Finding the room!

Well this is a project I have been working on for a while. I probably will not make any more progress over the next couple of weeks as work has me working out of town.

My wife and I were having trouble finding room for racks in the house. I became a little creative and what started as a small rack system to house 10 ball pythons grew into a full blown breeding center in a very small and normally unused area.

Here is the area I had to work with when it began.

http://mysite.verizon.net/respagz9/s...s/P2150002.JPG
http://mysite.verizon.net/respagz9/s...s/P2150001.JPG

And this is where it sits now!
http://mysite.verizon.net/respagz9/s...s/P3080011.JPG

The incubator can be slid in and out if maintenance is needed and will end up wired to 3 rancos. The 6 tubs on the left are CB-70 type while the 4 on the left are the sweater box size. The frame above is for a table top and on the back of the table top will be 3 rows of 4 shoe box tubs for a total of 12. I ran all new electric and the incubator will be on a designated circuit while the rest is run on another designated circuit. Right above the little shelf designed to hold 2 Herpstat Pros will go a hidden shelf that will hold a humidifier to keep humidity up in the area. Under the base of the stairs an 80 Watt radiant heater and small fan slowly moving air hooked to another Ranco will be installed and all the large openings will be closed off with some kind of nice wood finish. This should help maintain a nice 80 degree air temp in the area of all the larger tubs, but enough gaps should exist to keep the air fresh. The CB-70 type tubs have 2 strips of 4" flex watt along the bottom rear of each surrounded in thin Aluminum. The sweater boxes will have one strip of 11" flex watt under the rear of each. The shoe boxes will get a strip of 4" under the rear of them. The incubator itself can hold 9 shoe boxes also for incubating.

I know it is a long way from complete and a few other changes may take place before it is done, but what do people think?

I think it looks awesome so far and a great way to use the space!!! :gj: Great Job! Can't wait to see it when it is all done!!:)

.... wow. :O

Too cool, there! Great use of space and good looking racks. I understand the whole 'can't find space' thing, since I live in a 2 br apartment and we're both geeks (read: lots of books, swords, nick-nacks, and computer stuff taking up room).

Lookin great!

That looks really nice. And, you were able to make room for your collection, without taking room away from the family. Kudos.

very cool ingenius!

wow!! that is a great place to house a growing collection. I like the being accessible yet not taking up valuable living space aspect of it. Keep us posted on the progress.

Thanks all!

I made it home this week end so we will see how much further I get. I did the sweater box Flex Watt today, the hidden shelf and the main table. Ordered another Herpstat Pro for the rest of the tubs and wired one of the Ranco thermostats for the incubator. I'll see if I can't get some progress photos up tonight or tomorrow.

What a wonderful, creative use of that space! Nice tidy job too with a place for everything and everything in it's place. :)

Well here is a little update of what I got done this weekend!
1. table top on
2. Hidden shelf built
3. Juvy rack w/Flex watt
4. Flex watt in sweater boxes
5. cover on table top and shelf
6. Wired up a ranco to see if the sweater boxes will maintain heat
+ some other little odds and ends around the house.

http://mysite.verizon.net/respagz9/s...derstairsA.jpg

All and all it is actually turning out better than I thought it would! :)

That is quite an idea. Are all those racks screwed into the studs?...I only ask this because if a snake or rat gets out and gets behind the racks, it might be some task to get it out!
I'd also put a smoke alarm right under the steps...never can be too careful!