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IKEA rack system

dionythicus

dionythicus

Kiss My Hearse
Since we don't have the money for really fancy racks and have no tools or room to make our own, we opted for the Ivar shelving units from IKEA. Each one cost about $200 for all the separate pieces: both ends, three crossbars and ten shelves. They take about 30 mins to put together, once you get the hang of it. If you get the 88" tall end pieces, you can get ten shelves 8" apart and that will hold either ten 31-35 qt Sterilite containers, twenty of the 8 qt (I think that's right) thirty of the 6 qt, a bazillion sandwich size containers of hatchlings or any combination thereof. Or you can adjust the height of the shelves to whatever you need. You can mix and match tub sizes on each shelf so much that I think we'll be getting way too many snakes very soon just because we have the space now! We have Ultratherm heat pads (like heat tape but laminated into individual sizes) from The Bean Farm on each shelf. They don't wire together, so each one has a cord. The upper shelves probably won't need any extra heating. The units are unfinished pine and can be stained or painted, just make you use the right product so you don't kill your snakes with the fumes.

We have two of these now and will be getting more later this summer. I hope this helps anyone else looking for a less expensive, semi-do it yourself rack system.

Here's what they look like.
 
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Great idea for the 'nail and hammer' challenged such as myself.....I even checked their website, but couldn't find that particular model. No worries--I'll keep my eyes open the next time I'm near an IKEA.
Thanks for the pics!! :cheers:
 
The company I work for uses that shelving in their retail store...and I use it for trade shows because it's super easy to transport and put together (afther the first set of ends). I never thought of using it for a rack tho...not so quick today I guess.
Great Idea!
 
Why not just build one yourself? It's really not that difficult of a thing to do---really. :shrugs:

...Probably cheaper, too.
 
Of course it's not difficult to make one, if you have the room and the right equipment. Not everyone does.

It's for those of us who don't have the space or tools to make one. We don't own the right power tools nor do we have anywhere to do any cutting. It's easier (and from what I understand cost just about as much as the raw materials) to buy a "ready made" rack for people who live in apartments or who don't have the capability to work with the wood and tools. It's just an option.

But if you're going to make your own, make sure there's an ER nearby if you're accident prone. :grin01:
 
Thats where Home Depot comes in. Just tell them what you need cut and you dont have to worry about power tools or anything of the sort. Most people have a drill around--and that's pretty much all you need once everything is cut.
 
I forgot Home Depot and Lowe's offer that service. It would make assembly that much easier.

I just like shopping at IKEA. :grin01:
 
Ikea is awesome!

I think your idea to use a ready made shelving unit was a great idea. Coming from a college student who has to take daily trips to Home Depot for a 3-D design class....it's a pain in the butt. Buying large pieces of particle board, figuring out where the cuts should be made to make as many pieces the board can....finding an employee available to cut, and so on.... Plus when you then have to go and buy a saw, a drill, files, sandpaper, nails, screws... its not exactly inexpensive. And I'd say your time and stress are worth a good amount of money!
(My daddy always told me...how much is your time worth $10, $20, $50/hr?? Life is precious and when you can afford to save time and mental anguish, go for it!)
 
While Home Depot is wonderful, I had to take 2 tries to get the homemade rheostat right even with all of the step by step instructions....it's a good thing I didn't get into mechanics :eek1:
 
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