Building a Sideways Rack, Progress DUW(seriously)

I have purchased everything I need to build my sideways rack so far. I need to run by HD tomorrow to get some more screws and aluminum tape, but other then that, I am ready to go. My heat tape gets here tomorrow and I will be wiring that up :)

Here is my progress so far. I will be updating this as I get more and more done and maybe when I am done I will write up a whole How-to if anyone else wants to give it a shot.

This is my first ever rack build so bear with me :giggle:

My main goals for this rack were to be economical with materials and for it to look like a piece of furniture rather than a snake rack. To do this I did a number of things. I found pre-finished black shelving that I am using to build my rack. Because the HD by me did not have the right size, I had to fudge it and buy a shelf that was a few inches smaller and then I cut 3 inch strips to glue to the backside. This worked pretty well and will be sturdy once I screw them into the sides. My only problem with this method is that the sides are not flush with the shelves, they will be overhanging by about 3 inches. Which I suppose isn't that big of a deal.

SUPPLIES!!
For those who haven't seen it, here is my shopping list:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90125

The only difference is the wood material that I bought and the combination of tubs. I instead purchased the following:
(3) 48"x12"
(7) 24"x12"
(2) Mens shoebox tubs
(5) Boot Box tubs

Here are pictures of some of the materials and tools:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/...a87757.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/...86dbbc.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/...dc7975.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/...ab909c.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/...7b87d0.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/...627ae1.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/...32d546.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/...cb823a.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/...aecbc4.jpg?v=0


PROCESS!!

The first thing I did was fix the depth of the shelves. All I did was glue on some 3 inch pieces to the ends of the 12 inch shelves.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/...c2f81d.jpg?v=0
Tada! 15" shelves :)

Then I soldered the holes in my tubs (this took like an hour and it felt like a really long time). I made myself little template so the holes were evenly spaced.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/...e0cdfd.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/...6ca640.jpg?v=0

Then I prepped my extension cords so I could solder the connections to my flexwatt which will be arriving tomorrow 4/30. There were like 5 tags on each of the extension cords, I don't know why they need so many..
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/...b7216d.jpg?v=0



For tomorrow I am going to (hopefully) solder all the flexwatt and possibly drill all of the shelves into place. Then I will be fastening the handles to the tubs and lastly I will be making a drawer for the bottom of the rack. Then my rack should be complete and I will be ready to move my crappy collection (2) of snakes in to their new snake condo!

Looks good so far keep it comming more pics!!! :salute::gj:

Alright, I was up late last night determined to get this thing in working order! I am basically done except I need to put on the hardware for 2 more tubs and eventually, add the drawer to the bottom space.

Here are some pics of wiring the flexwatt, putting the shelves up, and the semi-finished product.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/...492a52.jpg?v=0
Non wired flex

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/...0e1225.jpg?v=0
Prepping the soldering surface

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/...ff9562.jpg?v=0
Oh look! They are all magically done!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/...ff22c7.jpg?v=0
Adding the shelves

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/...5d5fe2.jpg?v=0
All shelves in! Taping in the flexwatt

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/...70ea05.jpg?v=0
Tubs withe the awesome pulls :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/...516f4e.jpg?v=0
Blurry picture of it in my room.


Hope you all like it!

Looks good, I like the drawer pulls they add a nice touch.

Very cool. I love building my own racks. I like the pull idea.
Justin

WHAT type of wood is that!?
I want that, I hate melamine!

It is acutally pre-finished particle board shelving I found in the shelving department at home depot. :)

Alright, I plugged in my thermostat and have added the 2 residents to the snake condo!
I also added some stoppers so the snakes can't push their way out. These work well and look nice too!

I will post pictures again when I get the drawer at the bottom done.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/...3407bc.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/...df6e60.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/...ccf01e.jpg?v=0
The messy back side :rolleyes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/...e1e9df.jpg?v=0
You can't really tell but that is one of the little twisty stopper things.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/...2eff56.jpg?v=0
My masterpiece!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/...5359c3.jpg?v=0
I see you in there!!


Thanks for looking! :):snake:

Nice setup you got there. I like the pull idea. Are those handles stuck on or fastened on? I can't imagine stick ons lasting very long...

They are all fastened on with screws :) I don't think stick ons would last long either.