snowgyre
New Member
- Messages
- 588
- Location
- Athens, GA
As most of you aware, racks can get to be very expensive. My biggest problem is that I don't have access to any tools to build a rack by myself, so I've spent a long time trying to find premade, cheap shelving units that would work as well. I use Rubbermaid sweaterboxes to house geckos individually, but I also use the Rubbermaid blanketboxes for breeding groups. I wanted a cheap rack that could either hold 2 sweaterboxes or 1 blanketbox per level.
I finally found cheap hardware that worked! Here's what to do.
What you'll need:
1. Walmart tool/boot shelving, can be found near the lighting and paint section where the tools are kept. You can use 1 to 3, depending upon how many levels you need. $10 per level.
2. 2.5" long wooden props. You need 4 per level (1 for each corner). The original Walmart shelving unit isn't tall enough to house the Rubbermaid containers with lids, and you can't go lidless because it's not wide enough. I went to Home Depot and got them to cut 1"x1" lumber into 2" segments. Total cost: ~$5 for 8 props.
3. 4 metal brackets per level. You need these to connect the wooden props to the shelving unit. ~$4 per level
4. 1/4" wood screws, 8 per level. You need these to connect the brackets to the wooden props and shelving unit. ~$2 per 2 levels
NOTE: You'll have to ignore the guide holes to install the shelves. They're too high to fit the boxes on the upper level. Either create your own, new guide holes about 1.5" lower than the originals, or use elbow grease to force a screw through. Use a lidded tub as a guide to figure out where you need to install the shelves.
5. NOTE: If you have more than one level, you'll need to get cheap latches to connect the wooden props to the level below it. If you don't do this, there's a good chance that your top levels will slide off the bottom levels. These latches are better than permanently attaching the two levels together as well, because you can always easily disconnect them if you need to move the racks around or, such as in my case, actually move them from house to house and get them to fit in a car. ~$2 per level
6. Heating: I use 3", 6 watt heat tape in 2 feet lengths. NOTE: I don't use a thermostat with this set up, and I know that a lot of people would be uncomfortable with this, but I've never, ever had a problem with such short lengths of flexwatt overheating into dangerous levels. Each 2' length is individually wired and plugged into a surge protector. Also, since only a small section of the tub is actually getting heat, the geckos have plenty of space to 'escape' if the heat gets to be too much. My flexwatt has never exceeded 90 degrees. Flexwatt = $2.60/ft, 2' per level by 3 levels = $15.60, plus 3 extension cords for do-it-yourself connections = $3.00, for a total of ~$25 if you factor in shipping for the flexwatt.
Here's a picture of the finished product. Now, don't be a moron like me and hook up your flexwatt backwards on the bottom level so that the raw particle board is showing. ;-)
Total price for this rack:
$20 for shelving units
$5 for wooden props
$8 for metal brackets
$4 for screws
$2 for latches
$50 for flexwatt (this is actually cheaper if you buy bulk)
= $89 for a rack that holds up to 10 sweaterboxes or 5 blanketboxes
The tubs probably cost an extra $15 or $20 or so, but still, this is a cheap rack that works great, especially when you're working with something light like leopards. If you were working with heavier animals (ie. ball pythons), then the particle board would probably warp after a while. The second level appears warped in this picture, but it's just an effect of camera angle. It's actually perfectly straight.
I finally found cheap hardware that worked! Here's what to do.
What you'll need:
1. Walmart tool/boot shelving, can be found near the lighting and paint section where the tools are kept. You can use 1 to 3, depending upon how many levels you need. $10 per level.
2. 2.5" long wooden props. You need 4 per level (1 for each corner). The original Walmart shelving unit isn't tall enough to house the Rubbermaid containers with lids, and you can't go lidless because it's not wide enough. I went to Home Depot and got them to cut 1"x1" lumber into 2" segments. Total cost: ~$5 for 8 props.
3. 4 metal brackets per level. You need these to connect the wooden props to the shelving unit. ~$4 per level
4. 1/4" wood screws, 8 per level. You need these to connect the brackets to the wooden props and shelving unit. ~$2 per 2 levels
NOTE: You'll have to ignore the guide holes to install the shelves. They're too high to fit the boxes on the upper level. Either create your own, new guide holes about 1.5" lower than the originals, or use elbow grease to force a screw through. Use a lidded tub as a guide to figure out where you need to install the shelves.
5. NOTE: If you have more than one level, you'll need to get cheap latches to connect the wooden props to the level below it. If you don't do this, there's a good chance that your top levels will slide off the bottom levels. These latches are better than permanently attaching the two levels together as well, because you can always easily disconnect them if you need to move the racks around or, such as in my case, actually move them from house to house and get them to fit in a car. ~$2 per level
6. Heating: I use 3", 6 watt heat tape in 2 feet lengths. NOTE: I don't use a thermostat with this set up, and I know that a lot of people would be uncomfortable with this, but I've never, ever had a problem with such short lengths of flexwatt overheating into dangerous levels. Each 2' length is individually wired and plugged into a surge protector. Also, since only a small section of the tub is actually getting heat, the geckos have plenty of space to 'escape' if the heat gets to be too much. My flexwatt has never exceeded 90 degrees. Flexwatt = $2.60/ft, 2' per level by 3 levels = $15.60, plus 3 extension cords for do-it-yourself connections = $3.00, for a total of ~$25 if you factor in shipping for the flexwatt.
Here's a picture of the finished product. Now, don't be a moron like me and hook up your flexwatt backwards on the bottom level so that the raw particle board is showing. ;-)
Total price for this rack:
$20 for shelving units
$5 for wooden props
$8 for metal brackets
$4 for screws
$2 for latches
$50 for flexwatt (this is actually cheaper if you buy bulk)
= $89 for a rack that holds up to 10 sweaterboxes or 5 blanketboxes
The tubs probably cost an extra $15 or $20 or so, but still, this is a cheap rack that works great, especially when you're working with something light like leopards. If you were working with heavier animals (ie. ball pythons), then the particle board would probably warp after a while. The second level appears warped in this picture, but it's just an effect of camera angle. It's actually perfectly straight.
