Making a Rack

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Mack Leo Boy

Guest
I need to make a rack soon due to my growing collection of geckos. Buying Ten and twenty gallon tanks with heaters is too expensive. I have found directions to building a 15 and 6qt. melamine rack here http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=14228. But I need to build one using 12qt. sterilites that they sell at my local Walmart. Does anyone have the measurements used to build a 12qt. sterilite rack made out of melamine? Help would be greatly appreciated.:D
 
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DKGecko

Guest
i would think the same way as that... i using that same guys.. directions but i also may be stickin 12qt in instead 15 becuz i can get 12qt from lowes and walmart but target has 15qt and 32qt... i went bought all wood today... or melamine but i cant find measurements for 12qt... cuz if its basically same as 15qt then u can use that 15qt measurements... from what i got only thing difference in 12qt vs 15qt is the 15 qt is longer then 12 and tad wider.

well i found out somthing may be usefull
6 qt- 13 1/2”L x 8 1/4”W x 4 3/4”H
12 qt- 16.7x11x6.9in
15 qt- 6-1/2Hx15Lx11-3/4W"
16 qt- 7.18Hx18Wx11.12D
30 qt- 6.87Hx22.87Wx16.75D
32 qt - 6-3/8Hx16-1/4Wx23-1/2L".

i dont know if that helps you any... but that saved me a trip with tape measure to store lol.
 
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Mack Leo Boy

Guest
Thanks for those measurements. I was just about to take a tape measurer to the store and get the measurements. lol. I think I'm just going to go with the 15qt. rack. Hey it gives the geckos more space and I think they will be happy to have more space. Thanks again!
 
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2.1SRR.YYC

Guest
Just a word of caution, sometimes the measurements you find online are not correct and you may even make a mistake in measuring the tubs yourself.

What I do is make sure I have the shelves and sides cut to the same (correct) depth and then attach the top of the rack first. I use one of the shelves as the top of the rack. The key here is to build your rack upside down. You then place your tubs on the shelf and add a spacer on top of the tub to allow for sliding the tubs in and out without friction. Place the next shelf on top of the tubs and spacer and attach the shelf. Slide your tubs and spacer out and place them on top of the shelf you just installed...and so on, and so on...

I don't even measure where the shelves go! I lied, I measure the placement of the shelves every couple of shelves just to make sure the rack isn't getting out of wack and adjust accordingly. Flip the rack over and you're ready to attach the flexwatt.

Due to proper planning I usually have a fairly large gap at the bottom of the rack so the vacuum cleaner can get under the rack. :main_laugh:

I've built two racks this way and they have turned out great!!

Here are my step by step pages for building racks...

Breeder Rack

Hatchling Rack
 
GroovyGeckos.com

GroovyGeckos.com

"For the Gecko Eccentric"
Messages
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Location
Chicago
No need for much measurement, really. Simply make two sides, screwed onto the outside of the top, or bottom piece. Does not really matter which. With the particle board-melamine, you need to pre-drill the holes, just not as deep as the screws will go. About 3/4 of the length of the screw, is as deep as you need to drill. I use a piece of tape, on the drillbit, marking the depth I want to drill, then just do not drill in past the tape. You also want the drillbit to be slightly smaller than the screw.

Then all you need are the tubs, and something to space the shelves with. You can use a thin piece of particle board, like you might use for the back of the rack also. If you have some "junk" blank cd`s or something, a small stack of them, will work as spacers also. Just make sure you have enough room, but not too much, inbetween.

Take your sides and top, which are in sort of a "U" shape at this point. Put a row of tubs down. Set the spacers on top, then the next shelf on top of them. Make sure it is sitting flush, and stays in place, then pre-drill the holes, and screw the shelf in. Repeat until you fill the cabinet with shelves. This method is perfect for ANY size tub, since you use the tubs, to make the "measurement".

All you need to do is get two sides cut, and then however many shelves you need cut. (It helps when they are all cut to the same size. They sent me home with the wrong pieces, one time. LOL Check them before you leave the store!) Also, so they are not too heavy...It is best to make smaller "half racks", and then stack them up, two high.

I guess the hardest part is figuring out how tall to make the sides. Add the height of a tub, the thickness of the shelving, and the spacer, then multiply it times the number of shelves. Put two tubs side by side, w/ a little space between, and measure, to get the width of the shelves. It`s pretty easy!

EDIT: Looks like I missed Steve`s post, which uses the same method. Nice work Steve!
 
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2.1SRR.YYC

Guest
Thanks for the comments guys!!!

Yah, If I have all the pieces cut I'm sure I could bang one of these out in an afternoon. Afternoon and morning if it includes back heat. Three days if it includes belly heat...:main_laugh:

Having done two already the rest would go quick...

The only problem with melamine is the rack weighs a ton!!
If I move I'm hiring movers or leaving the racks behind!!
 
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AVALover5498

Guest
2.1SRR.YYC said:
You then place your tubs on the shelf and add a spacer on top of the tub to allow for sliding the tubs in and out without friction.[/URL]
Click to expand...

What would you recommend to use as a spacer?

-Chris-
 
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Mack Leo Boy

Guest
Thanks everyone that was very helpful! I guess I'll be putting a rack together soon.
 
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2.1SRR.YYC

Guest
AVALover5498 said:
What would you recommend to use as a spacer?

-Chris-
Click to expand...

I use a 3mm piece of clear plexiglass as a spacer. It works most of the time but sometimes a shelf will bow after construction. If this happens I just shave a tub down and keep it in the same slot...
 
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