More racks...

[ssscales]

Built these racks 2wks ago out of some sheets of 13MM XPVC. Each one of those racks holds 14/12qt tubs or 7/28qt tubs and cost $125 w/heat to set up. The plastic supplier pre-cuts it for me for free in most cases based on my needs and measurements. I just pick it up, take it home, screw it together and fill them up...

Here is one of the CB70 racks I put together. This one holds 9 CB70 tubs and cost about $210 w/heat to build yourself out of two sheets.

The shorter one next to it holds CB110 tubs and I'll be adding another 4 levels to it soon for a total of 9 CB110 tubs in that rack. I figure one sheet should do it.

 

[Bling_my_leo]

Awsome!!!!

 

[GeckoGathering]

Impressive

Built these racks 2wks ago out of some sheets of 13MM XPVC. Each one of those racks holds 14/12qt tubs or 7/28qt tubs and cost $125 w/heat to set up. The plastic supplier pre-cuts it for me for free in most cases based on my needs and measurements. I just pick it up, take it home, screw it together and fill them up...

Very impressive setup. Nice clean working environment. Wondered where the heat runs..(cable? Tape? Shelf Bottom?)...a nice job hiding it. Thanks for the look, enjoyed seeing it. Take care. HJ

 

[ssscales]

Very impressive setup. Nice clean working environment. Wondered where the heat runs..(cable? Tape? Shelf Bottom?)...a nice job hiding it. Thanks for the look, enjoyed seeing it. Take care. HJ

Thanks, we used 3" Flexwatt on the smaller tub racks and 11" Flexwatt for the larger Iris CB tub racks. We prefer belly heat with each shelf Vs back heat.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Each Shelf

Thanks, we used 3" Flexwatt on the smaller tub racks and 11" Flexwatt for the larger Iris CB tub racks. We prefer belly heat with each shelf Vs back heat.

So, does this mean a separate heat controller for each shelf?......or the whole rack?....thanks again. HJ

 

[mrcsk8ter44445]

Sweet rack, what type of business is this plastic suppliers?? In other words if I want to look for one in my area should I look up PLASTIC SUPPLIER or what?

 

[ssscales]

So, does this mean a separate heat controller for each shelf?......or the whole rack?....thanks again. HJ

I use a Helix DBS1000 for the top sets and one for the bottom sets you see there. In other words, one controls 4 racks on top and the other controls the 4 racks on the bottom. Each Helix is controlling about 450W of Flexwatt.

Sweet rack, what type of business is this plastic suppliers?? In other words if I want to look for one in my area should I look up PLASTIC SUPPLIER or what?

Plastic suppliers...the same suppliers that supply all the cage and rack companies out there. Ask for XPVC sheets. This is mainly used for signs. It comes in various names (brands) such as Sintra, Komatex, Jain, etc, etc. It also comes in dozens of colors black, white, red, blue, yellow, etc, etc, etc. It's all PVC sheets... There are also other Plastics you can use, but they may cost more and weigh more than XPVC. For racks this stuff is great!

You can try Laird Plastics and/or Piedmont Plastics for starters.
http://www.lairdplastics.com/content/section/16/55/
http://www.piedmontplastics.com/locations.asp

Search for one in your area and those are just two large suppliers with distribution in various locations. Shop around, you might have a plastics supplier 10min from your home and not know it....:main_thumbsup:

 

[hondawingsfly]

wow very nice racks, i think the plasic gives it a cleaner look than wood ill deff look into that when im ready to build mine

 

[ssscales]

wow very nice racks, i think the plastic gives it a cleaner look than wood ill deff look into that when im ready to build mine

Thanks, a big bonus for me was that it's also much lighter than melamine. XPVC doesn't swell or rot if wet or even soaked and XPVC is self extinguishing. Plus it looks nice and as mentioned you can select from many colors.

This X-mas I plan on building my own incubator out of XPVC or another Plastic to replace a large Igloo incubator we've been using. The incubator should hold about 20/12qt tubs as egg-chambers for Ball python clutches and shouldn't cost more than $300.

I also plan to build some GTP cages using a gray xpvc to house a group of future GTP's when they age/grow. If you're a DIY'er at heart and have a supplier near you...try it out. You'll never use wood again!

 

[Sidork]

How much does a sheet cost and how big is it?

 

[ssscales]

How much does a sheet cost and how big is it?

The sheets are 4x8 and cost is based on the supplier and brand. Cost for XPVC for 13MM (1/2") that I have found locally have been $90-$125 for the same exact thing, but different brand names (Sintra, Komatex, Jain, etc, etc) and whether they are imported or made in the USA. I'm sure you can find them for less or more depending on your location and sales rep. As with everything....shop around.

 

[Sidork]

can you ship them?

 

[ssscales]

can you ship them?

Sorry, but I don't sell them. I simply built these myself for personal use in my Reptile room. I just posted in case anyone else wanted to build their own out of Plastic and was thinking about it, but was unsure about the material or cost or how to go about it. It's super easy to build and if you have a plastic supplier near you....you'll save a bundle on the rack itself as well as S&H charges doing it yourself.

 

[Sidork]

Can you give me some instructions on how to build them?

 

[ssscales]

Can you give me some instructions on how to build them?

That depends on the tubs you are using and how you want to design your rack. How many tubs for example? Sterilite or Rubbermaid or Iris tubs? What size tubs? What style you want your rack to be? What size overall rack?

But as far as assembly or putting it together? You just need screws and a screw driver or drill with the right tip to screw the pieces together. It's not rocket science. Once you decide on the tubs you want to use and the measurements for the sheet to be cut at. You simply take piece A and screw it to piece B.

You start here:

And add levels as you screw them together:

Until you are complete:

It's the same no matter what tub or rack you assemble:

Assembling them is easy enough that if you can use a drill and screw two pieces together....you can do it:

As long as your measurements based on your tubs and the cuts are accurate. The rest is pie...

 

[Kristi23]

They're really nice!

 

[LeoMartin]

Holly Jitterwaffle thats alot of animals!

 

[lil_angel]

what if i dont have $90 - 100 n something $ to spare. what other already assembled rack system is best/

 

[ssscales]

what if i dont have $90 - 100 n something $ to spare. what other already assembled rack system is best/

Already assembled rack systems can range from $200-$300-$500-$800+ea depending on tub and rack system. What I posted here is the same thing, but you have to buy the raw materials and build it yourself, but you can save 50-70% off of the pre-made racks.

As far as cheaper, you can always use Melamine for $10 a sheet, but that weighs a ton.

 

[Sidork]

How much would it aproximately cost to build a 20 6qt tub rack?