a guide to building your own rack

[larry26]

people use a thermostat to regulate the tempatures usually it a really good one.

 

[mainelygeckos]

I am bumping this because I think it should be a sticky in the DIY section!

 

[artgecko]

What size heat tape would you use? is the 3 inch 10 watt per foot a good one?

I assume that you attach it on the shelf so that it provide belly heat and maybe an inch or 2 from one end of the tub??

thanks

 

[entropy1980]

May be a silly question what are you using for lighting with the rack?

 

[nevinm]

3 inch is fine. thats all i use in any of my racks.

and entropy, racks dont use lighting

 

[nevinm]

when building a rack would 24qt tubs be big enough to house an adult?

yes, this is what i house several adults in

 

[GrimmyX15]

Im Curious but if they were stacked but will they bretahe through air?

 

[GrimmyX15]

Sorry! Never Mind! Nice Racks through! :3

 

[T-ReXx]

Nice How To. I build my racks almost identical to this, except I do one thing different, when spacing the shelves I put the boxes on upside down and add levels from the top down, so that the finished rack is upside down. This means that the leftover side rails that stick out can be left on and used as "legs" for the rack. I like to keep my bottom levels off the floor, just seems to help with temp regulation. depending on how tall the legs are, you also get a nice little storage space under the rack, comes in handy. Cutting them off is fine as well though, just a matter of preference. Great job!

 

[Neo.Reptiliac]

The expensive part is the heat tape lol

 

[Neo.Reptiliac]

May be a silly question what are you using for lighting with the rack?

When using these racks for Leopard Geckos, lighting is not suggested as they are nocturnal.

 

[neubauer geckos]

Can I use particle board or ply wood?or mdf?where did you get the ccb?nice how to!

 

[Tommy13b]

Did this yesterday, the exact same way, was easy to bulid, mine holds 15 32qt bin's, thanks for the idea!

 

[nevinm]

glad it worked for you tommy!!

 

[nevinm]

Can I use particle board or ply wood?or mdf?where did you get the ccb?nice how to!

the board i used is water resistant. i had some what of a brain fart. its the cheapest board you can buy, and IMO the best to use besides plastic. i wouldnt use ply wood. but the stuff i have in the pictures is a type of partical board.

 

[paulnj]

is it melamine?

 

[baseball2k26]

I dont understand how you heated these? Explain please? Heat tape? what is that

 

[paulnj]

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml

http://www.reptilebasics.com/flexwatt-faq.html

 

[Northstar Herp]

Nice rack, Nevin. Heh heh, that's funny...

I accidentally found this while looking for info on thermostats. I'm a finish carpanter, and will be building a small adult rack soon, and will post step by step.

Any suggestions for thermostat types? This will be my first time working with flexwatt, and the thermostat is my only question. They cost a good bit, so I don't want to get the wrong one. For instance, herpstat vs. helix? There's just so many and a good price spread, any suggestions?

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora...ure_Control&user4=Herpstat Proportional&xm=on

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora...rature_Control&user4=Helix Proportional&xm=on

 

[nevinm]

a helix is always the best and prefered by most herp breeders. they are more reliable than any of the others. and i say that because i have more horror stories from other thermostats than the helix. that is if you have the money to spend. if you do not have a lot of money, big apple herp makes their own for 32$, and you can get an a-life which is pretty mcuh the same thing. i use the big apple herp on my incubators because i was short on cash when i bought them. sorry i was a little late on answering this question, i just came accross it now.