Inexpensive Ikea rack idea

Here we go finally.

Here's the rack (minus backing insulation and flexwatt):

Here's the inside of a bin:

Here's a bin with the lid:

Closeup of the corner of a bin with a lid:

Closeup of the drawer slides (which are plastic):

And a lid by itself:

It was very easy to assemble.

Here's a link to the bins: http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=11181 - select Transparent and 16 1/2" x 11 3/4" x 4" for size and color. $2.00 each (the rack I got holds 6).

Link to the shorter rack unit (the one pictured here): http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=30091452 - $39.99

There is a taller straight unit as well, and also some shorter stepped-style ones.

Link to the lids for the bins: http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=20955 $1.50 each

Ikea is still a bit weird with online ordering - even just for lids, the shipping is outrageous, so it's best if you live near an Ikea to just go to the store and buy everything there, but for a total of about $61 plus a few bucks more for heating and insulation and some minor modification to the lids, not bad for a juvenile rack.

The bins have a nice rounded groove around the outside of the bottom that would probably be good if water gets spilled - some water can go into the groove and the middle section will still stay dry, but there aren't any sharp edges in the inside, either. The lid fits completely flush into a recess in the bin, which is why those little turn buttons would be able to keep the lid on.

Also found some nylon turnbuttons. http://www.awsc-online.com/ContentH_c.htm - I have some brass ones ordered already (didn't see the nylon ones until now) and plan on installing four per bin (one on each corner). They are very inexpensive as well.

LMAO - I posted this same information on the Caging forum of KS - and it was promptly deleted. Guess cheap rack ideas aren't welcome there. Ah, well, just another reason Fauna's better.

Ok, here's an update on the rack... more photos of the bin!

So you may be wondering what I meant about the turn buttons. It seems like I will hopefully have snake babies to put in the rack sometime in the spring, so I finally got around to putting some of the finishing touches on the rack.

Well, here are some photos of the turn buttons attached to each corner of a bin, holding a lid on. Each can swivel out of the way to allow the lid to come off. Even though they are only held on with very tiny screws, I can pull the lid quite hard and it doesn't budge.



Because the bins are fairly large (for hatchlings) and there are only 6 of them for this rack (and hopefully there will be more than 6 babies), I am going to make dividers for each bin. I mocked up some templates out of cardboard, here's the general idea:



Not sure WHAT I am going to make the dividers out of yet. Probably tileboard/showerboard.

Originally Posted by liquidleaf

LMAO - I posted this same information on the Caging forum of KS - and it was promptly deleted. Guess cheap rack ideas aren't welcome there. Ah, well, just another reason Fauna's better.

They probably considered is free advertising for Ikea.

Looks like a great project!