Building a Rat Rack

[Chuckels]

I know there are many posts on 'How To' build Rat Rack's, but I figured anyway that I'd post mine up, and break it down as much as I can. This rack is only 4 High, because I only have room for (1) 6 High Rack, all of my others have to be 4 high.

Tools that I use are:

Miter Saw
Drill
1/8" Drill Bit
Phillips Head Driver
(1) Box of 2 1/2" Wood Screws
Staple Gun
(1) Box of 1/2" Staples
(3) Rolls of 2x5' Hardware Cloth
(11) 8' 2x2
(5) 8' 1x1's
(4) Corner Clamps [Optional]
Sander [Optional]
4 Small Concrete Mixing Tubs

First, I started with my (4) Leg Cuts ... 52"



Second, I cut (8) Short 'Front/Back' Cuts ... 20.5"



Third, I cut (20) Long 'Side' Cuts ... 24" (I know there's only 12 Pictured)




That concludes your main cuts that you'll need before you start assembling the trays that will cover your tubs.

Onto putting it all together...

You're going to take the (2) 24" pieces, and (2) 20.5" pieces, and put it all together. Take a 24", lay it in a 'L' pattern with a 20.5". Make sure you place it so the 24" sits on top of the 20.5". Take your corner clamp's, and line it up to make it even on top and bottom. Do the same with your other 2 piece's of 24/20.5, and PRE-DRILL w/ your 1/8" Drill Bit (Since were using 2x2's). Screw all 4 pieces together, and you should come out with something like this, minus the food box. Read below the picture.

It should measure roughly 27" long ways, and 20.5" wide.



Continue doing that, until you've used up all of your 20.5", and have (12) 24" left over. In the picture above, you can see what I do with the extra 24" pieces. I cut it exactly in half, and make a food box with it. If you have no desire to do that, you can take away (4) of your 24" cuts from the original plan.

The next part, is the absolute hardest part in my opinion, and the most painstaking. Hardware Cloth. Start out by opening 1 roll, and placing 1 side of it, and the top, even with a side/top of the covers that you just finished assembling. This way you only have to cut 1 side down, and it's less blood from getting your hands pricked. Use 1/2" Staples with the Staple Gun (If you have one) and place a staple every 1-2" to ensure it's secured. Sometimes the staples wont go all the way in, so use a Hammer to knock them flush.

After your done, it should look something like this ...



Next is putting on the legs ... it's pretty much smooth sailing from here, to me anyways.

Put your (4) 52" Cuts, on the 4 corners of your TOP Bin cover. Make sure you have the Cover facing with the Hardware cloth UP. (You're pretty much building it upside down). The legs go on the outside of the cover, not the inside.

It should look like this ...



Almost there, next you want to take a bin, lay it face down on the cover, and add the tub support to it using (2) 24" pieces, and (3) 1x1's, cut to size of course. I forgot to take pictures of these, but your going to need a total of (12) cut to roughly 20-20.5". Once you attach your supports, it should look like this ...



I use a 2 1/2" Spacer between my Tub Supports, and my next Tub Cover. You can use whatever you feel. It makes it a heck of alot easier using spacers. To make them, just take some unused spare 2x2, and cut it to the length of space you want between tubs. You need (4) ... (1) for each corner.

Once, you get all of your tub covers, and tub supports the way you like, it should look like a rat rack, but with 2 more things to do before it's done. (Minus Plumbing)

Add a back support to the rack, it also acts as a stopper for your tubs, so you don't push your tubs too far in, and allow escapes.



Last thing, and I don't have a picture for it, a side support. Take a 1x1, and hold it between 2 of your legs on a single side. Cut it so it fits from your 1st Tub Cover, all the way until the last. Screw it in place, and that's a wrap.

When it's all said and done, you should have your very own rat rack, built buy your hands.



If you're working alone, it can be a day job. It only took me about 3-4 hours to build this, but I've built quite a few. If you can get a second set of hands, I recommend doing it. It all makes it worth it when you hear the little squeaks of pinks though. I hope this helps at least 1 person build a Rat Rack, if not, I had fun writing up this 'make-shift' plan on 'How To' do it.

Enjoy!

Trey