex watt, and thermostat? can you pm me the link to the site?
By the way it looks good.
I'm jealous now that you got yours done before me. LOL

Thanks
Jimi

Norm66 · 12-23-11, 10:18 PM

Jimi, PM sent. I ordered on Tuesday afternoon and it shipped later that afternoon. I rec'd it yesterday mid-afternoon. Good, quick service. I was pleased.

**millertime89** · 12-24-11, 01:44 AM

I got my flexwatt from the same company as Norm, they were really helpful and shipped promptly. As far as the thermostats, I make my own, but I'm thinking of switching over to one of the professional units due to limitations of the ones I make.

spots · 12-24-11, 09:15 AM

Thanks Norm.

So did you get it figured out why the bins are a little tight?

Norm66 · 12-24-11, 09:27 AM

No problem.

Not yet. I'm trying to decide if it's a 'live with it' kind of thing or a 'fix it' kind of thing.

I don't know if I can get all the screws out or not without stripping them so I might just live with it.

**lady_bug87** · 12-24-11, 12:52 PM

as you drag the containers in and our it may loosen up.. not sure whats going to happen when you put snakes inside

Norm66 · 12-24-11, 01:10 PM

Oh the snakes are all in. Even Jerome. No aquariums at all now. Mario, boa, and Jerome, JCP, are temps until they grow up a bit.

Norm66 · 12-24-11, 10:52 PM

Strategic error. One CD is not sufficient for a spacer. Just finished rebuilding the rack.

Glad I did though, I redid the way I taped te flexwatt down.

Kind of felt like a parent putting kids' toys together Christmas eve but I'm not nearly old enough to be a parent. ;-)

spots · 12-24-11, 11:05 PM

So what spacing did you use Norm? And how did you change the way you had the flex watt?