New Rack......

So I got the idea from a friend, I built a new rack from 2" foam insulation. I used 50 qt tubs thay are shorter in length than the 41 qt but are much wider. I built it for my big female pastel and plan on putting other females in there also once they outgrow there 28 qt tubs. I still need to put my flexwatt in and run it for a few days and see how the temps run from there I will decide if I want to put a back piece on it. overall its pretty sturdy for being made of styrofoam. I used 4" screws to hold it together and the black tape I put around the edges was just somthing I did it to keep from having pieces of styrofoam from flaking off all over the place, because it comes in full size sheets and has to be cut down to size. sorry about the crappy cell phone pic.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...5-11005022.jpg

Now that is different :gj:

In construction applications polystyrene has to be sealed behind another material due to it's classification as "easily ignited". That said, I'm not sure I'd trust heat tape directly on it.

I will have to take that into consideration and do a little research...I know a guy been using the same application for a few months with no ill effects or hazards.

Wow, that looks like a gigantic disaster waiting to happen. I would never put heat tape on that thing for fear of it combusting into flames. Please don't put heat tape on that for your safety and the snakes. Plus it doesn't look that sturdy to me, especially when you consider a female big enough for those tubs and their water bowls are going to weigh 5-7 pounds each.

hmmmmmmmmm....I am wondering how in the world it will hold up to 2 or 3 big girls in there? Plus won't the styrofoam melt?? Also something worth checking into...I have no clue but I will put this out there. If the styro doesn't melt ....does it emitt any bad fumes when heated? I can tell you my 83 year old mother put a styro plate in the microwave and it was an ugly ugly situation and we left the house with windows open for about an hour.

Just some things to think about.

Here is a msds sheet on it I dont see any reason to be worried...like I said my friend has been running this setup up with no issues for him or his snakes.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3603397/Fo...nsulation-2805

I know first hand this stuff melts at fairly low temperatures. I would not trust a rack made out of foam to be safe with any type of heating equipment.

I would just cough up a few extra bucks for melamine. Its sturdier and will last a lot longer. it also will not melt..


people also keep their snakes in gigantic enclosures with no heat and they are just fine. Doesn't mean they are keeping them successfully.

In all honesty I would not take a chance and do that. Too risky to have a chance of fire or the shelves collapsing. Not at all worth the risks imo. If it could be done safely then it would have been manufactured by some company by now as that would be a very cheap rack to make. My advice is don't chance it. Spend the money and make or buy yourself a good rack. If you do decide to do it then I wish you the best and hope nothing bad happens but I really wish you would reconsider going through with it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do :gj:

I plan on putting heat tape on the rack and throw some high temps at it, much higher temps than I would ever run with animals. I have about 50 pounds sitting on it and in it right now with no problems at all. its not the money that made me wanna try this it is my dislike for melamine. This rack is fairly light weight and can be moved around with ease. I dont think 94 degrees will hurt this rack, now maybe a open flame would burn it down quickly but then again so would your carpet drapes and whole house.

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Originally Posted by zoomin31

I plan on putting heat tape on the rack and throw some high temps at it, much higher temps than I would ever run with animals. I have about 50 pounds sitting on it and in it right now with no problems at all. its not the money that made me wanna try this it is my dislike for melamine. This rack is fairly light weight and can be moved around with ease. I dont think 94 degrees will hurt this rack, now maybe a open flame would burn it down quickly but then again so would your carpet drapes and whole house.

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yea put a unregulated piece of flexwatt on it for a long time see what happens.

I know of at least one other keeper that's been using that style of rack for years.

Hey thats good to hear.... Any horror stories you know of fires collapsing racks etc. . . I personally think it will be fine.

Not to my knowledge, but I think he reinforced all the joints with duct tape to give it a little more strength and stability. My incubator is actually made out of that same stuff, but I used a wood frame made from 2x2's and fit the insulation inside of them. Makes for some nice light weight equipment. :gj:

My 2 brothers and I were little pyros when we were much younger... Styro was one of the things we used to play around with. I can tell you that you dont wanna put that directly against any kind of heat. Things will go bad quick, or good if that's your Goal. ;)

In the other hand, if you put gasoline on it, it will melt into a paste kinda thing and will harden when dry. Home made temporary sealant!

I feel you need to rethink your design.
At least do a test on a small scale to see what happens.
I almost would bet it's not going to be good.
Please try a different set up.
This one seems like it has FAIL written all over it. :colbert::colbert::colbert:

wood, screws and heat tape= rack
styrofoam, tape and heat tape= fire

i guess this is his project to see how it will turn out.. keep us updated with pics too haha

I have had it on for the last few hours with a unregulated piece of flexwatt with a book on it to get it as hot as possible. temp read outs have been 165 degrees no fires or melting yet.

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Originally Posted by zoomin31

I have had it on for the last few hours with a unregulated piece of flexwatt with a book on it to get it as hot as possible. temp read outs have been 165 degrees no fires or melting yet.

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If flexwatt can melt a tub, it can surely melt that foam crap.

If you feel safe enough using that rack, go for it. In the end, it is your animals that are at risk.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

If flexwatt can melt a tub, it can surely melt that foam crap.

If you feel safe enough using that rack, go for it. In the end, it is your animals that are at risk.

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And you would know that from your first hand experience with it. Maybe you didn't read my post. I ran a little mock setup last night, for a total of five hours i ran the unregulated flexwatt with a big thick book right on top of it. Trying to achieve the hottest temps i could. I measured the heat with a temp gun, it ran a consistent 188 degrees with the book on it. I bet if I do the same test on a tub it will melt. I have another test i an gonna run but if it passes like it did last night I am gonna use it.

Hi,

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Originally Posted by zoomin31

And you would know that from your first hand experience with it. Maybe you didn't read my post. I ran a little mock setup last night, for a total of five hours i ran the unregulated flexwatt with a big thick book right on top of it. Trying to achieve the hottest temps i could. I measured the heat with a temp gun, it ran a consistent 188 degrees with the book on it. I bet if I do the same test on a tub it will melt. I have another test i an gonna run but if it passes like it did last night I am gonna use it.

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Just a few misunderstandings to clear up.

It is malfunctioning flexwatt that could get hot enough to melt plastic etc. Flexwatt that is operating correctly will not get that hot unless something else is seriously wrong somewhere.

And no, 188f will not melt your tub either.

The main problems with this design from my point of view are structural integrity and toxic fumes if anything went wrong.

In a traditional rack with plastic tubs a damaged flexwatt or heat pad might get a hot spot capable of melting a little bit of the tub relasing fumes etc which might well kill the occupant of the tub. But the structure of the shelves might help protect the tubs above and below it enough to keep them alive.

In the poly rack in those circumstances it is far more likely to melt over a larger area as the rack structure itself is more succeptable to the heat. It might simply mean you get more of the toxic fumes or it could mean the shelf below it melts too and the bottom tub gets a nice bath in melted, flaming styrofoam.

As long as everything goes in your favour and no problems occur you might well be fine - but if they don't you are far more likely to be SOL.

I urge you to consider the tale of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf.

You are not building with brick in the above example.

In racks the actual construction material is usually the cheapest component compared to heating and control. You really aren't saving much money at all and the chances of disaster are a bit too high for me to feel comfortable using it.


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

I urge you to consider the tale of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf.


dr del

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You truly come up with the best quotes!!

To the OP...I really do hope it works for you. For me I have far far far too much money sunk into my animals to take that chance. But that is just me...I tend to not cut ANY corners when it comes to them...in fact I tend to go over the top. So take our concerns for just that ....concerns for your animals welfare....not flaming you.