DIY XPVC Rack - Complete with pics!

[Kymberli]

That's looks awesome! Nice job on it. I've been looking through different DIY racks, and I'm tempted to try this one out. I don't know if this has been asked yet (scanned through comments ), is it heavy/difficult to move? I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

[Simple Man]

Love it!!! That is the most simple rack I've seen- definitely the way I'll go when the times comes.

Have you wired the flexwatt yet? It would be cool to see how you do that. I know that there are DIY on the flexwatt but it would be nice to see on yours. I'll still too new to fully understand how you wire multiple strips for that set-up and then plug it in. But that's just me

I can definitely update when I wire it. I will just be using one continuous piece of Flexwatt. That just makes the heating more uniform. I use multiple strips on my current rack but one single piece of Flexwatt is much easier!

That's looks awesome! Nice job on it. I've been looking through different DIY racks, and I'm tempted to try this one out. I don't know if this has been asked yet (scanned through comments ), is it heavy/difficult to move? I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

It is light enough that one person can move it with or without the tubs in it. I can weigh it on my scale later. I'm headed to dinner in a minute or two or I would go weigh it and update. Unless you're physically handicapped I would say you could move the rack by yourself without concern. I will update the weight with and without tubs later!

Regards,

B

[Kymberli]

I can definitely update when I wire it. I will just be using one continuous piece of Flexwatt. That just makes the heating more uniform. I use multiple strips on my current rack but one single piece of Flexwatt is much easier!



It is light enough that one person can move it with or without the tubs in it. I can weigh it on my scale later. I'm headed to dinner in a minute or two or I would go weigh it and update. Unless you're physically handicapped I would say you could move the rack by yourself without concern. I will update the weight with and without tubs later!

Regards,

B

Awesome! That was always my conflict with melamine, the weight of it. There is no one that I live with who would ever help me move a rack of snakes if I needed to Thanks!!

[PitOnTheProwl]

I wonder if caster wheel scan be screwed onto this somehow..

You could also build a "movers rack" to set it on

[Simple Man]

This is just a quick update on weight. The rack weighs 47lbs without tubs. The tub weight is really going to vary based on your configuration so I didn't bother to weigh those. 47lbs is a little bit heavier than a large bag of dog food for referance purposes. Very lightweight!

Regards,

B

[Simple Man]

I forgot to add but I would buy 6 x 2 packs of generic Super Glue! I double checked before I got ready to put the Flexwatt in and I decided to lay the unit upside down and use capillary action to also glue the bottom of each support/shelf interconnect.

Regards,

B

[spitzu]

Do you think 1/2" would work for a 10 level 41qt rack, or should I look for 3/4"?

[mechnut450]

sweet it a rack that high humidity would not effect at all, and even with my handicapped I could move it ( not up stairs )easly enough

[PitOnTheProwl]

Im just wondering, with the open sides, how well would it hold in heat in a non heated room?

[Simple Man]

Do you think 1/2" would work for a 10 level 41qt rack, or should I look for 3/4"?

I would feel safe doing a 10 level rack with the 1/2". I would probably make the side and back braces 6" or 8" instead of 4". With the 41qt you are going to need two sheets of XPVC so you should have enough material to do it. My 7 level rack barely moves a quarter inch either way without tubs sitting on carpet. With the tubs in it is even stronger. I'm waiting until the glue dries from the session I did earlier today before I screw with it some more but the rack is STRONG! I move it by myself without worrying about anything flexing or breaking.

Im just wondering, with the open sides, how well would it hold in heat in a non heated room?

I'm sure it will hold some heat but not as much as a rack with solid sides. You could make a solid side and back rack with this same design. You would just need to use a second sheet of 1/2" XPVC. One of my goals was to get my subadult/adult racks built using a single sheet. Lightweight was also part of the design so the open sides and back helps that. If I didn't have a reptile room I would have built a solid side/back unit. That just isn't needed with my dedicated and heated reptile room.

Regards,

B