Built a Rat Rack

So I got my wisdom teeth out last week. Got super lucky and even though they had to dig all 4 of them out I was up and around within an hour after the operation. Anyways, since I couldn't really lift the railroad ties to build the retaining wall in the back yard till the next day I built a rat rack. I think it took maybe 8 hours or so. Anyways here it is. Let me know what you think. I still need to add the watering system.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7090456.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7090458.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7110463.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7110464.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7230457.jpg

I used some extra square dowl rods to make sure the tubs stayed centered and as stops in the back.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7230458.jpg

And just for kicks I took a picture of myself in the middle of building the rat rack. Me all swollen and stained blue cause I can't feel my entire face. HAHA.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/P7100460.jpg

nice building man,
looks good

Are those pressure treated?....You might run into a problem if the rats can chew the wood....

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Originally Posted by monk90222

Are those pressure treated?....You might run into a problem if the rats can chew the wood....

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I noticed that too.

Nice rack Dude!! I am going to get around to building me one here sometime in a few months.:D

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Originally Posted by monk90222

Are those pressure treated?....You might run into a problem if the rats can chew the wood....

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Yes they are. I realized the issue about half way through the building of it. I talked to a couple people with the same design and they didnt have any issues with chewing on the wood. Worst case scenario is that I replace the pieces of wood within reach of the rats. I was far enough into the building that I didn't want to start over.

Looks good!

You should be fine since most of the arsinic has been removed from from modern pressure treated lumber. They changed what they used to be less toxic. Also rats can smell the lumber and know it will be bad to chew on it before they do. Might actually be a good thing as they will not be chewing on it. We used regular lumber in ours and have not seen any signs of them chewing on the wood. We have had three tubs with chew throughs and only one had an escape, but we found all three girls that had been in that one so it was a non issue in the end. (Other than the bites to my hands from having to get a little rough with one that was persistant. :mad:)

If it does worry you the option of painting it to keep direct contact from occuring always exists!

Thank you for sharing that! :)

Yes thank you very much

Not a problem. I had to do a lot of research on pressure treated lumber when I built our pool deck. We had concerns with our young daughter and her friends running around on it in barefeet. We still decked the area for the latter out of the plastic lumber to keep the area most exposed to water impervious to water and splinter free!

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Originally Posted by Gloryhound

Looks good!

You should be fine since most of the arsinic has been removed from from modern pressure treated lumber. They changed what they used to be less toxic. Also rats can smell the lumber and know it will be bad to chew on it before they do. Might actually be a good thing as they will not be chewing on it. We used regular lumber in ours and have not seen any signs of them chewing on the wood. We have had three tubs with chew throughs and only one had an escape, but we found all three girls that had been in that one so it was a non issue in the end. (Other than the bites to my hands from having to get a little rough with one that was persistant. :mad:)

If it does worry you the option of painting it to keep direct contact from occuring always exists!

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Excellent info! The idea of painting hadn't occurred to me and it is good to know that the rats may be able to smell it and hence stay away from it. I will of course keep a very close eye on the wood for any signs of chewing. I have not put in a watering system yet so I don't even have any rats so far. I should be putting the watering system in here in the next week or so.