New rat rack.

[carlson]

Decided to build a new rat rack an figuerd I'd do a thread for everyone. Its a 8 tub rack two sets of 4.

Started with 8 2x2s cut to 43.3/4 inches six 2x3s cut to 46 and 16 2x2s cut to 25 inches they say 2x2 but their 2 is 1.5..

I use the tubs to get the spacing right. 2x3s the legs and the 43 inchs 2x2s are the cross members in the front and the back.

Keep going till you got four levels, i did 11 inches between the top 3 cross way boards and 10 inches between the 3rd and 4th one. Do it again the same way. Matching them up so I doesn't get all wonky.
I work alone so I set them on their side to put the sides onto the rack.

Do one side and then filp it over and do the other. I didnt measure anything I matched the sides flush with the front ane back then screwed them in place.
on the middle two slots you can see the screw on each side of the middle post. They help keep it from being so tippy. hardware cloth, for this I used 3 36x5 rolls of .5 inch. Cut it into pieces the size of each slot. snip, snip, snip, not kidding lots of snipping. onces their cut to size, flip the unit upside down and staple the cloth to the bottom of the slot tops. once the cloth is in place you need 16, 25 inch 1x3s again labled 1x3 actually like .75 an inch. These are the rails for the tubs to slide on. I like them as tight as I can get because small rats can get out of the smallest spots. I put them .75 of an inch below the hardware cloth. This leave the tub enough room to slide in an out of the rack but doesnt leave enough room for hoppers to escape. everything all together! Tubs slide in an out easy an its low enough to make cleaning easy. the food sits on top cutting down on waste and putting the cloth on the bottom gives you a siding that keeps the food from falling off. these are the tubs I used. I got them at home depo they are the smaller cement mixing tubs.


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[JohnNJ]

You should run a piece of wood down the center of the screen to hold down the hardware cloth. As you pull the tub out the screen is loose enough for them to push up and squeeze out.

[Annarose15]

Very detailed DIY - Thank you!

[carlson]

You should run a piece of wood down the center of the screen to hold down the hardware cloth. As you pull the tub out the screen is loose enough for them to push up and squeeze out.

Was gonna do that but I ran out of wood an patience lol I always just push down on the top an grab fast. But if anyone follows this thats a good thing to add. There doesn't seem any spots they can squeeze out of when its closed an that was my main goal haha.

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[carlson]

Very detailed DIY - Thank you!

Thank you! I enjoy working with wood, still working on getting the racks 100% flawless but the more I build the better they get

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[JohnNJ]

Was gonna do that but I ran out of wood an patience lol I always just push down on the top an grab fast. But if anyone follows this thats a good thing to add. There doesn't seem any spots they can squeeze out of when its closed an that was my main goal haha.

I don't think you'll have a problem when the tub is pushed in. It's when you pull it out.

Here's what happens with mine - when I first grab the tub and start pulling it toward me all of the rats run to the back of the tub and climb up on each other, especially the little ones. As they get near the top edge they grab the hardware cloth and hold on. The tub rolls over them and squeezes them out. Big pain in the butt. If the wood is there they will not be able to squeeze through of get sucked through when you open the tub.

Nice job and good luck.

[carlson]

Same thing they do to me I push the cloth down an pet their paws so they let go ha most dont seem to like that. I may add more wood to the top once I go buy more ha. Thank you! Always working on making them better.

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[pigfat]

Looks great!