Best rack system options

I need the cheapest possible solution. What would be the best way to build a 6 tub rack with 41 qt tubs. Just 6 vertical tubs. One single column. Best/Cheapest material? Design? Or, would it be better just to buy one?

i haven't seen many in the 6 tub set up seen 3's 4's 5's 7's 9's and 13's so buying one with just 6 unless you go with 3's that are stack able i don't know. as far as building them Xpvc, melamine, and pvc, are the 3 materals i see sugested. xpvc and pvc have the ability to be burned with out catching fire them selves which helps when you are unsure of the safe useagle of your heating devices. xpvc is lighter and from what ive seen 50-75% cheaper then pvc for the same thickness. if you go that route 1/2 inch is sugested as 1/4 inch can bow. melamine (not sure on spelling) is found as 3/4 or .75 inches at home depot and lowes. its sold in 49x97 inch sheets its is heavy VERY HEAVY but it has a paper resin coating that reduces moisture penitration which helps with its longgevity. as well you can buy iron on vinal to seal the end pieces of it. its cut useing a saw blade with as high of teeth count as you can get. i got some blades at sear's for 9.89 that had i believe 140 teeth and that worked walmart has a pack with 1x normal toothed saw blade and one with as many as you would need for it for 7.50 or so. these are all 7 and 1/4 blades which is the common saw blade size for a hand circular saw. the problem is that with weight any of these materals will bow but with a 41q tub you should be able to secure it on the long sides and the back for added insurance it wont bow.. the less your wood has open air the less it can bow. screw each shelf multiple times on each side that is enclised and it reduces bowing dramatically.

however if you don't have tools all 3 materials can be expansive and the tools even more so. melamine is 38 or so dollars per board, xpvc is 115 locally for me but can be up much higher and pvc ive seen at 225 per sheet.

xpvc can be 80-125 dollars for a 4'x8' sheet which will only get you a max of 5 shelves for your build. you still need the sides and at least one top piece. its also suggested to me that you should build a 2 inch or so box at the bottom that you can then put insulation in and then seal that box (helps with casters too as these racks empty can weigh more then you want to move your self and loaded with snakes you don't want to have any issues if you have to move it. 41q tubs are roughly 3foot by 1.5 foot so its not a small rack to build. you do save some wood by going for a 2 tub wide set up but it causes you to need to have a support structure between each tub on each shelf to help keep it from bowing. this would make the rack 40 or so inches wide and 3 foot deep and as high as you need with melamine it would be (with a 3.5 inch box at bottom for double insulation and with out casters) 3foot 8 inches (each shelf being roughly 6.5 inches from top of shelf to top of next shelf) the sterlite tubs are 5.5 inches tall and you need .25 inches for air and the board is .75.

your other option is the 50 dollar plastic shelving units at home depot or lowes they are both 24/36 for the 50 dollar one 18/36 for the 40 dollar one which is to thin to put the tubs in. you would have to buy the thrifty white board or some equivalent and then cut one shelf (36x width of the space between the poles) per shelf you want to use (6 for you) and then screw that to the bottom of the shelves (except the bottom one) and cut the support legs to the length you need. however if your room is 70 or so degrees (according to vision racks web site that sells a pre made rack similar to this but made just for this)you will have to then build a box to encase this rack in to keep the heat in enough to make it worth it. this box would have to be heat resistant and insulated and huge. 2 of these kits gets you 9 tubs worth or one kit gets you 5 tubs worth. im currently looking at this as an alternative to my melamine rack's as they are so freaking heavy that i don't want to ever move them again. where as this with no snakes in it would be less then one sheet of the melamine.

in the end its your money and your snakes its what you feel comfortable with and have the money to purchase. if you want to build one i found it enjoyable but i like to work with my hands on projects that have a use. if your not comfertable with building i would suggest you look at the options, some people sell xpvc racks for much less then you could ever find the materials for your self but then your typically stuck with their size heat tape and quality.

i was looking at building a 2 wide 4 tall one for the 41's out of melamine and was estimating with heat tape taxes miss expanses and having all tools at the ready that it would still cost me roughly 400 or so. much cheaper and less shipping cost for sure then a high end rack but heavy as heck and still more then it would cost for me to build one with the plastic shelves.


hope this helps sorry for rambling.