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Husbandry and Basic Care General stuff about keeping and maintaining cornsnakes in captivity.

EASY RACK BUILD!!!!
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Old 06-15-2010, 03:36 AM   #1
HoosierHerper
EASY RACK BUILD!!!!

So here it is. It cost me right at $45 dollars to build. (I already had heat, and a Johnson Thermostat). This is made from 2 of those Walmart Mainstays 3 shelf bookcases, but can also just as easily be done with the 5 shelf model.

Materials:
2-3 Shelf Bookcases from Walmart : $30
1 package of 1" wood screws from Walmart : $2
6-22" long 1"x1/2" 'square' dowels : $12 (Can be had much cheaper at a home improvement store, ie. Home Depot or Lowe's....but I did my shopping late and went ahead and got these at Walmart)

Tools:
Drill-(or a Phillips head screwdriver...be careful with the drill, you can easily split the square dowels)
Hammer
Jigsaw-to cut your square dowels, or you can have the guys at the store do it.

-----------------------------------
1. Open your bookshelves and separate the pieces into piles.

2. Take your square dowels that have already been cut to size and connect the side panels of the bookcases together using the wood screws and drill. REMEMBER to go slow because you WILL split the wood....I did


3. Continue assembling the bookshelves according to manufacturer instructions. Make sure to use both of the small "dams" they provide. Even though one won't be visible, it will help support the middle.


4. Before you nail down the back for the rack, I would cut little grommets for your wiring to come out of.


This is what you should have now. Basically the bookshelf, but twice as deep.


5. Slide your shelves onto the square dowels. The dowels not only connect the 2 cases, but also will serve to hold up your shelves...much sturdier than the little pins in the holes.
 
Old 06-15-2010, 03:36 AM   #2
HoosierHerper
6. Tape your flexwatt down where you want it and feed the wires through your "grommets".


7. Mount your thermostat or other heating control device to your rack wherever you'd like it. And plug in your flexwatt.


Wired with flexwatt to the thermostat. Shelves in.


Happy new tenants!



This rack gives you 4 shelves (including the top of the unit) that are each 23"X28". I will have two 12qts per shelf or one 32qt Sterilite latchbox per shelf. You will need lids, as the shelves are not close enough to go lidless (I always have the lids on regardless)

Again...$45 to build!!!!!!!!! (And it don't look too bad neither!)
Comes in white, brown, and black. Finally make yourself a unit to match your entertainment center!


Let me know what you all think of it!
 
Old 06-15-2010, 06:10 AM   #3
Susan
Nice job! I made a copy of this thread and put it in the DIY subforum.
 
Old 06-15-2010, 07:25 AM   #4
EsotericForest
Nicely done. It seems like more and more people are utilizing those bookshelves from Walmart.
 
Old 06-15-2010, 09:24 AM   #5
HoosierHerper
Thanks Susan...it seems that threads are less visited there, so I wanted to put it in the regular one atleast for a little bit so people could check it out...

Esoteric- I think alot of people overlook them because the depth is only 11.6 inches. I was sitting around drawing up plans for a build over the weekend, and thought maybe I should see if there's a premanufactured bookshelf I could use...I saw these and decided to give it a try.
 
Old 06-15-2010, 09:30 AM   #6
Sweetseraph
That's ingenious!
 
Old 06-15-2010, 09:48 AM   #7
HoosierHerper
Ha...it keeps getting better actually. You could do 4 Sterilite 32 qt Latchbox sideways on each shelf (including the top). Or you can fit 2 12qt standard Sterilite tubs on each shelf.

OR!!!!

I am 99% sure (assuming I know how to use a tape measure) that you can fit a 32qt Latchbox longways and a 12qt regular one longways on EACH shelf! That's 4 adults and 4 Hatchlings/Juvies!
 
Old 06-15-2010, 10:31 AM   #8
EddieA
Awesome, Josh!!!
 
Old 06-15-2010, 04:01 PM   #9
HoosierHerper
Thanks Eddie!
 
Old 06-15-2010, 06:52 PM   #10
Em Wright
This is a fabulous idea. I've been toying with using these shelves as well... actually my husband has a big one I was going to steal and convert into a hatchling rack (with lids) by putting flexwatt down like that.

Once again, great idea!
 

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