Square tubing type rat rack questions

I am in the middle of drawing out a square tubing style rat rack. 6 tubs wide by 7 tubs high. I have it all drawn out and it will work and then I came to how I am going to keep them in and the food on top.

I know I can use 1/4" hardware cloth, but I want to know what other folks use in rack systems that are made from steel.

Expansion steel? some sort of grating? where do you get it from?

Just a couple questions I ran into if you don't mind helping with some knowledge.


Thank you

1/2 inch hardware cloth, 1/4 is for mice.

6 wide 7 tall?
That's a huge rack weight wise, and will it fit out the door if you ever have to move it?

That is huge, unless your tubs are very small. We have a rack or 2 here, the big metal lab ones, that are like 7 or more tubs wide, but 7 rows high, front and back. It barely fits out the door, Elena actually had to cut it in half to get it into the basement.

My rack, is 4 tubs wide by 5 rows tall (6 feet tall, but 4 feet wide) with more room for an extra row or two at the bottom if I ever need to add them. And I believe, it will still fit out the door. lol.

1/4" for my ASF's, they have proven to be pretty good at getting through the 1/2", the smaller ones I mean.

It is only 6'6" high, 7'2" wide and 2'3" deep. It will probably be pretty heavy when it is fully done but it will be on casters.