I plan on building my own racks real soon. I dont care for the Vision CB-70 rack I have and the Reptile basics are just to pricey. I found these plans online has anyone else used them if so how did they like this finished project anything you do to make it better?

http://www.baileyreptiles.com/cb70rack.html

Thanks
Jeremey

I used a plan very similar to that one, only it was the Clay Davenport version. Clay's version lets you use 11" flexwatt, which I prefer, and is a little simpler when it comes to putting on the heat tape. He also uses pegboard which would be better than hardware cloth, and easier to acquire than plastic sheets.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/iris_rack/iris_rack.shtml

I modified the design to use 41qt tubs since I have a ton of them lying around. I would not recommend doing what I did. 41qt's are quite flimsy, and while it's usable, it's a bit of a pain getting the tubs onto the runners. Once they're on they stay on, but can slip off when pulling them out for routine maintenance.

I'll probably make them again in the future, but use CB-70s or CB-110s.

Here is one I built that uses cb-70's. I love it, works great. I used belly heat, one 11" by 1' Flex watt panel per tub. 1/8 Peg board glossy side down for tub tops. I used 5/8 plywood I had laying around only on the back 14" for the heat tape to sit on. Made of 2x2's for the frames. 1x4's for the legs. 1x2's for the tub sliders.

The bottom shelf has solid plywood on top since there is no tub underneath to vent. The top shelf only has pegboard on the bottom. I used spacers for installing the sliders. Make sure to use a counter sink drill bit for your pilot holes, or the wood will split. Its a good idea to use anti-corrosive wood screws so they wouldn't oxidize. Hope that might help. Let me know if you have any more questions.

http://purebreedpythons.com/images/DSC02684.JPG

Oh ya and the old Stars and Bars work great to keep the drafts down! :rebel:

Good looking racks guys!

Here is one I built that uses cb-70's. I love it, works great. I used belly heat, one 11" by 1' Flex watt panel per tub. 1/8 Peg board glossy side down for tub tops. I used 5/8 plywood I had laying around only on the back 14" for the heat tape to sit on. Made of 2x2's for the frames. 1x4's for the legs. 1x2's for the tub sliders.

The bottom shelf has solid plywood on top since there is no tub underneath to vent. The top shelf only has pegboard on the bottom. I used spacers for installing the sliders. Make sure to use a counter sink drill bit for your pilot holes, or the wood will split. Its a good idea to use anti-corrosive wood screws so they wouldn't oxidize. Hope that might help. Let me know if you have any more questions.

http://purebreedpythons.com/images/DSC02684.JPG

Oh ya and the old Stars and Bars work great to keep the drafts down! :rebel:

Thats a nice looking setup

Thanks guys Peg board would defintly be easier and cheaper. I did find the plastic stuff on line I can have cut to size. My only worry is the peg board not holing up with the higher humidity? Does it seem to do fine?

Thanks
Jeremey

I re-purposed a Home Depot rack sometime ago. I used Coroplast for the top. Simple Plastic material and it can take the high humidity. I think Home Depot sells the Plastic Pegboard.

Thanks guys Peg board would defintly be easier and cheaper. I did find the plastic stuff on line I can have cut to size. My only worry is the peg board not holing up with the higher humidity? Does it seem to do fine?

Thanks
Jeremey

I've built two racks from Tim's plans and they work great.

The plastic pegboard is nice but pricey..............I use plain old pegboard and it holds up fine in regards to the humidity. But then again, I'm not housing blood pythons either. I mist my BP's with a water bottle a few days before they shed and haven't had any problems at all with the pegboard. Same with my melamine racks. I also use aspen so my setup as a whole might be a little drier then someone who is using cypress.

If you have decent tools and tape measure..........you will be fine. Good luck. :cheers:

I just built my rack, and it's still empty so I'm not sure about the pegboard yet. But if it worked for Clay Davenport, I'm sure it'll hold up. I personally would opt for the plastic if it were going to house a high humidity species, but for balls I'm counting on it working fine.

The regular pegboard works fine. I would make sure the shinny side is down. The heat exchange within the rack, and air flowing through the pegboard helps to keep it dry. But I have only kept BP's in it.

Yeah I plan on building these racks for Ball Pythons all I own right now. I have 20 Ball right now and in 2 years hope to expand enough in my basement to ahve aorund 40 adult females. So Im just going to build the racks ahead of time so I have all the space needed.

Im just going to build the racks ahead of time so I have all the space needed.

That is the best way to go. No last minute scrambles to put together a home.

I tried to make the Exotics by nature hanging 41qt rack above and my first attempt wasn't that great. One aspect that is a little tricky is the space for the slider and the heat source has to be pretty dead on or you'll either hit the tape support or you'll have a gap. Second I had problems with the tubs sticking. I'm liking this rack I put together and takes quite a bit less measuring.

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/showthread.php?t=9894