DIY Snake Rack?

So I am thinking about building a snake rack and have been reading many DIY instructions about how to make cheap racks. I have read alot about how people use melamine as the shelves on the racks, but have also seen alot of people just using wood. Is it necessary to use something like melamine since its has a higher heat capacity or can I just get away with wood and not worry about any heat damage?

people use the malamine because it is less likely to warp due to the humidity requirements of ball pythons. I just bult one and it only cost me $40, cant beat that.

How did you make yours?

I have built racks out of 1X's and hardboard (Masonite). I keep lids on my tubs so warping is not that big of an issue. I build the frames out of 1X1 and top em with hardboard. I use 1X1 and 1X4's for support legs and it runs fairly cheap and is light weight. I am getting rid of all of my Melamine racks and switching to this design to save on weight, cost, and space.

My rack I built for my boas which holds six 74 qt tubs cost about $35.00 in material. Tub cost was another thing, but still cheaper than trying to build individual cages or more elaborate rack systems.

I built mine from a single sheet of malamine it holds 7 28/32 qt tubs or 14 12.2 qt tubs. The deminsions are 24" long 17" deep 48" high. Just buy a 4x8 sheet of malamine and have them cut it for you at lowes or home depot.

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Originally Posted by DM1975

I have built racks out of 1X's and hardboard (Masonite). I keep lids on my tubs so warping is not that big of an issue. I build the frames out of 1X1 and top em with hardboard. I use 1X1 and 1X4's for support legs and it runs fairly cheap and is light weight. I am getting rid of all of my Melamine racks and switching to this design to save on weight, cost, and space.

My rack I built for my boas which holds six 74 qt tubs cost about $35.00 in material. Tub cost was another thing, but still cheaper than trying to build individual cages or more elaborate rack systems.

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any pics of your racks?

I will try to get some up. I have some of the build process as well, I am just terribly slow at getting photos processed and posted.

If I was you, I'd go with that peg board that is coated with aluminium instead. Melamine racks are nice for the price but hopefully you don't plan on moving it because they are HEAVY!

While I do like my melamine cages, I agreee, it is a very heavy material. I also think that you can do a rack way cheaper with the pegboard or hardboard.

Melamine is fine if you use the easy carpet gliders. My 11 slot 41qt racks are melamine and can be moved my a 5 year old. Lifting is different but i dont plan on that any time soon.


Most racks using 6qt-28qt can be made from a single sheet of melamine depending on how many tubs you want.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_3175.jpg