DIY XPVC Rack - Complete with pics!

In the beginning...

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Stabilize your pieces!

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Use the tubs and shelves to stabilize and determine your drill spots.

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Ripley the Patterdale Terrier aka B's Little Helper.

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Finished up the side support pieces.

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Back support pieces.

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Back support pieces finished, notice 4" gap on side pieces to leave room for 4" Flexwatt.

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Front shot.

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All completed!

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After the build I moved it inside and applied Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) to the joints taking advantage of capillary action! The Cyanoacrylate melts the plastic slights and forms a checmical weld. Once glued the rack can never come apart again BUT it makes the pieces of plastic all bonded together.

This rack holds one 32qt Clear View latching Sterilite or 2 x 15qt Clear View latching Sterilite per shelf. I designed it to use one sheet of 1/2" XPVC. The dimensions are as follows:

8 pieces of 24" x 17"

6 pieces of 48" x 4"

I used 96 x #8 1.25" Metal Screws and 6 small tubes of generic Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue).

Hope this helps everyone! I am considering building these in a DIY kit and fully assembled for a reasonable cost. I wanted to put this up regardless for people comfortable with DIY work. I'm all about helping out the community :D I also have the parts to build a 50 x 6qt hatchling XPVC rack so keep watch for another DIY XPVC build coming soon!

Regards,

B

Very nice, easy to follow as well. One day I will take the plunge and get to money together to build one like this.

Very nice! How much did materials end up costing you?

Thanks for sharing B!
How are you heating? Should be fairly easy to add belly heat.

Fantastic! Thanks for making the effort to take pics and share them with us envious people...

Nice setup, Easy to follow. What did it cost you for the supplies?

Real nice:gj::gj::gj:
As questioned, what did it cost you and also did you pre-drill the screw holes?

Thanks for all the kind word!

I predrilled all the holes. The XPVC was super easy to work with.

I am into the rack $85 for the 1/2" sheet of XPVC, $6 for a box of 100 screws, $5 for three two packs of generic super glue, $40 for 20 feet of 4" Flexwatt (I have extra but wanted it that way), and $80 on the tub configuration I have. The grand total is $216!

Regards,

B

$216 is a great price considering how many shelves it has. Not to mention your not paying shipping on it either. Thanks. :gj:

Very nice looking rack and it looks like it's easy enough to assemble! I hope to build one of these in the future. Thanks for such a picture heavy post too. I'm a visual learner. :P

Ohhhh it's pretty! Awesome job man and the price is great!!! Thanks for putting this together :gj:

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone! I'll hopefully be getting my hatchling rack together in the next few weeks and a nice DIY thread with pics will follow. I'm not in a huge rush because I won't be breeding until next year at the earliest!

Regards,

B

Very nice rack.... You did a great job.:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

I'll hopefully be getting my hatchling rack together in the next few weeks and a nice DIY thread with pics will follow.

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Looking forward to it! :gj:

Where did you get the XPVC? And what size was the sheet?

Thanks again for all the pics and info!

I got the sheet from a local office of www.professionalplastics.com The prices on the site are nothing like what I got quoted. The sheets are sold in 48"x96"

Regards,

B

The more I see pictures like this the more I'm tempted to give it a try. Then I would have to buy more snakes to fill it!!!:D

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

The more I see pictures like this the more I'm tempted to give it a try. Then I would have to buy more snakes to fill it!!!:D

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Well, I will warn you in advance to proceed with caution. I'm already planning on what is going to fill the empty slots! Haha...

Regards,

B

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

I got the sheet from a local office of www.professionalplastics.com The prices on the site are nothing like what I got quoted. The sheets are sold in 48"x96"

Regards,

B

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Thank you! If I'd looked before asking, I would have seen your "coming soon" post that answered those questions. :P

Love it!!! That is the most simple rack I've seen- definitely the way I'll go when the times comes.

Have you wired the flexwatt yet? It would be cool to see how you do that. I know that there are DIY on the flexwatt but it would be nice to see on yours. I'll still too new to fully understand how you wire multiple strips for that set-up and then plug it in. But that's just me :)

That's looks awesome! Nice job on it. I've been looking through different DIY racks, and I'm tempted to try this one out. I don't know if this has been asked yet (scanned through comments :hmm: ), is it heavy/difficult to move? I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by texanborn

Love it!!! That is the most simple rack I've seen- definitely the way I'll go when the times comes.

Have you wired the flexwatt yet? It would be cool to see how you do that. I know that there are DIY on the flexwatt but it would be nice to see on yours. I'll still too new to fully understand how you wire multiple strips for that set-up and then plug it in. But that's just me :)

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I can definitely update when I wire it. I will just be using one continuous piece of Flexwatt. That just makes the heating more uniform. I use multiple strips on my current rack but one single piece of Flexwatt is much easier!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

That's looks awesome! Nice job on it. I've been looking through different DIY racks, and I'm tempted to try this one out. I don't know if this has been asked yet (scanned through comments :hmm: ), is it heavy/difficult to move? I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

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It is light enough that one person can move it with or without the tubs in it. I can weigh it on my scale later. I'm headed to dinner in a minute or two or I would go weigh it and update. Unless you're physically handicapped I would say you could move the rack by yourself without concern. I will update the weight with and without tubs later!

Regards,

B

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

I can definitely update when I wire it. I will just be using one continuous piece of Flexwatt. That just makes the heating more uniform. I use multiple strips on my current rack but one single piece of Flexwatt is much easier!



It is light enough that one person can move it with or without the tubs in it. I can weigh it on my scale later. I'm headed to dinner in a minute or two or I would go weigh it and update. Unless you're physically handicapped I would say you could move the rack by yourself without concern. I will update the weight with and without tubs later!

Regards,

B

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Awesome! That was always my conflict with melamine, the weight of it. There is no one that I live with who would ever help me move a rack of snakes if I needed to :rolleyes: Thanks!!

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

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You could also build a "movers rack" to set it on;);)

This is just a quick update on weight. The rack weighs 47lbs without tubs. The tub weight is really going to vary based on your configuration so I didn't bother to weigh those. 47lbs is a little bit heavier than a large bag of dog food for referance purposes. Very lightweight!

Regards,

B

I forgot to add but I would buy 6 x 2 packs of generic Super Glue! I double checked before I got ready to put the Flexwatt in and I decided to lay the unit upside down and use capillary action to also glue the bottom of each support/shelf interconnect.

Regards,

B

Do you think 1/2" would work for a 10 level 41qt rack, or should I look for 3/4"?

sweet it a rack that high humidity would not effect at all, and even with my handicapped I could move it ( not up stairs )easly enough

Im just wondering, with the open sides, how well would it hold in heat in a non heated room?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitzu

Do you think 1/2" would work for a 10 level 41qt rack, or should I look for 3/4"?

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I would feel safe doing a 10 level rack with the 1/2". I would probably make the side and back braces 6" or 8" instead of 4". With the 41qt you are going to need two sheets of XPVC so you should have enough material to do it. My 7 level rack barely moves a quarter inch either way without tubs sitting on carpet. With the tubs in it is even stronger. I'm waiting until the glue dries from the session I did earlier today before I screw with it some more but the rack is STRONG! I move it by myself without worrying about anything flexing or breaking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Im just wondering, with the open sides, how well would it hold in heat in a non heated room?

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I'm sure it will hold some heat but not as much as a rack with solid sides. You could make a solid side and back rack with this same design. You would just need to use a second sheet of 1/2" XPVC. One of my goals was to get my subadult/adult racks built using a single sheet. Lightweight was also part of the design so the open sides and back helps that. If I didn't have a reptile room I would have built a solid side/back unit. That just isn't needed with my dedicated and heated reptile room.

Regards,

B

What are your shelf and side piece dimensions?

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Originally Posted by Kingofspades

What are your shelf and side piece dimensions?

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I posted them in the original post but I'll quote myself anyway. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

8 pieces of 24" x 17"

6 pieces of 48" x 4"

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Regards,

B

Yeah, I clicked edit...but it apparently didn't edit, because I noticed the dimensions after I posted this.

I might end up building a couple. I have 2 racks coming from Animal Plastics, but this 5 week wait is driving me nuts...so...I think I build the next ones.

Really nice DIY write up and rack B. I am building a second leo rack this weekend and IF I find the XPVC locally I will go ahead with it but I noticed that you did not use any spacers for the tubs, are the tubs sliding smooth? Will they slide without any force when the flexwatt is installed?
Thanks

The tubs slide smooth with the tape in until it gets to the very back of the rack. I choose to put the tape in the front gap, although not my original plan. The tubs taper a bit from top to bottom so I wouldn't get as much tape actually touching the tubs if I put them in the rear of the rack. 3/4" or so wouldn't be in contact with the tubs. The two back supports got rid of a bit of flex when it was all screwed and glued. I don't mind though because it is only once the tub is almost 100% of the way in. This would help prevent the tub from accidentally being opened. I would probably put spacers in my next rack but ONLY where I wanted the heat tape. The tighter tolerance in the other area just makes sense for retaining the tubs better.

Regards,

B

As previously stated I am curious as to what the costs were.

I've found XPVC at curbell plastics locally for $88 per 5x8 sheet plus $9 to cut to order. The tubs were $8.49 for the 32 qt and $5.49 for the 15 qt (i think that is way high).

so I'm into it for about $165.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by womsterr

I've found XPVC at curbell plastics locally for $88 per 5x8 sheet plus $9 to cut to order. The tubs were $8.49 for the 32 qt and $5.49 for the 15 qt (i think that is way high).

so I'm into it for about $165.

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grrr i hate you can only update for 10 mins.

You need to add flexwatt and the connections...that was $55
sub total $220...plus thermostat i got a Herpstat for $119.

$339 total


I actually was able to build one 9 section rack and one 7 section rack with 2 5x8s and to pieces of 17"x10' I found locally.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by womsterr

grrr i hate you can only update for 10 mins.

You need to add flexwatt and the connections...that was $55
sub total $220...plus thermostat i got a Herpstat for $119.

$339 total


I actually was able to build one 9 section rack and one 7 section rack with 2 5x8s and to pieces of 17"x10' I found locally.

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Nice! Sounds very good. I'll be making another 7 level rack soon enough once I start getting some 2011 girls.

Regards,

B

XPVC Suppliers

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=1#post1556997

Regards,

B

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/7/1/2/4/rack.jpg

A shot of my rack in action :) After dealing with it since the build I can't recommend enough that people build your own! This rack rocks. I'm going to be building another soon.

Regards,

B

Look great man. I ran my heat tape tonight and hooked up the herpstat. Seems a little cold...will have to spend a few days making it right...I have a new bumblebee coming that will need a home!

I will say it again - fantastic! And the ability to customize to your needs is well worth the effort in building.

Great rack thanks for sharing. I plan on Building one but for 41qt tubs when I get back in October. And I will have to build something similiar for Hatchlings for next year =D Thanks alot:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kylesreptiles

Great rack thanks for sharing. I plan on Building one but for 41qt tubs when I get back in October. And I will have to build something similiar for Hatchlings for next year =D Thanks alot:gj:

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I will be doing a 41qt one as well once I get some females up to that size. As it stands most adult snakes will be happy with the 31qt sideways instead of the two 15 qts. I have the stuff for a hatchling rack but haven't been really motivated because I won't be breeding for a year or two. I'll be sure to keep this updated.

Regards,

B

Hi B,

Stupid question time...

You can treat XPVC just like wood right? That is - paint it with indoor gloss paint, cut it with a table saw, etc.?

yes just like wood

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

Thanks for all the kind word!

I predrilled all the holes. The XPVC was super easy to work with.

I am into the rack $85 for the 1/2" sheet of XPVC

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WOW. the best price i have been able to find near me is $154 for 1/2" xpvc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anatess

Hi B,

Stupid question time...

You can treat XPVC just like wood right? That is - paint it with indoor gloss paint, cut it with a table saw, etc.?

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Dont know if I would try to paint it?? Paint might not stick to it unless it is a krylon plastic formula.:confused::confused:

I wouldn't paint it either. There is no need. Cutting and everything else is identical to wood. I would use a finer blade but luckily the place I get mine from precuts for me.

Regards,

B