Building a Rack and Bad Luck = Disaster!

[Crawly's Mom]

Hey guys! So after reading a bunch of DIY posts on building racks I found one I thought I liked and took myself down to Home Depot to buy all the parts. I got my melamine cut, bought my screws, and headed to walmart to find the right tubs.

Firstly... I could not find 32 qt tubs to save my life, so I had to settle with 28 qt as they would be the biggest I could fit on the shelf without turning them sideways. I get home and begin building the rack with my husband and everything that could go wrong begins to go wrong.

First we discover the melamine is not all cut to the same size. Some are longer than others, some are wider. Thanks Home Depot for not being able to cut quarters, next time I will so measure them before I leave. Begin putting it together to realize the screws are too short. So hubby heads back to walmart to buy new screws.

Then the drill bit breaks off in the melamine, kid you not! So we try a new drill. We finally have three pieces together but he had to go. So I have the very beginnings of my rack sitting in the living room. I am just praying as we continue this process that we don't find more things wrong. >,<

[DellaF]

Sounds like my luck. I hope you guys get it all right. I wouldn't have the patience if things didn't fit right for me

[RichsBallPythons]

sterilite 32/28 are same width and length if not mistaken, just diff height.

all i ever use is 28qt and they are nicer than the old 32qt style

[Crawly's Mom]

I may have to end up taking back the shorter ones, because I just don't know how we can make them work. My husband is convinced we can do it, but I am not so sure... I do not want it to be shaudily pieced together lol. So I might be storming my happy bum down to home depot with all the wood they cut for me and demanding new stuff. 100 worth of wood wasted on poor cuts does not make me a happy camper!

I am not sure if the 28 and 32 were the same dimensions. I know the 28 will barely fit based on the size we had cut or were supped to have cut lol. It is gonna be a tight squeeze to have three tubs per shelf... but I am hoping it all works out okay.

[tuffstuff07]

target has the 32 or 34's i forget which. because when i bought my rack i couldn't find the tubs and ended up ordering these from walmart and they were cheaper.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...i_sku=15539793


i run em with out the lids and no escapees. to much of a hassle to do stuff. had to pull the lid off every-time after you slid the tub our or back in.

[RaltsXIV]

Try bed, bath, and beyond if you have one near you. The carry the Iris tubs in all sizes from shoeboxes to 41qt.

[wilomn]

You need to take your wood back and get pieces with the exact dimensions you need. Trying to "make it work" with wood is a sure recipe for frustration and eventual failure. I've built many many racks and can tell you from personal experience that you'll be happier in the long run if you don't have to mickey mouse stuff together. It may be a bit of a pain in the butt to keep going back, but when you have a perfect rack that functions properly you'll be glad you did. Take your tape measure with you and measure each piece as it's cut. If the guy doing the cutting can't use the saw properly, ask for someone else to do the cutting.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

A lot of times the panel saw at lowes or hd is the problem. They get abused and used by idiots who don't respect the tool so they aren't accurate anymore. As for the tubs go to odd lots if you have one near you they seem to always have them.

[adamjeffery]

at my homedepot there is a sign above the saw that says they will not guarantee exact cuts.
they also sell ind. pieces at my home depot from the factory. i have built racks using them as well and they are always the same size.
and i wouldnt recommend a rack with 3 tubs wide. it WILL sag in the middle. i built one with 2 tubs wide and it needed re-inforced with center dividers.

so they will only cut as close as the employee's are willing to try for.
adam jeffery

[Crawly's Mom]

Sadly these are not off by like a quarter inch... not even a half inch. They are off on width and on length. I do not think the guy measured them at all before cutting them. It seemed as though it could be incredibly easy. I mean the big sheets just needed to be cut in quarters, 2ft x 4 ft... they are so not that size.

As for the tubs... those 34 qt do not fit, they are too long as the depth of the shelf is only 24" or 2ft. The 28 qt were the biggest I could find at the right length. I can, however, do the 71 qt sideways and it fits perfect as well. So I can put my bigger girls in there. I am thinking 28 qt up to about 1500 grams, then switching them out to a big tub.