Should i buy or build a rack??

Ok. so i've got a BP who's still pretty small, but i was considering expanding my collection. I only plan on getting a couple more snakes, so i was wondering if it would be cheaper for me to just buy than to build? I was looking at the v-18 from cserpents and $180+$40 shipping isnt bad. What do you think? Also, if i should buy what do you suggest? Sorry if i put this in the wrong section i wasnt quite sure where i should put it :P

Building your own rack is usually a lot cheaper, but it depends on what materials you choose.

Ok, so what would be the best materials to use? Also, if anyone has a link to a good tutorial it would be amazingly helpful since ive never built anything..ever lol :D

When I built my own rack, I used melamine. It's pretty heavy but holds heat very well. If you know want something lighter you could go the XPVC route. SimpleMan did a write up on the DIY forum. I can't provide a link at the moment, Tapatalk doesn't allow me to link other threads for some reason.

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Originally Posted by notmyfault

When I built my own rack, I used melamine. It's pretty heavy but holds heat very well. If you know want something lighter you could go the XPVC route. SimpleMan did a write up on the DIY forum. I can't provide a link at the moment, Tapatalk doesn't allow me to link other threads for some reason.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

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It's ok i have the tapatalk app too so i understand. I'm fine with using melamine...whichever is cheapest lol....did you make yours like SimpleMan's? He said his came out to $216..is that the general price i'm looking at when it comes to building?

I built my own rack for like $150 out of melamine. NOT including the cost of the tstat though. $150 includes melamine, tubs, screws, and heat tape.:gj:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/27/yqy5e2yr.jpg

Awesome rack I like it!!! Did you use a tutorial or just do it yourself?

I like melamine personally. Easy to work with and holds heat well. It is also moisture resistant.

Build or buy depends on your budget and how you value your time.

I have built several racks but have slowly moved away from that to buy racks instead.

I like for my rack to be sturdy yet light so Melamine is out of the question plus wood tend to expend and contract a lot.

I have replaced almost all my racks with animal plastics racks and could not be happier, I price building a rack myself with the same material and the saving would have only been about $50 not worth it IMO

x2 with Deborah, I built my first rack and realized I saved about $60 vs getting one shipped ready to go, and I did not have to fiddle with heat tape wiring and possibly off fitting. . . Buy if you can, build if you need to save money. But if you don't mind the heavier wooden style racks, you can save a little more in comparison to PVC.

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Originally Posted by Pale Rider 777

Awesome rack I like it!!! Did you use a tutorial or just do it yourself?

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Just did it myself. My stepdad used to be a carpenter so he helped me with a few things.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Build or buy depends on your budget and how you value your time.

I have built several racks but have slowly moved away from that to buy racks instead.

I like for my rack to be sturdy yet light so Melamine is out of the question plus wood tend to expend and contract a lot.

I have replaced almost all my racks with animal plastics racks and could not be happier, I price building a rack myself with the same material and the saving would have only been about $50 not worth it IMO

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This x 100

Melamine is TERRIBLY heavy and obnoxious to work with. If you bump a corner it'll start to brittle away and it expands and contracts with heat and humidity so your tubs may have gaps or scrape when you slide them.

The Animal Plastics 'Economy' racks are very reasonably priced. I cannot understand the logic in housing multiple snakes worth hundreds or thousands of dollars in anything less than the best. If you're housing multiple snakes, how can you worry about 50 bucks that much? Most other herps would require 200 bucks worth of housing PER INDIVIDUAL.

my vote is to buy one, I've seen some nice ones available for prices that are not too high, plus if you factor your own labor costs into the project you will usually save some money and headache. Of course if you just like doing projects, knock yourself out and show us your pics :)