Snake Rack REMIX!(write up included)

[Powerspythons]

So I finally got around to doing my snake rack rebuild! I'm pretty happy with the results as now the tubs dont stick with I try to pull them out or push them back in. It also just looks a lot nicer and cleaner than my previous rack.

Here's what it used to look like:


And here's what it looks like now:


And here's my lame attempt at a write up on how to do it:

First thing you gotta do it take out all the tubs


..and find a warm place to store them.(I used the futon in my snake room*around 80degreesF*)


Then you gotta take the old one apart(or if starting from scratch get 2 sheets of melamine(97"x49") from the store)

These will be cut into 22 shelves that are 16"x23"(This is if you're making two racks, you only need one sheet cut into 11 shelves if you're only making one rack)


You also need an additional 2 sheets of melamine to make the sides of the rack, these will need to be cut to 4 sides of 23"x72"(I had my cuts done at the Lowes where I got them)(also this is if you're making two racks, if you're only making one rack you only need one sheet cut into 2 sides)

Next you put the TOP of the rack on, making absolutely sure that it is fully square
Here it is with one side on


Then you flip it upright upside down and essentially build it upside down from the top of the rack to the bottom of the rack.

I used the tubs and 12 CDs as spacers between each shelf.

First put down your 12 CDs in 6 stacks of 2 CDs per stack.


Then the tub


Then the melamine shelf(I used corner clamps to hold mine in place, corner clamps are fantastic rack building helpers!!)


Then you drill 3 pilot holes per side of the shelf


Then you counter sink those pilot holes


Then you screw in those pilot holes

Sidenote:If you notice that DeWALT attachment I have in my cordless drill there..that makes it A LOT easier to switch between a drillbit, countersink, and screwdriver. I'm not sure what it's called but it locks in any hexagonal attachment and then it pops right back out when you're done with it. I can explain it better with pics if you ask, but I just wanted to point that out as some people claim that you have to have two separate drills to make this job easier..and this attachment is a way around that.

To make the placement of the screws a lot easier and cleaner looking I used a chalk line to make two lines 3" from the front and back of each side, and one line down the center of of each side. Then once the shelves were in place I made another chalk line across the side from front to back and I used where the lines crossed as screw points



So basically you just repeat that for each shelf until it's done

Then you flip it upright and it's time to put some heat on it.
I used 15.5" of 4" flexwatt per shelf


I used the standard soldering method for my connections, and I wired the top 5 shelves together and the bottom 5 shelves together


And that's all there is to it!

Now here's a couple mistakes I made during this build that you should all try to avoid!

First, I bought a very fine toothed saw blade(140teeth) that I thought would make my cuts look a lot cleaner.

Basically I ran through two of my batteries for my cordless saw in only 3 cuts before figuring out that the teeth were so small that it was actually making it A LOT harder
I ended up going and getting another new saw blade that was not as fine toothed(40teeth) and it worked MUCH better


Second, I made the mistake of thinking I could use only a cordless skillsaw instead of a corded one...I spent nearly 3 hours that day just waiting for my batteries to recharge!!