DIY Snake Rack - Freedom Breeder Tubs

So my buddy and I decided that we wanted to build our own rack using 3/4" Melamine to fit freedom breeder tubs. I have put together this little DIY post in case anyone was interested.

These are the freedom breeder tubs we are using.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1c212b9e.jpg

I started off with a little overview sheet of what size pieces we needed.

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4edfd595.jpg

For this rack you need:

4 Sides - 36" X 22.5"
13 Shelves - 36" X 22.5"
12 Supports - 5 1/8" X 22.5" (NOTE: We also cut a couple extra supports, I will explain the use further down)
2 Back Pieces - 37 1/4" X 36"
4 Casters
2 Strips of 3/4" Plywood 35" X 6"
45 feet of 3" heat tape
2 electrical cords
Foil tape
3M Waterproof tape
Electrical Tape

So we bought our 4' X 8' sheets of melamine and had the company do rough cuts for us.

We then started doing final cuts on all the boards to get the desired amount of sides and shelves.

First we used a fence to cut the width of our boards.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps47ab4d21.jpg

We then used a slide jig that we made to cute the length of the boards
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...pse2df1344.jpg

Then we repeated the same process to cut our support boards.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8ad129e7.jpg

We clamped several of the supports together to make the next step quicker
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...psa26ae061.jpg

We used a dado blade to cut a slot in the supports and all of the shelves for the heat tape to pass through.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...psc236bc26.jpg

After getting everything cut, we moved all of the wood into the snake room for assembly.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9ac31913.jpg

First we took one of the shelves (The bottom of the rack) and securd two sides to it. To make the first shelf we used some "Jig Boards" that we made.

We took the length of a shelf and subtracted the width of the melamine X3 (for the thickness of 3 supports), we then divided that number in half and cut boards to that length. This allowed us to place two supports on each side of the rack and one in the middle to hold the next shelf straight. (This is where the extra supports come in) We then placed our "Jig Boards" on either side of the center support to make sure the center support was straight and in the same place on every shelf.

In this picture you can see the three supports along with our "Jig Boards" with the first shelf sitting on top.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7529a485.jpg

After screwing the shelf into place we repeated this process shelf by shelf.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps633c16d7.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...psc3c7d4ca.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps176000a0.jpg

After completing the first section, We just repeated all the steps for the second section. NOTE: We saved meleamine bu not putting a bottom on the top half of the rack. The top of the bottom cabinet serves as the bottom of the top unit.)
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps160c3dbe.jpg

In this picture you can see the slots that we cut out to allow the heat tape to run under the supports.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3763e570.jpg

This is one of the completed rack.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...psa931a4c5.jpg

Then we flipped the bottom part over and layed down our two plywood stripes to put on the casters
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps19ec09a1.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...psb9faa09a.jpg

Next we ran our heat tape throughout the rack and taped it down
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6d6a862d.jpg

Finally we nailed down the back and hooked everything up, the rack is complete.

This is the finished product. It is the rack on the far left.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...A71BFDAFC0.jpg

I tried to put this in order best I could. If anyone has any questions or suggestions, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks.

Just a question, all your other racks have sealed edges are you going to seal the edge of your new rack to prevent outgassing of formaldehyde? If that is the plan what are you going to use. I personally so hate edging tape so if you have something else I'd love to know.

- - - Updated - - -

It looks great BTW!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

prevent outgassing of formaldehyde?

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What?

Usually we use iron on edge tape but we may just spray paint it. Not sure yet.

How many thermometer probes did you use, just one? If so, does it matter where the probe went?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Just a question, all your other racks have sealed edges are you going to seal the edge of your new rack to prevent outgassing of formaldehyde?

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Huh :confusd:
we have a melamine rack that is 3+ years old and has never had the edges covered and it's never caused an issue either.
I've never heard of an issue with it either, have you?

http://voices.yahoo.com/hidden-dange...rd-156018.html

Hard to say if the outgassing effects snakes but URI is one of the issues in people. there are formaldehyde free particle boards but it is not as common. The melamine isn't a issue at all, but the particle board substrate ? I don't know, it seems to me that sealing it isn't that difficult so it makes sense in case it could be an issue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martin82531

How many thermometer probes did you use, just one? If so, does it matter where the probe went?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

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Each rack breaks down into two boxes. We just used one probe and put it on a shelf in the middle. Doesnt really matter where the probe goes we just put it somewhere in the middle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Huh :confusd:
we have a melamine rack that is 3+ years old and has never had the edges covered and it's never caused an issue either.
I've never heard of an issue with it either, have you?

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Ive never heard of this either. We havent decided what were doing yet if anything..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

http://voices.yahoo.com/hidden-dange...rd-156018.html

Hard to say if the outgassing effects snakes but URI is one of the issues in people. there are formaldehyde free particle boards but it is not as common. The melamine isn't a issue at all, but the particle board substrate ? I don't know, it seems to me that sealing it isn't that difficult so it makes sense in case it could be an issue.

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Never heard of this ???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rat160

Each rack breaks down into two boxes. We just used one probe and put it on a shelf in the middle. Doesnt really matter where the probe goes we just put it somewhere in the middle.

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What do you mean it breaks into two boxes?

Also I have seen in some racks they put foil tape down before the flexwatt, then laying the flexwatt on top of the tape, is this something you do or have heard of?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martin82531

What do you mean it breaks into two boxes?

Also I have seen in some racks they put foil tape down before the flexwatt, then laying the flexwatt on top of the tape, is this something you do or have heard of?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

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There a top section that stacks on the bottom to complete the rack. Makes it easier to move this way.

I have put down foil tape before just preference i guess. Just seems like a waste of tape to me. The thermostat is going to keep he same temp regardless.


Please excuse any errors sent from my crap phone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rat160

There a top section that stacks on the bottom to complete the rack. Makes it easier to move this way.

I have put down foil tape before just preference i guess. Just seems like a waste of tape to me. The thermostat is going to keep he same temp regardless.


Please excuse any errors sent from my crap phone.

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Thanks!

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2