Lesson Learned

[whatsherface]

So I started out originally intending to make my own display cabinet for my small collection. I cruised through the forums and did a bunch of research and then decided to make individual stacking enclosures out of melamine for each animal. Then I tried to make one and it was a disaster. I put entirely too much faith in the abilities of the guy who makes the cuts at Home Depot and I don't own any saws or anything to correct the cuts myself. Then I decided that a rack would work better for the ball pythons, especially since I've been bitten by the bug and my collection will be growing. I marked the cuts myself (which the home depot guy did not appreciate), hauled it home, and put it together.

Lesson: I am a planner. I am not a carpenter. While I did manage to assemble the rack, I wish I had just gone and bought one.



The fruits of my blood, sweat, and almost-tears of frustration.

So, a cautionary tale for all the beginners and people who aren't really DIYers who are thinking about DIYing a snake enclosure. (I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying I'm not doing it again.)

[sho220]

fwiw...the finished product looks good.

[Expensive hobby]

Ya I spent 30 minutes teaching the guy at home depot how to cut. He said I should work there because my cuts were perfect everytime. I didn't say this, but I'm a machinist who works in increments of 1/10 of a thousandth of an inch lol. Making cuts within a 1/32 aren't too hard lol. Not to mention I get to make $1,000,000 machines, not cut $35 sheets of melamine lol.

After I got done with him tho he had it down. Young guy very receptive and eager to learn. It was pretty darn cool.

The older guys get mad at me tho when I tell them their cuts off more than 3/4" are not acceptible.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3

[wilomn]

Or, slightly to the left, you become more interested in this building thing, invest in good tools (never go cheap) and build some skill. Soon no one can believe the things you make, they're so cool -and you're a girl- and you start to actually enjoy the cutting and screwing and occasional gluing. And of course your ability to swear will increase at least ten fold, you will become comfortable using duct tape as a band aid and will laugh and the trouble your first few attempts gave you.

Either way though, the one you made looks pretty good.

[Expensive hobby]

Or, slightly to the left, you become more interested in this building thing, invest in good tools (never go cheap) and build some skill. Soon no one can believe the things you make, they're so cool -and you're a girl- and you start to actually enjoy the cutting and screwing and occasional gluing. And of course your ability to swear will increase at least ten fold, you will become comfortable using duct tape as a band aid and will laugh and the trouble your first few attempts gave you.

Either way though, the one you made looks pretty good.

I like this route. I bought a brand new Makita Hypoid drive Circular saw (the best they make) and a Makita 1/2" Brushless Lithium Ion Hammer Drill/Driver Kit along with a bunch of convertible table/saw horses, a full set of steel clamps, furniture clamps, and caulking gun, 90° clamps, router table, 3 new router bits, Brad nailer, hole saws, the list goes on and on...

Such fun investments!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3

[whatsherface]

Or, slightly to the left, you become more interested in this building thing, invest in good tools (never go cheap) and build some skill. Soon no one can believe the things you make, they're so cool -and you're a girl- and you start to actually enjoy the cutting and screwing and occasional gluing. And of course your ability to swear will increase at least ten fold, you will become comfortable using duct tape as a band aid and will laugh and the trouble your first few attempts gave you.

Either way though, the one you made looks pretty good.

Thanks, it looks better from the front (I hid all the wonky stuff on the back). I wrote that post in a blur of frustration, but I'm kind of proud of myself for actually building something. I approach it with the sense of "if I can replace an timing belt, I can do this." And I did. If I do end up building something like this again, I'm definitely swallowing my pride and borrowing my dad's power tools (because he isn't afraid to splurge on the good stuff). I definitely want some clamps for setting the corners though, because making sure the top and side lined up was a massive pain. I want to do some research into making my own PVC enclosure, because melamine is so damn heavy and cumbersome. But, it will wait for another day, because if I actually make space for more snakes, I will have to get more snakes. Then my wallet and bank account would probably join forces and kill me. I already know what I want to get to fill these shelves, so I should probably wait until those are paid for and settled in until I start gearing up for more.

Also, I already swear like a sailor, I doubt I need much more help in that department.

[OsirisRa32]

I think your rack thingy looks great!!!!

[whatsherface]

Update! I let it run over the weekend to monitor the temps and now I've put all my boys in. I decided not to add any more shelves after putting an accurite on the floor and realizing how cold it is closer to the floor. The ambient temps are almost ten degrees colder 8O (yay for living in basements). I'll just have to make another rack. Before winter comes back around I'll be adding more heat tape to keep the ambient temp at 80 but for now the temps are stable. I'm still working on a way to hide all the massively ugly wiring. :/
(Peep living up to his name and keeping cozy in his new house).