Help with First DIY Rack...

[chimpkin]

I am going to build my first DIY Rack over this holiday weekend and I have a couple of questions. I bought sterilite tubs that are 24x16x6 but I cant find any 16 inch melamine. I checked every lumber store in my area. I found some 24 inch stuff at home depot but it looks like it has some sort of crappy painted finish. I found a nice 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch veneer plywood. It has a very nice smooth wood grain finish and I can get it for $30.

Should I design the rack so that the lids stay on the tubs since the wood will not be a sealed finish? I could be wrong but it seems like the wood could get nasty since it is not sealed. What would be the downfall, if any, to having the lids on the tubs?

[wildlifewarrior]

I am going to build my first DIY Rack over this holiday weekend and I have a couple of questions. I bought sterilite tubs that are 24x16x6 but I cant find any 16 inch melamine. I checked every lumber store in my area. I found some 24 inch stuff at home depot but it looks like it has some sort of crappy painted finish. I found a nice 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch veneer plywood. It has a very nice smooth wood grain finish and I can get it for $30.

Should I design the rack so that the lids stay on the tubs since the wood will not be a sealed finish? I could be wrong but it seems like the wood could get nasty since it is not sealed. What would be the downfall, if any, to having the lids on the tubs?

I had home depot make all of my cuts for mine. I tried to build it with as little waste as possible, so i used 4x8 sheets. at home depot the first 2 cuts are free each additional is 50 cents. That is if your home depot will cut it for ya

~mike

[tmlowe5704]

Good luck to ya, nowhere around here would touch melamine or MDF

[chimpkin]

I am not worried about cutting the wood. I have access to a wood shop. My problem is the type of wood. Most racks are designed to fit the tubs without lids between the shelves. I am wondering if I do that with a veneer plywood that is not sealed, if the humidity, over time, will destroy the wood? Not to mention the sanitary conditions it may present.

If it is going to be a problem, I will design the rack so that the lids will remain on the tubs.

[TekWarren]

If you must use something else you can always seal the wood with a water based wood sealer. My first rack was made out plywood for the shelves, I sealed it up reall good and its shown no sign of warping or breakdown.

[chimpkin]

Hey TekWarren, in your experience with racks do you think it would be annoying to have a rack where the lids stayed on the tubs?

Do you have any idea of the brand or type of sealer you used on your rack?

[Griggs2121]

Use Kilz as a sealer. Why make a rack where you have to leave the lids on? It'll just be easier if you build it to fit w/o the lid.

[monk90222]

I've built a few DIY racks. First, melmine is IMHO the way to go. The only drawback is that it is very very heavy. It the rack is big enough, put casters on it.

I also built a rack with sanded plywood w/o sealing it. Bad move. In less than 6 mos, the humidity caused black mold on the shelves above the tubs. You don't want your snakes breathing that, heck you don't want to breath that!!

Go to Home Depot get a 49x97x 3/4" for $26. Have a plan and write out your measurements. Get HD to cut it for you. one other tip...pilot holes for the screws. (i made that mistake before.)
Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Also, try your darndest to make it so the tubs fit in without the lids. So when you slide out the tub, the lid is already off...saves a step. It'll add up if you are cleaning a number of tubs.!!