Lowe's tubs vs. Home Depot tubs

Just wanted to share an interesting experience that relates to homemade rat racks, particularly because I had never heard of anybody else running into this problem. In general, I notice a lot of people who make their own rat racks will recommend Lowe's mixing tubs over those sold at Home Depot. The reason is quite logical; the Home Depot tubs come with this annoying little keyhole looking dealie near the lip. Over time, some rats will chew on this hole until it grows big enough to facilitate a mass jailbreak.


My first two rat racks (four drawers each) were designed to fit Home Depot tubs. Over the winter, one tub of growouts decided to test this theory, chewing around the edges of the hole and increasing it's size. While the hole never got anywhere NEAR big enough to allow any escapes, if I had allowed this to go on for another week, it very well may have. So I gassed that group before they could ruin any more tubs and made a decision; my next rack was going to be designed for Lowe's tubs.

Fast forward several months. At this point I was not only planning to build a third rack designed for Lowe's tubs, but I had decided to convert one of the existing racks to fit them, as well. I always grab tubs/totes before I build a rack, so I headed to Lowe's to pick up a tub and begin my measurements. The first thing I noticed was how thin and flimsy these tubs seemed compared to the Home Depot ones. Apparently this wasn't always the case; customer complaints on the Lowe's website indicates that these tubs had previously been made of thicker, stronger plastic and the manufacturer has since cheaped out.

Anyway, I immediately modify one shelf of an existing rack to fit the new Lowe's tub. Not long after adding a group of grow outs to the tub, they chewed a massive hole in the tub. This hole couldn't have been there for more than a day and, had I left them like that just overnight, would surely have had a group of rats running around my house. Needless to say, I switched back to the Home Depot tubs. I haven't had any serious problems since. My guess is that the "new" Lowe's tubs are just so thin and flimsy that the rats don't even need an existing hole or groove to feel encouraged to chew on it. Take a look at the pics and draw your own conclusions.

Home Depot tub on the left, Lowe's on the left-
http://i58.tinypic.com/33aavpt.jpg

Stupid "keyhole" on Home Depot tub-
http://i59.tinypic.com/mn5gy.jpg

Massive chew hole in Lowe's tub-
http://i60.tinypic.com/s2fdip.jpg

I use the home depot tubs and just installed a bolt in the hole. I've yet to have any problems.

My guess is you have a low corner in the slot that rack was in. I never liked the lowes tubs, they're a tad smaller and have never been as thick as the home depot ones.

Some folks take a nut and bolt and put them through the hole in the HD tubs, some just turn them around backwards, which, for some odd reason, seems to work too.

Chew outs, like death and taxes for the poor, are unavoidable.

The rats learn that the tub opens at the front. I can see why turning the tubs around works.

I dont like the hanger hole in the HD tubs so I use Lowes but then again I like Lowes better and they are a couple blocks from my house.

I like the Lowes store better.
But the HD tub is a lot more sturdy/thicker/larger in my opinion.

I don't need to do it, but I know people who just drape a piece of hardware cloth over the key hole.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

My guess is you have a low corner in the slot that rack was in.

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This is the key element to all chew outs. If the tubs fit tightly against the hardware cloth it will very be difficult for them to get a grip. It has more to do with proper construction of the rack than the type of tub used based on my years of experience with both brands.

YMMV

I use HD tubs with the keyhole, And I always make sure the hole is towards the back of the rack. Haven't had a chew out yet.

I have never had any problems with the holes in the Home Depot tubs. I concur with JohnNJ. You have to take the time to make sure that the tubs fit properly. This will alleviate more problems associated with chew outs.

When I install the rails that my tubs slide on I always turn the rack upside down and use the actual tub itself as a spacer. This lets me know that each tub will fit perfectly and that the hardware cloth will be right up against the plastic. Using this method I have never had a chewed tub.

Also, you have to cull chewers. Chewers and biters meet the same fate at my place. If they bite anything other than a block of food they end up as snake poop. End of story.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tommyanunnaki

When I install the rails that my tubs slide on I always turn the rack upside down and use the actual tub itself as a spacer. This lets me know that each tub will fit perfectly and that the hardware cloth will be right up against the plastic. Using this method I have never had a chewed tub.

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I build them the same way and I have had tubs chewed every now and then. If they want to chew they will.