IS it enough?

I think you could get a sheet of MDF and some 2x4 and some 1x2x for around $50 (I know you can here) and build a rack somewhat like the rack Tim built for Joe. Just make it larger for your size tubs.

The Lowes here only carries the 6ft long MEL for making the shelves in homes.Well its like $15 for a 6ft long peice and i come up with over $100 just for the MEL to make this rack i bought.This is the rack and its like 4ft high with shelves for 7 41qt tubs. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...trackfront.jpg

We have 4ftx 2 ft sheets of MDF...For like 3 bucks a piece!! So i will be getting alot of thoughs and I will be getting some stuff for a rat rack possibly...:carrot:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

To me pply-wood isnt a good choice. It will come apart. and IMO doesnt look good. Not to metion it isnt sturdy.

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I beg to differ on on two of those comments. There are varying types of "plywood" but my first rack is using a plywood for the shelf pieces and I have seen no deterioration whatsoever. I can't say if it would be flimsy if the hole thing was plywood since I used other wood for the actual structure and supports. I sealed the shelves with a water based sealent, if you don't and the wood able to absorb moisture then you are just asking for mold and wood will eventually break down.

Sure its not as pretty as some of the melamine setups but its not ugly...to me.

I have also read about the glue in particle board and other pressed woods killing snakes because once there heated my your flexwatt the glue creates toxic fumes.....

Sorry I lied; it is $27 at HDepot, not $37.

I thought of plywood, but it just seems like a lot of work to have to seal it, etc. The melamine was more expensive than wood, granted, but it's already nice and tough, smooth, etc. I will need to get edging for it though, since the edges are sharp and not attractive.
I underestimated the toughness of the melamine; I have since found out that people use it for inexpensive butcher blocking! I tried scratching it but it's a toughie.

The tanks that I recently built were made of 1/2" MDF and to make things easy I just got a few of the 2x4 sheets that they sell. Cost was like $22 for the MDF(about the cost of a 49x97 sheet of 3/4" MDF) but the smaller pieces just made is easoer

Sealing isn't hard at all. The longest part for me was letting it dry. I put several coats and let it dry a few days inbetween each one. I've never had any health issues due to the plywood shelf rack I have...that seems kinda fishy to me. How do folks think melamine is made and held together??

for all we know the adhesive has changed since that happened :confuzd: