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

Hopefully this is the last time I have issues with my rack :rolleyes: Apparently I didn't make my rack the right way and my tubs rubbed my flexwatt enough to wear it down. I was receiving electroshock therapy when I touched it. I walked through a home improvement store and found.....

Window shims!!!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...Isis/009-9.jpg

It's $1.49 for a 12 pack. These are made out of some sort of compost/plastic material and I screwed them into the shelving. They are spaced so that small and large tubs are kept off the flextwatt.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...Isis/010-7.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...Isis/011-7.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...Isis/012-6.jpg

Great idea. Hopefully those dont melt though. But i bet this will solve alot of peoples problems.

It's made out of roughly the same stuff as malemine. It's not going to melt at 96 degrees.

I always thought the feet on the tubs would be enough to save the flexwatt, but I always seem to find out the hard way :rolleyes:

DUI ???

Do you mean DIY ? :rofl:

:rofl: Oh dear.... Apparently I was mixing DUW and DIY. What the heck would DUI mean anyway....

How about "Don't Underestimate It", that's what I meant the whole time! :rofl:


Someone think of something good, my mind is slipping :rolleye2:

This is the big knock on belly heat. Some racks that use recessed tracks in the shelving avoid this problem. I like the back heat which avoids this whole issue and I get better ambient heat. Looks like you did a nice outside of the box approach, and it should work for you. I was also wondering if electrical tape along the outer edges of the tape would reduce the friction and the shocks.

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Originally Posted by Isis

It's $1.49 for a 12 pack. These are made out of some sort of compost/plastic material

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Oh and it's composite, not compost :rolleyes: And to think I'm going to work in a couple hours for a 14 hour shift....that ought to be good :weirdface

uhh Driving Under the Influence :rolleye2:

put the cocktail down :P

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Originally Posted by SNIKTTIME

This is the big knock on belly heat. Some racks that use recessed tracks in the shelving avoid this problem. I like the back heat which avoids this whole issue and I get better ambient heat. Looks like you did a nice outside of the box approach, and it should work for you. I was also wondering if electrical tape along the outer edges of the tape would reduce the friction and the shocks.

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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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Originally Posted by Nate

uhh Driving Under the Influence :rolleye2:

put the cocktail down :P

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:8: Oh my gosh I didn't even think about that!!!! I might need a cocktail if this is any indication about how my night is going to go!!!

Yay you changed it for me! Thanks :D

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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.

Quote:

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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