Building a Sideways Rack, Progress DUW(seriously)

I have purchased everything I need to build my sideways rack so far. I need to run by HD tomorrow to get some more screws and aluminum tape, but other then that, I am ready to go. My heat tape gets here tomorrow and I will be wiring that up :)

Here is my progress so far. I will be updating this as I get more and more done and maybe when I am done I will write up a whole How-to if anyone else wants to give it a shot.

This is my first ever rack build so bear with me :giggle:

My main goals for this rack were to be economical with materials and for it to look like a piece of furniture rather than a snake rack. To do this I did a number of things. I found pre-finished black shelving that I am using to build my rack. Because the HD by me did not have the right size, I had to fudge it and buy a shelf that was a few inches smaller and then I cut 3 inch strips to glue to the backside. This worked pretty well and will be sturdy once I screw them into the sides. My only problem with this method is that the sides are not flush with the shelves, they will be overhanging by about 3 inches. Which I suppose isn't that big of a deal.

SUPPLIES!!
For those who haven't seen it, here is my shopping list:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90125

The only difference is the wood material that I bought and the combination of tubs. I instead purchased the following:
(3) 48"x12"
(7) 24"x12"
(2) Mens shoebox tubs
(5) Boot Box tubs

Here are pictures of some of the materials and tools:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/...a87757.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/...86dbbc.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/...dc7975.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/...ab909c.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/...7b87d0.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/...627ae1.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/...32d546.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/...cb823a.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/...aecbc4.jpg?v=0


PROCESS!!

The first thing I did was fix the depth of the shelves. All I did was glue on some 3 inch pieces to the ends of the 12 inch shelves.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/...c2f81d.jpg?v=0
Tada! 15" shelves :)

Then I soldered the holes in my tubs (this took like an hour and it felt like a really long time). I made myself little template so the holes were evenly spaced.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/...e0cdfd.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/...6ca640.jpg?v=0

Then I prepped my extension cords so I could solder the connections to my flexwatt which will be arriving tomorrow 4/30. There were like 5 tags on each of the extension cords, I don't know why they need so many..
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/...b7216d.jpg?v=0



For tomorrow I am going to (hopefully) solder all the flexwatt and possibly drill all of the shelves into place. Then I will be fastening the handles to the tubs and lastly I will be making a drawer for the bottom of the rack. Then my rack should be complete and I will be ready to move my crappy collection (2) of snakes in to their new snake condo!

Looks good so far keep it comming more pics!!! :salute::gj:

Alright, I was up late last night determined to get this thing in working order! I am basically done except I need to put on the hardware for 2 more tubs and eventually, add the drawer to the bottom space.

Here are some pics of wiring the flexwatt, putting the shelves up, and the semi-finished product.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/...492a52.jpg?v=0
Non wired flex

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/...0e1225.jpg?v=0
Prepping the soldering surface

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/...ff9562.jpg?v=0
Oh look! They are all magically done!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/...ff22c7.jpg?v=0
Adding the shelves

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/...5d5fe2.jpg?v=0
All shelves in! Taping in the flexwatt

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/...70ea05.jpg?v=0
Tubs withe the awesome pulls :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/...516f4e.jpg?v=0
Blurry picture of it in my room.


Hope you all like it!

Looks good, I like the drawer pulls they add a nice touch.

Very cool. I love building my own racks. I like the pull idea.
Justin

WHAT type of wood is that!?
I want that, I hate melamine!

It is acutally pre-finished particle board shelving I found in the shelving department at home depot. :)

Alright, I plugged in my thermostat and have added the 2 residents to the snake condo!
I also added some stoppers so the snakes can't push their way out. These work well and look nice too!

I will post pictures again when I get the drawer at the bottom done.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/...3407bc.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/...df6e60.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/...ccf01e.jpg?v=0
The messy back side :rolleyes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/...e1e9df.jpg?v=0
You can't really tell but that is one of the little twisty stopper things.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/...2eff56.jpg?v=0
My masterpiece!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/...5359c3.jpg?v=0
I see you in there!!


Thanks for looking! :):snake:

Nice setup you got there. I like the pull idea. Are those handles stuck on or fastened on? I can't imagine stick ons lasting very long...

They are all fastened on with screws :) I don't think stick ons would last long either.

WOW, i really like this rack!


but i have to ask, is this a bunny hanging?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/...3407bc.jpg?v=0

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LOL
Yeah I have some purses that are in the shape of stuffed animals :P

Hey. I'm planning building my rack soon. I was wondering should I put the flexwatt straight along the back, just on the warm side, or on the warm and cold side? Thanks

well I used belly heat so the 4" strip just goes along the long part of the back row. If you are using back heat, cover as much of the back as you can with the flexwatt. You will probably need 12".

I will probably go with the belly heat. What size tubs did you use by the way?

I used 30qt and 15qt :) Got them from the container store.

VERY strong work!!

TIP-you could have saved a bunch of cash if you wired all that flexwatt in parallel:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

VERY strong work!!

TIP-you could have saved a bunch of cash if you wired all that flexwatt in parallel:D

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I wired them individually with the intention of maybe keeping corn snakes in the same rack :) That way I could adjust the temp accordingly. :P And I would have saved about $5 since the extension cords were only 80 cents each.

Ok cool. I'm actually going to be leaving in a few to home depot or lowes to pick up the supplies. I wanted to use melamine but they don't carry it in black at either store :( Might just have to go with white. Or I could go along with what you used. Thanks for posting a great thread. It's helped me out alot! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stargazed85

Ok cool. I'm actually going to be leaving in a few to home depot or lowes to pick up the supplies. I wanted to use melamine but they don't carry it in black at either store :( Might just have to go with white. Or I could go along with what you used. Thanks for posting a great thread. It's helped me out alot! :D

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No problem, glad I could help! Good luck on your project!

Very nice, a job well done!