Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[martinb20]

Right ok i thought it was time i showed you guys what Ive been up to building my Rack.

Firstly not finished and now i feel i want to tweak a few thing but this is what i got so far.

what you need:

1. a plan (always a good start )

2. Calculate how much wood you will need and find the cheapest place. (i got mine from http://woodsheets.co.uk/products.aspx i brought 10 sheets of 1300mm by 850mm by 25mm for £6 each. then cut them to size to fit your requirements.



3. how to heat the rack, I went down the heat cable root ( but as its not finished yet i cant say if i need a hotter cable maybe floor heat cable instead of reptile heat cable) but anyway once you found out how much you need route out a thin line near the back of each shelf layer. and cover with aluminum tape to reflect the heat. (it can be a bit tricky and will take a few attempts until you find the correct technique).



4. decide how much gap you want between each shelf ( depends on you box sizes Ive got a mixture of RUB 50L's, 18L's and 9L's.
then drill some pilot holes so when you come to screw it together you don't split the wood.





5. Attach the brackets that will support your shelf's (i found it much easier and quicker to do this now rather then later.




6. attached the base , sides and top together



7. slide in the shelf's



8. add your boxes




*note now i think i want to change this design and split the bottom 2 or top 2 into built in Viv's not sure just yet though.

[PaulG]

That has come together really well.
Was there a reason for making it with lidless boxes?
It looks great!

I would like to get one of these done one day.
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Regards, Paul.

:.Rhacodactylus.:.Eublepharis.:.Stenodactylus.:.Nephrurus.:

[martinb20]

lidless? mine are with lids but as i said at the bottom of the post ill will be tweaking the design slightly to incorporate some vivs as well so i might close the gaps between each shelfs to make it a lidless racking system for easyer use as ive started to find out that having a lid for my geckos is being a bit annoying

[PaulG]

Sorry I ment not lidless.

Well keep us posted on any improvments.
_________________
Regards, Paul.

:.Rhacodactylus.:.Eublepharis.:.Stenodactylus.:.Nephrurus.:

[DrAdam]

did you find that a single run of cable got hot enough ?
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My website isn't quite there yet, as I got bored half way through writing it.

Never take life too seriously, no-one gets out alive anyway

[Jase]

[DrAdam]

I've literally just finished mine and am in the testing stages, I think the cable I have is zoo med, its 12m long and 100W... I have put foil in the channel to try and reflect heat upwards and then covered with foil but it doesnt seem to be getting hot enough
When you touch the cable it is as hot as a mat, I'm thinking that the cable perhaps needs to be in contact with the wood for it to spread ???? I'm of the opinion that if one run wont do it then two wont, as putting another run in will just make the hot spot wider, not hotter Maybe I need to pad the groove out with something so it is in contact all the time ??
_________________
My website isn't quite there yet, as I got bored half way through writing it.

Never take life too seriously, no-one gets out alive anyway

[Lynne]

hey thats great looking. but i got lost at 'you need a plan'. i wouldnt do the rep cable, i have this on my royal rack, and have to back it up with heat mats. so its coming off and mats are going down. but thats so breat looking, well done.
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