Best Material to Make a Rack Out of

[Ultrakd]

WHat is better to make a rack out of wood or melamine?

 

[AVALover5498]

I like melamine myself. Looks great and is very sturdy.

Hope that helps,
-Chris-

 

[ARgeckos]

I used melamine to make my rack. Easy to wipe clean and very durable but heavy though.

 

[Nigel4less]

All my Racks are made Melamine!

 

[Ccrashca069]

I used melamine to make my rack. Easy to wipe clean and very durable but heavy though.

Couldn't you just go to the hardware store and get some wheels of some sort so it would be easier to move? I am thinking of putting some on mine and on a near future rack I have to make.

 

[Pogona66]

WHat is better to make a rack out of wood or melamine?

I made my own racks for years out of Melamine coated particle board.

With that said, I'd personally never do it again due the weight & overall delicate nature of that material.

PVC is the way to go IMHO.

 

[tronicsman]

where can a guy order the pvc sheets from?

 

[godzillizard]

I also made my first rack out of melamine, but I've heard that melamine releases fumes when heated? Does anyone know at what temps melamine starts to outgas? Or does it release gases at temps far beyond those that we work with?

 

[ARgeckos]

Couldn't you just go to the hardware store and get some wheels of some sort so it would be easier to move? I am thinking of putting some on mine and on a near future rack I have to make.

You can add castors if you plan on moving it from time to time. Since I have no need to move it I did not add castors. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Ccrashca069]

Thanks Antonio I knew they were not called wheels but I drew a blank what they were called.
Looks like we will be moving not far from where we are now and I am getting my reptile room finally so I get anouther rack, a normal incubator and more leopards before long lmao

 

[ssscales]

I've used Melamine and while relatively cheap and available at any Home Depot or Lowe's, it does weigh a ton. You also have to keep it dry as if water gets underneath it can expand. Melamine works great and can last for years if taken care of.

IMO XPVC is the way to go though! It's the same thing some of these cage/rack companies use and you can buy it in sheets and DIY any rack to fit your needs. It cuts and drills just like wood, no special tools required, it's super light and sturdy.

Check your local Plastics supplier for the sheets. XPVC goes also by the names Sintra or Komatex and others as well. Just ask for XPVC board.

 

[AVALover5498]

I've used Melamine and while relatively cheap and available at any Home Depot or Lowe's, it does weigh a ton. You also have to keep it dry as if water gets underneath it can expand. Melamine works great and can last for years if taken care of.

IMO XPVC is the way to go though! It's the same thing some of these cage/rack companies use and you can buy it in sheets and DIY any rack to fit your needs. It cuts and drills just like wood, no special tools required, it's super light and sturdy.

Check your local Plastics supplier for the sheets. XPVC goes also by the names Sintra or Komatex and others as well. Just ask for XPVC board.

What thickness do you use and what size sheets did you buy?

-Chris-

 

[ssscales]

What thickness do you use and what size sheets did you buy?

-Chris-

Depends on the tubs and what's going in them. For Leopard Geckos or small baby snakes, say 11qt tubs or even 28qt tubs you could getaway with using the 1/4" thick sheets as I did there. For larger tubs such as those Iris CB110's or CB70's or large sterilite 41qt tubs that will house a little heavier snakes. I would go with the 1/2" thick sheets. Regardless the 1/2" thick material is stronger and sturdier and for any rack it would be better, but if all you keep is Leopard Geckos you can get away with the 1/4" material which is less than 1/2 the cost of the 1/2" material and will work just fine IMO.

The sheets come in 48" X 96" and come in black, red, blue, yellow, gray and white. Also, most suppliers will gladly cut it for you down to your specs. Most will do it for free, some may charge up to $5.00 per sheet. Either way, well worth it! Not that you can't cut it yourself with a simple circular saw, but they do it using a table saw super quick and if they mess up...it's on them! All you have to do is take it home and assemble.

Here is some reading:
http://www.piedmontplastics.com/static/literature/Alcan-Sintra How To Manual.pdf

Here are a couple distributors:
www.piedmontplastics.com
www.lairdplastics.com

 

[AVALover5498]

Thank you very much ssscales!

-Chris-

 

[Ultrakd]

I looked on them but I couldnt find them.

 

[ssscales]

I looked on them but I couldnt find them.

Did you check under the names Sintra or Komatex or XPVC board? Those two distributors I named up top are just two, there are other suppliers. Even sign companies can help you located or bring in the sheets, but they will want to charge you more as middle men. I thought it would be tough to find and found 3 suppliers within a few miles from my home. If you can find the sheets locally or even within a reasonable driving distance, it's worth it.