Hatchling Highrise - Page 2

**Serpwidgets** · 11-02-09, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by kathylove

"...The divided ones are the latest design. The "wall" in the middle isn't full height and hatchlings can go back and forth. I found I can put water in the front, and the napkin in the back, and I don't have to cut water bowls for them so it works out pretty well."

Don't think I have seen those. When you get a chance, could you post a photo? Where do you buy them?

It's these ones. They come with clear or (apparently another redesign already) red lids.

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Name: Rubbermaid_TakeAlongs_Divided_Rectangle_Containers-resized200.jpg
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Size: 9.2 KB

One thing I have learned with making your own racks, buy all the boxes you need (and some spares) BEFORE building it all, because they will change the design next week and the new ones won't fit your rack.

Originally Posted by snakepunk

I just gave them to my wife for leftovers.

You mean people use these for something other than snakes?

**snakepunk** · 11-02-09, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Serpwidgets

One thing I have learned with making your own racks, buy all the boxes you need (and some spares) BEFORE building it all, because they will change the design next week and the new ones won't fit your rack.

Yeah, I learned this lesson the hard way when I built my first rack.

Originally Posted by Serpwidgets

You mean people use these for something other than snakes?

I've cleared out the inventory on sandwich, shoe and sweater boxes at several wal-marts. It scares me to think how many hours of my life were spent melting holes with a soldering iron.

MohrSnakes · 11-02-09, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by kathylove

Jeff - you SHOULD start offering these! I have attached my PVC rack back to back with 4 of your wooden racks, and put them on a rolling dolly. The PVC rack is so much lighter weight, takes up less room, and I don't have to worry about any water, humidity, etc. Love it! Give it a try!

I've strongly considered going to the PVC but in my shop everything is handmade and most of the tools are wood only. Plus, it would not take long for someone with a CNC router to copy my design and then crank out dozens. I just don't have the access to $10,000+ for my own machine and to make these on any kind of production basis you need to account for labor AND materials and then hope to make a profit. How long you think it took you Chuck?

For now, I am only doing 10+ wholesale orders for the hatchling racks anymore and am moving towards the fine woodworking end for the snakes. I've designed a few higher end hardwood displays and cages....maybe I'll post some of those someday.

**Serpwidgets** · 11-02-09, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by MohrSnakes

I've strongly considered going to the PVC but in my shop everything is handmade and most of the tools are wood only. Plus, it would not take long for someone with a CNC router to copy my design and then crank out dozens. I just don't have the access to $10,000+ for my own machine and to make these on any kind of production basis you need to account for labor AND materials and then hope to make a profit. How long you think it took you Chuck?

I'd say 3-4 hours at a lazy pace. I also cut all the pieces out with a hand saw, as in vrutt-vruhh-vrutt-vruhh...

**kathylove** · 11-02-09, 11:59 AM

"... I've designed a few higher end hardwood displays and cages....maybe I'll post some of those someday."

Yes, I think the kind of wood work you do would be better suited to mid or higher end cages, rather than the cheaper "sandwich box" racks . Your racks seem much too nice for that, lol! I think they would be much better appreciated WITHOUT cheap little plastic boxes in them, using them instead to showcase individual display animals in living rooms.

**Serpwidgets** · 01-05-10, 10:08 AM

Another pic of this monster. It was full at one time, and will be empty soon. (Then I can move it downstairs and fix a couple of design flaws.) The blue ones are all keepers and are going downstairs into shoeboxes tomorrow. The "for sale" tags are pretty obvious, LOL.

**kathylove** · 01-28-10, 10:47 PM

Where did you buy the sheets of PVC? Did you shop around at several places, or was it difficult to find?

Thanks!

**Serpwidgets** · 01-29-10, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by kathylove

Where did you buy the sheets of PVC? Did you shop around at several places, or was it difficult to find?

Thanks!

I had to shop around, because as you might guess, shipping is pretty expensive on such a big object and at that point it might be cheaper to buy the pre-built ones.

Anyway, yeah I found a local plastics company where I could drive to their warehouse and pick up 6 sheets. It took a bit of searching though. IIRC a lot of those places don't have prices on their sites.

**kathylove** · 01-29-10, 11:29 AM

I didn't think it would be as easy as going to Home Depot or Lowe's, lol!

**Serpwidgets** · 01-29-10, 07:13 PM

I also have finally worked out what I think is the best way to set up the boxes. If you put the compartment ones in there and have water in one compartment, it evaporates and soaks everything. If you put napkins or paper towels in there, they are able to push it into the water (either a compartment or bowl) and it wicks the water out and soaks everything. If you put sani chips plus a water compartment, they push it into the water and it's a pain to clean up.

So the setup that works well is a water bowl and sani-chips. Those little mouse food bowls fit perfectly, they are just low enough for the snake to drink out of them and they can still hide under them.