Building my own racks- need some help and suggestions

[mischevious21]

OK, so after looking at lots of breeder racks, I've finally decided to just build my own. I have three ideas that I'm thinking of, so I'm going to share them and get some opinions, hopefully.

The first idea is to make a rack that is 73in. ( a little over 6ft.) long, 55in. (4.5 ft) tall, and 18in wide. The measurements will change probably once I get the tubs (CB-70), and see how it all fits before I put it together. The tubs would go in sideways, and would fit two to a shelf, a total of 20 tubs.

The second is for a rack that is 6ft. tall, 3ft. deep, and 18in. wide, and would hold about 13tubs. This is more of the 'traditional rakcs' that I have seen for sale, but they normally only house 4-6 CB70 tubs.

The third idea is to just built two racks simlar to the one that will hold 13 tubs, but to have them each own 10-12 tubs.

I think I like the first idea the best, but I dont know- I've never built anything like this before and dont know how/if it would work.

[mischevious21]

Its been awhile, so *bump*

[Blue Apple Herps]

What are you making it out of? In the first one it sounds like you plan to have two tubs side by side per shelf? My concern would be sagging that may occur. If that begins to happen your rack won't fit together very well.

[mxrider42]

I built a sideways 15/32 Qt rack that was only four feet wide. I had issues with it sagging. Then one day I went to move it(empty) and the bottom shelve broke on both ends. I think it was too wide and too much weight. My rack was made out of 3/4 inch MDF. I would go with idea three. I just built one CB70 ten tall this past week.
Trey

[atp151415]

if i were you, buy all the tubs you need first, or just one or two until you build the rack, whatever is best

measure the top of the tub, and say the tub is 35 in. long, i would make the shelf 36 or 36.5 in. long, and say its 18 in. wide, allow at least half an inch on each side of the tub so 19 in. wide


(these are just measurements for you to get the idea, i dont know the measurements of the tubs )

[mischevious21]

Thank you all for your suggestion- and yea, sagging is what I'm worried about. I thinnk I'm going to make it out of wood. A friend of mine has some sheets of wood that are about 3in thick (I have no idea why he has it), and said that he would give it to me- and that he would like to help me build it.. Well, in all honesty- I'm not sire I will be the one buiding it. It was the plan, but then my boyfriend, friend, and step-dad suddenly got all macho and are now saying how since they are guys and I'm a girl, THEY should build it for me the cool thing about being a girl.. But then again, I wanna buils it since its for MY babies!!!

I was just going to buy one, but I'm having trouble with finding any that I really like.. So, thats why I'm comming here- because a lot of you have built them! And yea, I was going to get some tubs before I started building, like you said to help with the measurements.

[andwhy6]

check this link out it might help you a some. it helped me

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/cages.shtml

[mischevious21]

check this link out it might help you a some. it helped me

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/cages.shtml

OMG thank you so much!! That is perfect!! I was looking foe a site with something like that, but couldent find anything!!
Thank you!!!