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SnakeGuy Key Member

Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 371 Location: Devon
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject: Rack Building |
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I am planning on building a rack similar to the expert architectural drawing that i have drawn up below, but there's one slight problem. I am REALLY bad at DIY!! So looking for some tips and advice.
I have no idea about which joints to use so can you tell me what ones would be best for where i have circled, and briefly explain how to do them? Just want to make sure I'll be able to do it before buying the wood. I'm planning on using melamine if that makes any difference, but if you think something else would be better tell me lol.
Cheers
Joe _________________ 1.7.7 Royal Python
0.1.0 Corn snake
0.0.1 Albino Horned Frog
0.0.1 Lasiodora Difficilis
0.0.1 Brachypelma Smithi |
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mike h CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Are you going lidded or lidless?
What size boxes?
What is it to house?
For my royals I used melamine coated wood and use the white plastic block connectors to hold together. On the back you need something to make the unit rigid. I use metal shelving bars screwed to each shelf going diagonally across the units. Makes rock solid.
If lidless and using heat mats it is worth taping polystyrene to the shelf before adding the heat mat, it really increases the temperature potential.
hope helps
mike
mike _________________ Check out my albino royal python website! |
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Lynne ___________


Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8265 Location: Kincardine-on-Forth
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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i wish i was good at diy. i bought shelving from bigdug and have them on that. _________________
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mike h CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | i wish i was good at diy. i bought shelving from bigdug and have them on that. |
Practise.
One thought if you get B&Q to cut the lenghts, make sure you are sure they know what you mean. I had to cut about half an inch off a load of my pieces
Lynne it is not too difficult if you are carefull with measurements and use the plastic block connectors, simple things like a good screw driver and proper screws for the job make a big difference.
The hardest part was lifting the top stack onto the bottom. I actually somehow managed it on my own.
mike _________________ Check out my albino royal python website! |
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Lynne ___________


Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8265 Location: Kincardine-on-Forth
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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mike h wrote: | Quote: | i wish i was good at diy. i bought shelving from bigdug and have them on that. |
Practise.
One thought if you get B&Q to cut the lenghts, make sure you are sure they know what you mean. I had to cut about half an inch off a load of my pieces
Lynne it is not too difficult if you are carefull with measurements and use the plastic block connectors, simple things like a good screw driver and proper screws for the job make a big difference.
The hardest part was lifting the top stack onto the bottom. I actually somehow managed it on my own.
mike | aye but males are good at that stuff. _________________
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SnakeGuy Key Member

Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 371 Location: Devon
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Mike, I want to keep the lids on, using 50L RUB's, and it for royals.
What are block connectors?? _________________ 1.7.7 Royal Python
0.1.0 Corn snake
0.0.1 Albino Horned Frog
0.0.1 Lasiodora Difficilis
0.0.1 Brachypelma Smithi |
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mike h CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | What are block connectors?? |
If you look at the pics the white blocks holding the wood together are block connectors.
If useing useful boxes tehn your measurements do not have to be exact.
Personaly I would go for Ikea komplement boxes if your royals are getting upto or over the 1500grm mark, or do 2 racks and stack them one for varoius sized boxes and one with komplement boxes for adults.
The extra space is really really benificial in the ikea boxes.
I keep any babies smaller snakes in various boxes on the bottom rack and have my adults in teh top rack.
mike _________________ Check out my albino royal python website! |
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SnakeGuy Key Member

Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 371 Location: Devon
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Just been B&Q and all they have is the electrical block connectors guessing they are not the same thing?? Have you got a link to somewhere that sells them? Or where to get them from? _________________ 1.7.7 Royal Python
0.1.0 Corn snake
0.0.1 Albino Horned Frog
0.0.1 Lasiodora Difficilis
0.0.1 Brachypelma Smithi |
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mike h CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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if you look at the pics you can see clearly white rectangles, these are the blocks with screw holes in them. On the top pic I am useing them to stop the boxes going too far back.
They are ususally near to the screws and hardware stuff at B&Q, they are used for putting furniture together, wilkies sell them too.
mike _________________ Check out my albino royal python website! |
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SnakeGuy Key Member

Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 371 Location: Devon
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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OK Mike cheers, I'll have a look next time i'm in there. Told you i'm bad at diy lol _________________ 1.7.7 Royal Python
0.1.0 Corn snake
0.0.1 Albino Horned Frog
0.0.1 Lasiodora Difficilis
0.0.1 Brachypelma Smithi |
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