Quote Originally Posted by SatanicIntention View Post
I would recommend not making the rack 4 ft wide. Melamine/particle board is very heavy, but it's also not very sturdy. I would make the rack 2ft wide or less and make it taller instead of wider. much less chance for sag.

If you're using 32qt tubs, you can make it to where either 1 32qt tub will fit on a shelf sideways or two 15-qt tubs will fit on the shelf longways. I have a rack like that and while it is heavy, it's very sturdy and doesn't move/sag. I can get you the measurements for it if you want it.

If you're building it for 41qt tubs, make it deep instead of wide and don't make it to where other tubs will fit too. It will make it too flimsy and apt to sag. I have a 41qt rack that holds 6 tubs and it works well.
4 feet does sound wide and aweful permanent. A smaller rack (or several smaller racks) will cut the sag issue. A four foot by four foot rack is going to be tough to get though most doorways depending on how deep it is. Even if you build it in the room, at some point in time you may decide to move it. Melamine racks don't go through the break down/reassemble process too well.

I used melamine racks for years.....made all my own. To date, they are among my favorite type of racks. But they are heavy....borderline ridiculous heavy. They don't travel well (as in moving to a new house). Once the open ends of the melamine sheets get wet, they swell. Once they swell, bins get stuck. So be sure to cap them or seal them with the iron-on seam stuff. Melamine is super strong in certain directions but really weak in others. For all those reasons, I have done away with almost all of my melamine racks. Still, you can make an awesome rack out of the stuff if you do it right.....and my ball pythons seemed to love those racks.

Like Satanic mentioned, build your rack around the tubs you decide to work with but don't be afraid to spend a little more on melamine to make two or more smaller racks rather than one big one.