Sweater box rack

**Serpwidgets** · 01-20-07, 02:41 AM

I built this 18 box rack for Connie yesterday. The boxes slide in and out like drawers, and are kept "on track" by the screws coming out of the tops of the shelves.

**Caroline** · 01-20-07, 03:07 AM

Cool rack Chuck. Too bad you live too far from me... I would have job fo you.

**Joni Garcia** · 01-20-07, 03:10 AM

Nice sweater box rack, Chuck! Hubby and I have built five... but got stuck in a rut and used the same design for all of them. So, it's great to see new ideas and designs. Thanks!

pgr8dnlvr · 02-02-07, 10:20 PM

Looks great! I was wondering though, is that just one small heat tape square you use to heat both of the boxes? I thought the standard rule of thumb was 1/3 of the bottom for heat? Have you found less is more?!!

I wait with great interest!

Rebecca

**Serpwidgets** · 02-02-07, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by pgr8dnlvr

I thought the standard rule of thumb was 1/3 of the bottom for heat?

Dunno, I've never read or paid attention to anything regarding that, I didn't even know there was a rule of thumb. I guess that was a good thing when I built a cage with a 2 x 6 footprint.

I just make sure they are able to stay warm enough and they have a gradient. They will handle the rest themselves.

CMLReptiles · 02-02-07, 11:28 PM

So Chuck, I'm guessing 2x4's with melamine?

**Serpwidgets** · 02-02-07, 11:45 PM

Yep, gets the joerb done.

CMLReptiles · 02-02-07, 11:48 PM

If you don't mind me askin, how much total did the rack cost ya (tubs not included)? I need to build a rack in the very near future

**Serpwidgets** · 02-03-07, 01:21 AM

The rack is 6 feet by 2 feet (oh no not this song again)... The 2 X 4's (8 foot) are $2.15 each. IIRC we used five of them. Six at most. So the 2 X 4s were only $12.

3/4" Melamine was cut by Home Depot to 2 X 4 sections, IIRC it was about $10 per shelf. I used ten shelves, so about $100 in melamine. (This stuff is HEAVY so it really makes a bulky rack.)

If you're using thinner shelves, that is, 2 feet or less between supports so that they cannot "bow" you can use 5/8" hardboard instead of melamine. It's much lighter and cheaper, but it also is more susceptible to moisture.

Heat tape (11" 20 Watt) I got for $3.50/foot. It's a 1' section per shelf. That's $31.50.

I used two pieces of 1/8" or so hard board for the backing, which keeps more heat in the back and also holds the back face square. Those were about $10 total.

Screws and such were about $5 for a box of 2-1/2" deck screws and I also used some 1-1/4 or so deck screws. I also used two 12' extension cords and a dimmer switch, about $10 total there.

That one rack cost ballpark $170 in materials, plus the time to put it together. The boxes were $5 each on sale, so that's about $210 for the whole rack with the boxes.

You'll also need a drill or two. I use one with the 7/64 bit in it to predrill the holes and the other with the phillips to drive in the screws. (If you don't pre-drill you're going to end up with a ton of split studs and shelves.)

Be absolutely sure that your rack is secure and escape proof. The walls of the boxes can be bent out on some boxes that are flimsy, which could let them just push their way out. Bend one of the walls out and you'll see the giant gaping hole it makes.

If the box is easily slid on the shelf and the snake is in the tub pushing backwards against the ceiling (as they may do when pusing against every surface to see what will give) that will push the box out of the shelf in the same way you do when opening it.

Anyway, hope that helps.

CMLReptiles · 02-03-07, 12:15 PM

Thanks Chuck, huge help!