Baby Rack in the making

So I started to build my baby rack tonight and this is what I have so far. It willl hold 24 6qt tubs total. I just built one shelf to see how it is gonna work and where I am gonna put the thing! LOL I do plan on putting in a divider in between the three tubs to stop future sagging. So here it is so far. I will be finishing it out tomorrow hopefully so I will update pics when I have all the shelves in place.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...211/006-25.jpg
Showing gap between tub and shelf
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...211/009-16.jpg

I see a problem coming along already. The shelves are already starting to sag from being too long. With melamine not good having them wide with out dividers for support.

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Originally Posted by BLong7211

So I started to build my baby rack tonight and this is what I have so far. It willl hold 24 6qt tubs total. I just built one shelf to see how it is gonna work and where I am gonna put the thing! LOL I do plan on putting in a divider in between the three tubs to stop future sagging. So here it is so far.

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If the dividers are not put it now and the rack is allowed to sag it will only cause problems as it goes on.

Simple as that Smart Guy

Ok so I worked on it a bit more tonight and got 3 more shelves in. So my original plans were for a 30 tub rack and after I put in the first shelf and measured what I could fit it only looked like I could get 24 tubs to fit but after adding in what was to be the last 3 shelves it worked out that indeed it will fit 30 tubs! So here it is minuse one more shelf and the dividers that are going into the middle.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...abyRack001.jpg
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...abyRack002.jpg

Very nice! Any chance of a step by step? I would love to make something like this. How much is this costing you?

Well its kinda late to do a step by step but it is totally easy to make since all you really need is a drill. All the shelves are pre cut and the sides are one piece 96" long but you can have them (Home Depot) cut the sides for what your trying to make. As for the cost. Shelves are 10 bucks each so when this is totally finished ( I need one more shelf for the bottom row and one to cut up in sections for the dividers) total cost without tubs or heat runs about 70 bucks for 7 shelves plus tax of course and then a side is 15 bucks (which you get cut in half so you only buy one) so thats 85 bucks so far then a backing which will run prolly about 5 bucks or so. Which leaves a GRAND TOTAL of = $ 90 bucks plus tax. Not positive on the backing cause I haven't gotten it yet. But everything is precut at Home Depot. Tubs I got at walmart they are 94 cents I think. And they are 6qt tubs. Any other questions I would be glad to help with.

So when I go to Home Depot, what material do I ask for (I'm guessing that is melamine) and what measurements do I ask for when I ask for the cuts? I was planning on purchasing a hatchling rack but if I can make one with 2x as many tubs for 1/2 the price that would be awesome. Actually I might cut these measurements in half and make one with only 12 tubs....or something like that. Thanks for answering my questions. :D

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

So when I go to Home Depot, what material do I ask for (I'm guessing that is melamine) and what measurements do I ask for when I ask for the cuts? I was planning on purchasing a hatchling rack but if I can make one with 2x as many tubs for 1/2 the price that would be awesome. Actually I might cut these measurements in half and make one with only 12 tubs....or something like that. Thanks for answering my questions. :D

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Yes it is melamine material. There are two different lengths and width shelves at my home depot (not sure if yours will be diff) the width I use is 15 3/4" and the Length I used for the hatcling rack there is 48". The sides come in a sheet 15 3/4" wide X 96" long. These measurements are what home depot has sitting on there shelf already pre cut. So you would only need to get the side piece cut to the height desired. So for the sides you need to either cut them down to the size you need or have them cut it for you. If you plan on doing any less than the 30 tub that I made you will have to figure out the height of the sides you want.

I'd like to see it when its finished :) aka ( the dividers are in ) looks good so far !

Looks good!! get those dividers in asap, will not take long for those shelves to bow without em. I built my racks out of Melamine also and have had no problems with them. The dividers prevent sagging, I also did not put casters on them to also prevent sagging
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/DSCN4736.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCN3719.jpg

You can make a frame out of 2 X 4s to put on the bottom which will keep it from sagging if you put wheels on it. It also keeps the bottom tubs off the floor.

Nice jobs guys.

Blong, if you make the top piece longer than the shelves, long enough to rest on TOP of the two side supports you will then be able to use the top without fear of the screws that now support your top not being able to support the weight of whatever you place above your tubs.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

You can make a frame out of 2 X 4s to put on the bottom which will keep it from sagging if you put wheels on it. It also keeps the bottom tubs off the floor.

Nice jobs guys.

Blong, if you make the top piece longer than the shelves, long enough to rest on TOP of the two side supports you will then be able to use the top without fear of the screws that now support your top not being able to support the weight of whatever you place above your tubs.

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Yeah I see what you mean. But my intentions are that if I ever need to expand and make another baby rack exactly like this one I will set it ontop and bolt/screw the two seperate racks together. It could work both ways I guess. But the problem with your idea is that the pieces that I used came in precut sizes from home depot so I would have had to buy a way bigger piece to do that and had extra for no real reason. But I will deff keep that in mind for next time!

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Originally Posted by Old_School

Looks good!! get those dividers in asap, will not take long for those shelves to bow without em. I built my racks out of Melamine also and have had no problems with them. The dividers prevent sagging, I also did not put casters on them to also prevent sagging

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How do you heat yours? Back heat?

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Originally Posted by BLong7211

How do you heat yours? Back heat?

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With me working mon my Pwilliam58 rack I use the back for the heat tape.

I think it works better and it is easier.

-Superb Exotics

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Originally Posted by BLong7211

How do you heat yours? Back heat?

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I use a Oil filled electric heater and a Johnson controler to keep my room ambient room temp at 83 degrees. also I have heat tape ( back heat) in the racks i keep the adult balls in. 98 percent of my snakes are colubrids.

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Originally Posted by Old_School

I use a Oil filled electric heater and a Johnson controler to keep my room ambient room temp at 83 degrees. also I have heat tape ( back heat) in the racks i keep the adult balls in. 98 percent of my snakes are colubrids.

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Easiest way to keep colubrids is just have a room temp of 82-85 and they thrive very well.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

Easiest way to keep colubrids is just have a room temp of 82-85 and they thrive very well.

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Indeed and when the eggs come all one needs to do is set the egg containers on a shelf in the room and wait 60 days:banana:

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Originally Posted by Old_School

Indeed and when the eggs come all one needs to do is set the egg containers on a shelf in the room and wait 60 days:banana:

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yep all i do when i bred corns years ago. No longer have corns anymore but they were easy to incubate and care for.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

yep all i do when i bred corns years ago. No longer have corns anymore but they were easy to incubate and care for.

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yep, started with corns, still have em, but getting more into expanding my western hog collection and starting to venture into Ball Pythons.

Ok so here is the finished product minus the flexx and backing
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...211/011-11.jpg

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Originally Posted by BLong7211

Ok so here is the finished product minus the flexx and backing and iron on edging to cover the exposed particle board on top

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Looks good!

Looks Amazing! Now make a How to Do so I can make one just like it;)

-Superb Exotics

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Originally Posted by Superb Exotics

Looks Amazing! Now make a How to Do so I can make one just like it;)

-Superb Exotics

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Ok well a how to do is very very easy if you have a home depot near you since the melamine is precut into pre determined lengths and widths.

Product list

6 shelves @ 16" X 48" But they are actually 15 3/4" X 48" (9.98 each plus tax)

2 sides @ 15 3/4" X 28 3/4" (Just need to buy one side and have them cut it to the height of the sides desired in my case it was 28 3/4") (13.97 each but you only need one because one side piece comes in 96" length)

1 shelf @ 15 3/4" X 36" since you only need 5 dividers @ 4 5/8" you can use the shorter shelf home depot has in stock. ( I had home depot cut these for me since my saw can't cut that wide) (8.87 for the 15 3/4" X 36" shelf)

30 6qt sterilite tubs from walmart (94 cents each)

The backing you can use the peg board with holes in it or you can use the solid peg board with no holes or whatever you want really. The dimension for this piece should be 27 1/2" X 49".

1 box of 2" drywall coarse thread screws.

20 pcs of scrap wood or dowl rod. I had some scrap stuff from here I used as the tub stoppers since I wanted my tubs to stay as close to the front as I could.
1 1/2 Pizza Boxes ( LOL this is what I laid down on the shelf then put the tubs ontop of it then set the next shelf to be put in ontop of the tubs)

Tools

Table or Hand Router to route out sections in the dividers and each end of the shelf. (Only need this if your planning on using belly heat)

Drill

Measuring Tape

Sharpie Marker

Thanks and the size for screw.......

-Superb Exotics

Edit: Just went down to check dimentions and only have room for half the rack. Can you do a DIY for just half the rack. :please: :please: :please:

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Originally Posted by Superb Exotics

Thanks and the size for screw.......

-Superb Exotics

Edit: Just went down to check dimentions and only have room for half the rack. Can you do a DIY for just half the rack. :please: :please: :please:

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Half which way length or height?

Length........

-Superb Exotics

Nice Job!! looks great.

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Originally Posted by Superb Exotics

Length........

-Superb Exotics

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You could always have them cut the 48" shelves to the desired size needed