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Rack building - Sintra

mgoblue347

mgoblue347

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I am trying to decide what to use as the piece that the tubs slide in against for a rack I am building. If that didn't paint the picture in your mind..the piece that the tubs will sit on as well as be enclosed with..The build calls for sintra, but I was seeing if there was anything else out there that is preferred. Hardboard, melamine..w/e.

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
I'm not sure what sintra is, but XPVC works fine and it will last forever. Melamine is a cheaper option and is readily available at most hardware stores, but it is very heavy and won't be as durable as a plastic rack.
 
Here in Colorado I use XPVC or expanded PVC. It comes in 6mm(1/4") 12mm(1/2") or 20mm(3/4"). It cuts just like MDF or wood. Won't expand like melamine when humid. And its VERY light. Its around $110.00 per sheet (4 x 8') find your local supplier of plastic sheet goods. I use Port Plastics. They have several locations in the US. Good luck.
 
the only uses I know about for Sintra (Closed-cell PVC foamboard) is in cosplay armor building, so i am curious to hear more about how it can be used in this application/cage building!
 
I was so expecting a video of Sinatra building a snake rack! old eyes blow lol. If this is your first rack you could just use google So many diys ourt there these days. Sorry I couldnt help. Good luck!
 
I was following the build of Matthew Meckfussel of Blue Apple Herps http://www.blueappleherps.com/page13/page14/page14.html and his build calls for Sintra. He made the racks and they look and work great. If you go to the link I posted you can see very detailed step by step directions on how to make the rack. Other than XPVC and Sintra..what other products have people used. I am not referring to the material that the frame of the rack is built with, I am pretty set on wood for that, as the build calls..unless you all suggest against that, I am referring to the tops and bottoms of the tubs. If you look at the link it shows the exact rack I am looking to make, and the sintra boards. Sintra is just hard to get is why I am exploring other possibilities.
 
My first racks were made outta melamine. Holds heat well and stands up to the extra humidity, but make sure everything's supported or it will start to sag in the shelves eventually from the weight.

Then I discovered the expanded pvc racks and never made another one. :rofl:
 
sometimes you can find good deals on sintra on ebay. Also sintra is the same stuff that a lot of signs are made out of, so maybe if you have a signage shop nearby?

I wondered how it would work in a rack set up since it can be molded and shaped with heat. I'll check out the link, thanks Brian!
 
My computer does suck but was anyone able to open the link for the rack?

Also I see the picture of the finished rack and it looks good but how is it being heated?
 
Melamine would work as long as you include the lids on you tubs. Its just a hassle getting into the tubs. But the melamine will never swell as long as the lids stay on the tubs. You just have to space it accordingly as you build the rack.
 
That link worked but I still dont see the heat source. I wanted to build this rack but use one section of flexwatt for every five tubs so weaving it looks like a problem.
 
Weaving might be a problem..you could cut a section on either side of the sintra (or w/e material) on the left and right in the back through all the rows and that would work. I personally will be using strips of 1sq ft 11in flex watt that I will be soldering together..which is what Matthew of Blue Apple Herps did..
 
If you set the vertical support legs back far enough, you could weave it from shelf to shelf out in the open just in front of the back set of legs. I've seen it done that way before. Otherwise, you'll need to do some routering.
 
I can't get the link to work, but I'm 99% sure that is the same DIY rack I built following those instructions.

I love the Sintra (also called expanded PVC or PVC foam). Super light, durable.. hasn't bent or bowed at all... yeah I will never use melamine again...

As others have said, I got mine from a plastics company who cut the 4' x 8' sheet to my specs.


As for the heat, I didn't want to mess with soldering or electrical connections. I ordered the flexwatt and parts from Reptile Basics, and they paralleled each piece for me at no cost...


GOOD LUCK!
 

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