DIY, how to keep your tubs from rubbing on the flexwatt

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Originally Posted by Isis

I never thought about back heat. I'm not well versed on it. I understand it's good for ambient, and that snakes don't necessarily need belly heat, but there's just something in my head that forces me to think they need belly heat :confused:

I don't know it would be enough to tape along the edges, eventually you would think the tape would wear down or rub off?

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Back heat is good because the only part of the tub that actually touches is the rim around the top of the tub. It is definitely easier to trust belly heat for obvious reasons, but I am having great success with back heat so far. As far as the tape over the metal edges, this is where the shock will be coming from. If you cover the exposed areas it will close the circuit. What do you have on the edge of the heat tape that is opposite of the end with the clips? And yes I would check the heat tape from time to time for wear. I would actually tape it straight to the shelf also. Electrical tape is pretty easy to work with. 14 hour shifts :rolleye2: good luck with that

I'm a little confused by this thread, but thought I'd chime in since I'm getting ready to buy a wardrobe from Ikea and make a rack out of it.

So if I understand this right, when you put the tubs in and out of the rack over time it will wear down the flexwatt and then you'll have exposed wiring? But I thought that's what that silver tape that is often sold with flexwatt would prevent?

You put the silver tape over the edges, not over the heat element parts.

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Originally Posted by SNIKTTIME

Back heat is good because the only part of the tub that actually touches is the rim around the top of the tub. It is definitely easier to trust belly heat for obvious reasons, but I am having great success with back heat so far. As far as the tape over the metal edges, this is where the shock will be coming from. If you cover the exposed areas it will close the circuit. What do you have on the edge of the heat tape that is opposite of the end with the clips? And yes I would check the heat tape from time to time for wear. I would actually tape it straight to the shelf also. Electrical tape is pretty easy to work with. 14 hour shifts :rolleye2: good luck with that

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It would be nice to not worry about it rubbing. The shims should take care of that! Yay! I spoke with a couple people about taping the parts that are worn down but it freaks me out. It is taped to my rack with electrical tape.
Yeah i'm still at work and about to lose my mind-i work with people in a group home that have mental disabilities. Its been a long night.... Thank heavens i can slip away and get on here for a few minutes!

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Originally Posted by Payton MacDonald

I'm a little confused by this thread, but thought I'd chime in since I'm getting ready to buy a wardrobe from Ikea and make a rack out of it.

So if I understand this right, when you put the tubs in and out of the rack over time it will wear down the flexwatt and then you'll have exposed wiring? But I thought that's what that silver tape that is often sold with flexwatt would prevent?

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I had my flexwatt covered with aluminum tape to protect it but after a year and a half it still worn down. Premade racks all have a way to keep the tubs off the flexwatt. You'll need to do something to get the tubs off the flexwatt or learn the hard way like me :(

also you can use self sticking flooring. place a strip along the back of your rack, then run your heat tape along in front of it, and then add another piece of flooring in front of the heat tape. when you slide your tubs in the self sticking flooring is just a little thicker than the flexwatt,the tub sits on the flooring instead of sliding on the flexwatt. so the heat is still close to the bottom of the tub, you can also put a piece in the front of your rack to keep the tub level. plus humidity isn't a problem with it.

I want to use back heat just for this reason