Heat tape and rack spacing questions

Hi, I have 2 questions.

1.In a homemade rack, how do you get the spacing between the tub and the next shelf to be so that the tub slides in w/o touching the top? I was told and index card on the tub, that didnt work because the tub still goes in uneasily. The next level I took it up a notch to a piece of cardboard from a shoebox, still hits the top on the way in. How do I get that 1/8" gap?

2. For ball pythons in a 41 qt rack, would a strip of 3" heat tape or a strip of 11" heat tape be better? It will be going down the shorter side of the tub. On my other 41 qt rack, I have 3" and it is fine, but I wanted to see if there were any otehr opinions on it.

sorry about the mistakes, Im rushing, lol

well i use a nice think piece of melamine, which i used for the back of my rack, to give me a gap.

and for the 41qt tubs i use 11" pieces cause it gives a bigger hot spot and heats the tub a little better then the 3" or 4" stuff.

I usually use 4 normal sized cd's and put them under each corner of the tub. It lifts it up just enough so the tub slides over the flexwatt and isn't compressing it. I use 3 cd's for baby racks because otherwise it's too much room.

Keep using different sized spacers until you get a good gap, or just measure the height of the tub and add 1/8" and then measure and drill the shelf at that distance.

Randy,
Is this an open air rack, similar to the ones on my DIY page, or a solid top rack like one built with melamine? If it is the open air rack, I just bend my heat panels slightly up or down to adjust them for proper fit. If it is a melamine type rack, I cut a spacer prior to starting that is the correct height for the shelf, and insert the spacer between each shelf prior to screwing in the next shelf. This allows you to have the proper, exact spacing for every shelf.

Its the mealamine type. Tim, you are doing what I was told by another master rack builder(Phil, if anyone knows him). I dont have the tools to cut it though, and I cant trust Home Depot to be precise. Im using 2 brown grocery bags now, and it is wrking out to about a 3/16" gap. That works, right?

3/16" gap should be perfect.

thanks. :rockon: BTW, I have mastered the art of sauder! :carrot:

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Originally Posted by Petboy15

thanks. :rockon: BTW, I have mastered the art of sauder! :carrot:

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Now you just need to get down the art of spelling. Solder. LOL. Just bustin' your chops.