Built my first rack, check it out

well i'm the son of a carpenter, but i think carpentry is a recessive trait. i didn't look around much for rack plans, i kinda just thought something up and went to work. my method of construction is pretty much explained by these pictures.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...DSCN2027sm.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...DSCN2028sm.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...DSCN2031sm.jpg
it actually doesn't look bad in the pics, but there are some crooked cuts and i cut my 2x2s too short (corrected with the 1x4s at the top). the top and bottom tubs slide in and out perfectly with a little gap at the top, but the middle shelf is very tight and it will probably require air holes. the rack is heated with flexwatt and a rheostat which will be replaced by a thermostat soon. the tubs are 41 quart sterilite.

ultimately, my goal was met. it may not be pretty but i have built a functional rack. word of advice: measure twice, cut once!

questions, comments, suggestions?

looks better than mine. i have to use lids....r5

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Originally Posted by Street Killer

word of advice: measure twice, cut once!

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lol I know how that is... My last rack came out funny cuz of that lol

how do you keep the heat up is there heat pads we cant see?

It looks a lot better than the first rack we tried to build! Congrats

Nicely done. Het for carpenter... hmm. Nice to see useful het morphs.

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Originally Posted by Drew420

how do you keep the heat up is there heat pads we cant see?

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"the rack is heated with flexwatt and a rheostat."

i didn't take any pics of it but it's just your standard flexwatt setup.

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Originally Posted by Street Killer

"the rack is heated with flexwatt and a rheostat."

i didn't take any pics of it but it's just your standard flexwatt setup.

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rheostat?? what is this

Hey street killer where could i get that flexwatt system my collection is about to get alot bigger and i want to get a rack set up?

I would use some wood sealer to seal that plywood...

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Originally Posted by monk90222

I would use some wood sealer to seal that plywood...

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Agreed:gj:

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

rheostat?? what is this

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it's a little dial attached to a cord. the dial turns to control the amount of heat put out.

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Originally Posted by Drew420

Hey street killer where could i get that flexwatt system my collection is about to get alot bigger and i want to get a rack set up?

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www.reptilebasics.com

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Originally Posted by monk90222

I would use some wood sealer to seal that plywood...

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ok, that doesn't seem like too hard of a job. what purpose would this serve?

Protect the wood from the humidity I guess... Water and Wood usually equals mold.
I was kind of wondering the same thing but thats all I could think up!

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

Protect the wood from the humidity I guess... Water and Wood usually equals mold.
I was kind of wondering the same thing but thats all I could think up!

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yeah, that makes sense.

Most people build the racks and setups out of melamine and that helps with the life of the rack or enclosure, because it doesn't go bad as fast as wood will with the high humidity levels.
If you want it to last longer cover it with some kind of protection!

I need to do the same thing to my deck this spring! :)

Good Luck

Hey....

What are you doing for ventilation for the tubs?? Did you do holes on just one side?

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Originally Posted by bcampos

Hey....

What are you doing for ventilation for the tubs?? Did you do holes on just one side?

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nothing, just the gap between the tub and the wood.