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[ssscales]

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

Larry Petty (Sunshine State Exotics) just built one of these to hold 20 6qt tubs for $100 using 1/2" XPVC. I think he built 3 to hold 60 tubs for $300. I think we may have been able to squeeze another row per rack, but I messed up on the math....LOL...rough week!

 

[Sidork]

Thanks I think these are the coolest racks! I'm just afraid i will mess up on the measurments! If i needed some help with measurments could you help me?

 

[ssscales]

Thanks I think these are the coolest racks! I'm just afraid i will mess up on the measurements! If i needed some help with measurements could you help me?

If you're looking to use Sterilite 6qt tubs you can talk to Larry as he already built a rack for 6qt tubs. He has the previous measurements we used to squeeze 20 tubs per sheet of XPVC. I feel I messed up as I might've squeezed another row of 4 tubs in there.

It's pretty simple as you measure your tubs and how many tubs you want per shelf and then run the math to see how many shelves you can squeeze to get the most yield per sheet. Hope that made sense?...

Sometime it may be best to use two sheets to maximize usage. Like that CB70 tub rack on the 1st page of this thread for example. I got the most per sheet by utilizing two sheets for that rack to fit 9 tubs for $200 Vs trying to just use one sheet. Which would've resulted in a shorter rack utilizing only 3, maybe 4 shelves for $100.

 

[Sidork]

what is Larry's user name?

 

[ssscales]

I think Larry uses the ID Sunshine State Exotics here. He is one of the site sponsors here if you look up top. I know he was going to post a DIY Blog on his thread on the rack he built.

 

[hondawingsfly]

i talked to my laird plastics dealer today, i think im going to use a sheet of 6mm xpvc for $80 and they will do the cuts, how much clearance are you leaving between the top of the rubbermade and the shelf on top of it, maybe 1/8" or almost flush?

 

[ssscales]

i talked to my laird plastics dealer today, i think im going to use a sheet of 6mm xpvc for $80 and they will do the cuts, how much clearance are you leaving between the top of the rubbermade and the shelf on top of it, maybe 1/8" or almost flush?

IMO....$80.00 is too much for 6MM (1/4") XPVC...at least for my area.
I can get 4X8 sheets of 6MM here between $30-$40. That's from Laird as well, but in my area they have competition! If they are the only supplier in your state...you're at their mercy! I pay $100 for 13MM cut and all here. You might want to keep shopping around or ask "what type of XPVC or brand are they selling you?".

As for the clearance it would depend on what you're keeping in there? Leopard Geckos? Cornsnakes? Boas? 1/8" is ok for Leopard Geckos. I keep boas and Ball pythons and 1/16" works fine for me. My tubs slide effortlessly over the flexwatt, yet offer no room for escape.

 

[hondawingsfly]

oh, thanks a lot, the brand is called sintra, i looked at the other link you had for plastic and there isnt a dealer near me but maybe i could get them to go down on the price.

 

[ssscales]

oh, thanks a lot, the brand is called sintra, i looked at the other link you had for plastic and there isnt a dealer near me but maybe i could get them to go down on the price.

Ask them for Jain, it's a cheaper brand of XPVC. Even with Sintra $80 a sheet for 6MM is expensive. Either the individual sales rep is gouging you or that office is based on the lack of competition in the area. I think the sales rep or Laird office in Tampa was charging $70 or $80 when the office in Miami was charge $30-$35 I think it was when I used the 1/4" XPVC. If you can buy the 1/2" XPVC at $100 or less...use it Vs the 1/4". You can use the 1/4" perfectly fine for the smaller tubs and it works just fine, but the 1/2" is twice as thick and much sturdier and just solid Vs the 1/4". I've used both myself and prefer the 1/2" over the 1/4".

 

[Halley]

Cool!

 

[hondawingsfly]

yea the had another brand but its still going to be around 60$ and i think i will go with the 12mm i wasnt thinking about the shelves themselves being that big they will bow if they arent thick enough so thatll prolly be more. i can only build 7 bins high because i cant fit all the cuts for 8 bins. thanks for the help. oh also i was thinking about using pvc glue for the shelf, i think it like bonds the plastic together have you ever used this?

 

[ssscales]

yea the had another brand but its still going to be around 60$ and i think i will go with the 12mm i wasnt thinking about the shelves themselves being that big they will bow if they arent thick enough so thatll prolly be more. i can only build 7 bins high because i cant fit all the cuts for 8 bins. thanks for the help. oh also i was thinking about using pvc glue for the shelf, i think it like bonds the plastic together have you ever used this?

You can use support pieces to avoid the bowing, but the 13MM is the way to go regardless. What do you mean seven bins high? How many tubs across? Which size tubs? For the 6qt tubs I believe the one Larry built had 4 across and 5 high for 20 tubs per sheet. I built a 12qt/28qt tub rack and went 7 high with 2=12qt tubs across or 1=28qt tub across for a 14=12qt or 7=28qt tubs per sheet. My cost per 13MM 4X8 sheet was $90.00 + taxes + $5.00 cutting fee = about $100.

I used a PCV adhesive called IPS weld-on when I built the first rack using a 6MM material and it bonded great. I still used a few screws for added strength, but the rack held well. With 13MM sheets you do not need to use adhesives unless you want to. I would suggest against it for the simple fact that if needed you can simply unscrew the rack if you have to move or store it away. What I do with some racks (as I am limited in space) is take them apart, label the pieces and store them away neatly till they are needed again. If you use a PVC adhesive it makes that difficult at best.

 

[hondawingsfly]

my plastic should be cut and ready to be picked up on friday, thanks for all the help ill be sure to take a couple pics once i put it together. oh i got the 12mm for like $107 for the sheet.

 

[ssscales]

my plastic should be cut and ready to be picked up on friday, thanks for all the help ill be sure to take a couple pics once i put it together. oh i got the 12mm for like $107 for the sheet.

That's great!!!!.....:main_thumbsup:

 

[MagicalGecko]

Hey, I'm loving this thread!!! I do have a couple of questions, though.

Our closest lairds is in Tampa and he quoted me at 117.00 for 1/2" and 58.00 for 1/4" of XPVC. We have a couple of local plastic stores here in Fort myers, but when I ask them what types of XPVC they have, they don't know what I'm talking about. They start recommending expanded Foam Board or something. Is this the same thing?

Also do you get your tubs from a walmart or have you found a better place to get them. We're looking for a good size for Leopard Geckos and 6qt will probably be too small.

Thanks!

 

[ssscales]

Hey, I'm loving this thread!!! I do have a couple of questions, though.

Our closest lairds is in Tampa and he quoted me at 117.00 for 1/2" and 58.00 for 1/4" of XPVC. We have a couple of local plastic stores here in Fort myers, but when I ask them what types of XPVC they have, they don't know what I'm talking about. They start recommending expanded Foam Board or something. Is this the same thing?

Also do you get your tubs from a walmart or have you found a better place to get them. We're looking for a good size for Leopard Geckos and 6qt will probably be too small.

Thanks!

See what I mean about the sales reps? Larry Petty bought the 13MM XPVC from the Laird in Tampa for $90.00. Next time you call ask for the Jain XPVC sheet and tell them you were quoted $90.00 per sheet by the last rep you spoke with, but can't remember his name!

Expanded foam board is probably the same thing if they are referring to PVC. Wal-Mart $0.99 per 6qt tubs and you better buy them up as sterilite discontinued them. As soon as the pipeline is dry....no more 6qt tubs!...:main_thumbsdown:

 

[MagicalGecko]

Thanks! I don't think 6qt will be big enough to Leopard Geckos will it? What are you using? Do you have pictures of your gecko setups?

 

[MagicalGecko]

I'm using 4 of these setups right now. The drawers are much too big and I want to go smaller.

 

[ssscales]

Oh no, 6qt tubs are used for hatchling Leos. 12/15qt for single adults and usually 28/32qt for group adults.

 

[MagicalGecko]

That's what I figured. We'll probably plan for 15qt tubes then.