Thoughts?

So as some of you know I've decided to focus my resources on enclosure and equipment upgrades for the time being while holding off on any new snakes. I make crap money, so I need to be careful while choosing my plan of action.

Well, I've tossed ideas around in my head for months now, and still haven't decided which route I'm going...but.... I think I have a plan...
I really wish I could afford a stack of APs, but I just can't.
I'm much more of a display enclosure guy, so I have been reluctant to switch to a rack system.

Well, my old man is selling his house and offered me a bunch of stuff. One of those items is plastic stackable shelving (pic below). Now I've seen this shelving used for tubs, buuuuut....
What if I used it as a frame??? And built 4 stacked display enclosures???? My thought is plywood backs and sides, with a layer of foam insulation and then a laminate finish. This would hold heat extremely well, I believe. It would also leave a clean finish inside and I'd likely paint the outside or laminate that as well.
I plan to use back heat supplied by a RHP. The "floors" would just be plywood, sealed, of course. Then I would install sliding glass doors.
I have the tools and carpentry skills to complete this project with no problem.

The shelving unit is 36"W x 24"D with an individual enclosure height of 17". The unit is 5 shelves high, but I'd leave the bottom open for storage.

Has anybody done this? Seen it done?? Seen anything similar?
Thoughts? Ideas on improving my plan?
If my plan stinks, don't be shy. You won't hurt my feelings...

Thanks in advance!!! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d9c114f3f9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...409547e1bc.jpg

Sent from my SM-J327T1 using Tapatalk

Just wondering if the plastic will be strong enough. Otherwise sounds like a great idea.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MR Snakes

Just wondering if the plastic will be strong enough. Otherwise sounds like a great idea.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

It's rated for 1000 pounds, I believe

No way that plastic will hold Heavy plywood. Your taking about a stack.. it will also be “Tippy” as hell only being 36” deep. You would have a lot better luck framing it with 2x4’s than any plastic frame. Also a plastic frame will not allow you to bolt or screw to it. Bad idea I’m afraid. Id hate to see you waste money and time and for it not to work. You want something that will last.
I understand your money situation, I have kids that use all mine hahaha.. but saving $200 for each T8 or $250 for each T10 would be worth the wait even it it took a year. I have learned doing things right the first time saves me money and stress.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

No way that plastic will hold Heavy plywood. Your taking about a stack.. it will also be “Tippy” as hell only being 36” deep. You would have a lot better luck framing it with 2x4’s than any plastic frame. Also a plastic frame will not allow you to bolt or screw to it. Bad idea I’m afraid. Id hate to see you waste money and time and for it not to work. You want something that will last.
I understand your money situation, I have kids that use all mine hahaha.. but saving $200 for each T8 or $250 for each T10 would be worth the wait even it it took a year. I have learned doing things right the first time saves me money and stress.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Hmmmm...you sure? I'm not asking because I doubt you, but because I feel the shelves would hold up well being rated for 1000 pounds. I'd be using 1/8" plywood, plus foam insulation and an 1/8" laminate. So weight would be minimal. But, I could definitely be wrong. So figured I'd ask.
Also, I've seen people on YouTube screw into these exact shelves. Again, not saying it's right, just saying I've seen it done.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Hmmmm...you sure? I'm not asking because I doubt you, but because I feel the shelves would hold up well being rated for 1000 pounds. I'd be using 1/8" plywood, plus foam insulation and an 1/8" laminate. So weight would be minimal. But, I could definitely be wrong. So figured I'd ask.
Also, I've seen people on YouTube screw into these exact shelves. Again, not saying it's right, just saying I've seen it done.

---

No I’m not sure.. Im making a educated guess from trying similar things. Ive screwed a lot of things up hahahahaha. It seems it would be flimsy in my experience. Now very wide but tall and heavy on a plastic frame. Also i cant imagine a piece of plywood would staying screwed to thin plastic. No nut to hold it in. Screwing into plastic isnt like screwing into wood. That plastic is a hollow tube. Seems as though the screw would pull out of the plastic frame with any force. The shelves are rated for things sitting on top of them, and I cant see 1000 lbs sitting in the middle of one of those. Is that 250lbs each shelf x’s 4 shelves your getting the 1000 lbs from? In my experience cheap 2x4’s are the way to go. You dont have to use pressure treated so your talking about $3 each for 2x4x8’ and nothing will break those. I built my Stand and have 3 AP enclosures sitting on it. Thats very heavy and works great..... Think about it a little bit. All it would take is the glass in the front being heavy sitting on the outside edge of the plastic frame and bowing it a little and you’d start to have problems. After all that work and money you’d be pissed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

It's rated for 1000 pounds, I believe

---

But that's not with heat, and over time, I wouldn't trust plastic to hold the weight of that much plywood...otherwise, a good idea...but you'd be better off starting
from scratch, IMO. I'd be hesitant about the mixed materials, but I'm all for creativity and I've converted solid wood furniture* before. I'd just hate to see you going
all in on those, only to have them fail.

*BTW, my conversions have included putting sides, back & sliding glass doors on solid wood aquarium stands built for 60+ gal. tanks
that already had just a "shelf" underneath; very similar idea, but as was mentioned, attaching to hollow slippery plastic...I wouldn't try.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

No I’m not sure.. Im making a educated guess from trying similar things. Ive screwed a lot of things up hahahahaha. It seems it would be flimsy in my experience. Now very wide but tall and heavy on a plastic frame. Also i cant imagine a piece of plywood would staying screwed to thin plastic. No nut to hold it in. Screwing into plastic isnt like screwing into wood. That plastic is a hollow tube. Seems as though the screw would pull out of the plastic frame with any force. The shelves are rated for things sitting on top of them, and I cant see 1000 lbs sitting in the middle of one of those. Is that 250lbs each shelf x’s 4 shelves your getting the 1000 lbs from? In my experience cheap 2x4’s are the way to go. You dont have to use pressure treated so your talking about $3 each for 2x4x8’ and nothing will break those. I built my Stand and have 3 AP enclosures sitting on it. Thats very heavy and works great..... Think about it a little bit. All it would take is the glass in the front being heavy sitting on the outside edge of the plastic frame and bowing it a little and you’d start to have problems. After all that work and money you’d be pissed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Thanks a ton, Christian!

Still in the planning stages, so I'm glad I asked.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

But that's not with heat, and over time, I wouldn't trust plastic to hold the weight of that much plywood...otherwise, a good idea...but you'd be better off starting
from scratch, IMO. I'd be hesitant about the mixed materials, but I'm all for creativity and I've converted solid wood furniture before. I'd just hate to see you going
all in on those, only to have them fail.

---

Thank you! I'm glad I asked. Maybe I'll just upgrade heating and tstats for now and pop some tubs into the shelves. Then save my pennies for some APs or similar...

I wrecked one of those plastic racks ages ago trying to modify it for a rat breeding setup: when you screw into the 'supports' you create small cracks...as you add weight the cracks slowly start to spread-I tried to reinforce mine with duct tape only to have the hollow tubes collapse inwards...fail...

I wouldn't turn down the shelves, lol...but they'd just be shelves in my garage. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

I wrecked one of those plastic racks ages ago trying to modify it for a rat breeding setup: when you screw into the 'supports' you create small cracks...as you add weight the cracks slowly start to spread-I tried to reinforce mine with duct tape only to have the hollow tubes collapse inwards...fail...

---

Thank you!! Now I know that my plan won't work. I'm so glad I asked before I invested time and money into a failed project.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I wouldn't turn down the shelves, lol...but they'd just be shelves in my garage. ;)

---

Hahahahaha, nope, already have them, hahaha.

He's got two other sets that are going into my shed. I'm getting all kinds of useful homeowner stuff!

Those racks are CRAPTACULAR! I have used them and the shelves sag over just a bit of time with only moderate weight.

That 1000 pound rating is very misleading. They do this by placing equal force on all four corners and across the whole surface area of the shelf, not just in the middle of the shelves.

Don’t waste your your time or money.

I think you would be able to custom build some display cages if you started with a better shelving unit. You can get some quality industrial metal shelves from home improvement stores in varying sizes for fairly cheap. Ours was I think $90-100 from Lowes? We are using it just to house tanks because I am nowhere near DIY savvy enough to make it into a display rack. But I can see you framing out something similar to work for displays.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8a36e19692.jpg

Sent from my H3123 using Tapatalk

You state that you have tools and carpentry skills. It would be so much easier to just build some enclosures that you can stack. Your dimensions mentioned are 1" shy of the ones I just built and realistically it could have been completed in a solid weekend. I built 2 for aprox. $300 ea. Complete with RHP, thermostat, thermometers, hygrometers, substrate... All but hides and clutter.They are stacked with an 1.5" air gap (2 pieces of scrap from build, now I know it works I can make something nicer looking) between that I learned through trial and error was needed since I mounted the RHP on the ceiling of the lower one and the heat bleed through to overheat the floor of the top one. My cost could have been a bit lower if I went with thinner and less expensive plywood like you mentioned. It was only $53 in wood per cage using 3/4" pre-sanded hardwood ply. 1 package of Pond Shield covered the inside of both cages and now they are nice and sealed against the humidity.

there have been plenty of peeps who have converted similar shelving units into a rack system that has worked out pretty good. however the conversations i have seen have not required any real drilling into but chopping the round legs to fit the height of tubs and most would just lay melamine or other wood materials on each shelf as a seal for the no lid racks. i thought maybe using rivets to fasten the walls to the frame instead of screws but i guess i have the same concerns as others about the long term conditions and reliability of it cracking and warping later on.

but hey u could always sell your car to buy some PVC cages. oh wait...

;) :)


back to the drawing board.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

but hey u could always sell your car to buy some PVC cages. oh wait...

;) :)


back to the drawing board.

---

Hahahahaha, ssssshhhhhh

I've used similar shelving I purchased at Home Depot without issues for years. Just cut the legs down to fit better over the tubs.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3d9a1bf82c.jpg

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

I'm going to agree with others in this thread and also give you the advice of saving up your money and just getting the right product. You and your snakes will be much happier in the long run, and my experience has always been that I became dissatisfied with home made enclosures and eventually spent the money on good quality professional enclosures, thereby spending much more over time.

I have a room full of vision enclosures, which I really like. A friend of mine has a room full of AP cages, and they are fantastic enclosures with a price point advantage, so for your situation I would take a hard look at them.

I also make a very meager living, but I've found that by abstaining from other potential drains on my resources I have always been able to tuck away enough money to provide my animals with a standard of living that is arguably better than my own.

Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

but hey u could always sell your car to buy some PVC cages. oh wait...

;) :)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Hahahahaha, ssssshhhhhh

---

ok! :D:salute:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PghBall

I've used similar shelving I purchased at Home Depot without issues for years. Just cut the legs down to fit better over the tubs.https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...3d9a1bf82c.jpg

---

i think Cwaig was gonna convert them into display enclosures - using the shelves as the frame w/ plywood woods. butt yes, those are like the racks i was referring to. they look great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -ryan-

I'm going to agree with others in this thread and also give you the advice of saving up your money and just getting the right product. You and your snakes will be much happier in the long run, and my experience has always been that I became dissatisfied with home made enclosures and eventually spent the money on good quality professional enclosures, thereby spending much more over time.

I have a room full of vision enclosures, which I really like. A friend of mine has a room full of AP cages, and they are fantastic enclosures with a price point advantage, so for your situation I would take a hard look at them.

I also make a very meager living, but I've found that by abstaining from other potential drains on my resources I have always been able to tuck away enough money to provide my animals with a standard of living that is arguably better than my own.

Good luck!

---

Thanks!! I've decided to consolidate enclosures, upgrade heating equipment and save my money for APs down the road.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PghBall

I've used similar shelving I purchased at Home Depot without issues for years. Just cut the legs down to fit better over the tubs.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3d9a1bf82c.jpg

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

---

That's exactly the route I've decided to go!! Your setup looks great!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

ok! :D:salute:


i think Cwaig was gonna convert them into display enclosures - using the shelves as the frame w/ plywood woods. butt yes, those are like the racks i was referring to. they look great.

---

Yeah, after digging a bit deeper I've decided to use the shelves for tubs. Upgrade heating equipment and save my money for APs down the road

I too one day want to get myself either Vision or Freedom Breeder racks. But right now they are just not in my budget. I can let you know that the rack I put together above does not sag, has stood up to the heating without issue (I set my Tstat to 98 degrees and have 4 inch heat tape cut to 3 foot sections on each level). My snakes all are doing quite well in my "cheap" setup :gj:.