Cheapest Wood to Make a Rack Out Of?

[badbeck4]

I'm just wondering what the cheapest wood that is okay for the snakes would be. I'm going to be building my own rack but I don't want to spend that much. Otherwise it would be better to just buy one. Thanks

[StillBP]

I did a rack out of the 4 shelf storage racks that lowes sells. buy 2 of them and cut the tubes to length a 14 tub rack costs about $150 (give or take) to make including buying the tubs. The only down side is i have to have lids on mine as the shelves have holes in them that snakes would get out of. The shelves are like $39.96 each and then you buy 14 tubs at $3.50 each where ever you can find flat bottom tubs on sale

[badbeck4]

I've considered that because of how easy it is but I have limited room and I know that the shelves are pretty big. I was thinking of building a rack with one column.

[OhhWatALoser]

Just about anything can work if it is sealed, but then your out the money and time of sealer and material.

But if you don't feel like sealing, 3/4 melamine is normally around 35 (but changes quite a bit)

[Vanthios]

I'm not quite sure to what degree this idiom holds true since, in your case, it becomes more dependent on your degree of craftsmanship, but you get what you pay for. If you went with some PVC like what's used at Boaphile Plastics or Animal Plastics (1/2” CDPVC™), you may find that your finished products is more durable and looks cleaner than, say, Lowes's plywood selection. It couldn't be that expensive considering the price you pay for the prebuilt rack includes the cost of material, the time it took them to construct it, and whatever percentage they stick on top of that to make a profit.

Also, if you're trying to find a rack for hatchlings or juveniles, and therefore have some time before you need to move to a larger setup, you may be able to find some sort of bookcase or entertainment center for TVs that features deep(er than usual) cabinets. Check online for local auction sites, antique stores, or thrift stores. At the places near me it wouldn't be hard to walk away with a whole room of furniture for less than $10, $20. Just make sure that whatever you purchase ***ISN'T CEDAR OR PINE*** (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...nake-Enclosure). Sand it down, clean it up, set it up, and it's good to go. This is yet another reason why PVC is the material of choice because a great sum of furniture that you could use is probably made of cedar or pine. Just be careful about what you use; you don't want a sick or dead collection.

EDIT 1 (11/8/15, 2:00PM EST):
Reading more into my linked source led me to a quote by wilomn,

Pine, Birch, Fir, Aspen, Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Luan, Melamine, but no cedar, redwood or boards made of compressed chips. The compressed boards used to use a formalin byproduct or solution with formalin in it, can't recall which, that was not good.

Stain, paint and seal and you'll be fine.

I did build custom cages for a few years using most the materials above. I have not made cages of Cherry or Walnut but know of them and they have been fine. I've still got a couple cages that are probably older than you are that I am still using. Birch was my favorite.