Build or Purchase: Rack System?

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

You are right Jinx but I got mine at the Repticon so I got lucky. I researched some racks, figured out what I wanted, went to the show, and there they were.

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I am also going to go to repitcon in Perry, GA in a few weekends (unless i hear that this show is not worth going to, i wouldnt be suprised).

Which tub are you using? Seems a lot of the DIY racks still run 2-300 minimum, and that is IF you have all the tools.

I think that 500-600 to house what are likely several thousand dollars in snakes is not that bad.

I don't like melamine...it's heavy, it wears down, does not take to humidity very well.

If you're looking to spend around $500, check out the first rack on this page...

http://www.visionproducts.us/htm7/racks.html

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

If you're looking to spend around $500, check out the first rack on this page...

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Brain malfunction...you're looking to NOT spend that much...

I built a 7 tub 41qt rack for like $200.
The 2 4x8 sheets of melamine were $40 each and the screws were like $6. Plus tax obviously. Then the tubs at target were like $10 a piece so thats another $70. The flexwatt was like another $30 i think...? Home depot made every cut there for me and i wasnt charged for any of them. Idk if the girl liked me or they dont charge anyone for cuts lol? My stepdad had a powerdrill that i used to build it but if you dont have one im sure someone you know does, that you could just borrow. Then i used the same t-stat as before. So in total thats about $200. It took me like 1hr to put it all together. Getting it inside was the biggest pita in the world!!! If you decide to go this route build it in the room youre putting it in!!! lol
Also if i were you i would use 32qt tubs since you have 10 snakes already. Itll save some space for you.
If you have any questions feel free to pm me :)

I have a hard time successfully operating a flat head screw driver. Power tools are well beyond my skill set. I prefer to purchase premade PVC racks. The last rack I ordered from RBI got here in 4 days.

I built this one for just under $300.00. It holds the CB-70 tubs.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...and-my-nice-bp

We have homemade racks. Screw that. I have some PVC ones on order.

The experts know what they're doing. They've been doing it forever and on a more regular basis than any DIYers, and have worked out the kinks.

Also like somebody else said, we live in an apartment. I don't think it would be a very good idea to get the table saw out of storage and start ripping sheets of material in the living room :P

PVC racks will probably be one of the best investments for your snakes as their longevity is much better than melamine or sealed plywood (from what I've read, anyways)

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Originally Posted by SquamishSerpents

We have homemade racks. Screw that. I have some PVC ones on order.

The experts know what they're doing. They've been doing it forever and on a more regular basis than any DIYers, and have worked out the kinks.

Also like somebody else said, we live in an apartment. I don't think it would be a very good idea to get the table saw out of storage and start ripping sheets of material in the living room :P

PVC racks will probably be one of the best investments for your snakes as their longevity is much better than melamine or sealed plywood (from what I've read, anyways)

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Like i said they cut everything for you at home depot so no need for a saw. Also your snakes could care less if theyre in a pvc or melamine rack. They wouldnt be able to tell the difference.
With that said, i would much prefer a pvc rack bc i think black looks nicer than white melamine and it would be ALOT lighter lol. When i was deciding btwn racks i decided to do a DIY one just bc i didnt have $700-$800 to drop on one.

OOPS I re-read what I wrote, because I was wondering why you said my snakes could care less weather it was mel. or PVC. I didn't mean the SNAKES have better longevity in a PVC rack, I meant the racks themselves would have better longevity. Also PVC is self-extinguishing, which is a huuuuuuuuuge plus for my peace of mind. Obviously self-extinguishing doesn't mean fire proof, but I feel a lot better about it than plywood.

I don't know how your staff are at Home Depot, but I don't trust the people that works at ours :P

I did get some cuts done there for our hatchling rack (melamine) as well as our rat racks, and I could have done a better job with one arm and my eyes closed. I don't trust them to make cuts, lol.

And yeah my PVC racks are going to be black and I'm sooooo over the moon about it.

Eventually I want to change over all of our rack systems to PVC, I want a nice, matching reptile room dammit! But in our financial situation right now (I'm barely working and my BF owes lots and lots of taxes due to an accounting screw up) we're just making due with our crappy plywood racks. I had to get something, though. Because I'm stacking tubs in a room right now and IT SUPER SUCKS.