Aquarium Stand Builder

[loweryster]

I'm looking for someone to build me a stand for a tank 36"L x 24"D, somewhere in south Florida.

-Jeremy

 

[r00onmac]

i actually just built one for my 20L... if i had the appropriate tools to cut lengths more exact i would definitely build you one because it wasnt that difficult... i had Home Depot cut all my wood and none of the cuts are exact so its a bit messy at points but never off by more than a cm or so.... nothing a few mousepads or styrofoam under the tank wont fix...

if you are interested i can build one that size in a day or two... probably next weekend.. pm me...

 

[sufunk]

Not bad r00onmac but you should build some doors for the front.
Also, NEVER and i mean NEVER trust a HD cut. I swear, i think it is impossible for them to cut even 2 pieces the EXACT same size. Get a small 10" laser miter saw, should be less than $150, even under $100 maybe. Perfect cuts every time! You'll be amazed how much you can build with just that 1 saw. Great investment.

 

[nyvp]

I am using steel for my tank. I found a guy who is going to weld it for me at $30 hr

FOr my 560g tank i'm using 2x2 made out of 3/16th steel.

 

[loweryster]

I thought about steel, let me know how it turns out.
I'm very handy myself the problem is I own a small 1-1 condo, It's almost impossible to do any projects. I like the idea of a miter saw though. Maybe I could swing this, anyone have any drawings on how a stand should be built.

 

[thesaent14]

i probably can built one for you

 

[Husky_1]

loweryster,
I myself will be building a tank stand within the next few weeks. I think it will probably take the most part of the weekend. I do not think I am going for the industrial look with metal or exposed 2x4s. Mkarston just made a nice stand with "project board" from Lowes. I plan on doing something similar.

The miter saw will work well for small pieces (4x4 max), but if you are looking for just one tool to buy, you will most likely want a skil saw. They are versatile and you can do cross and long cuts. I have seen my Dad do some amazing stuff with a skil saw, a couple of saw horses and plenty of patients, unfortunately he is in Connecticut.

 

[loweryster]

I'm From CT

 

[bawla47]

miter saws are great, but once i got a table saw, ive used that more then anything ever now.

im sure mannys table saw gets a helll of a lot of use... lol

 

[mkarston]

Since it was mentioned, I added some pictures of my stand's construction to my photo gallery. I used a table saw, circular saw, and jig saw. I find that having the right tool for the job always makes any project sooo much easier. The project boards I bought from Lowes I've used before, and they are great to use for such things, and I have used them for making furniture before. I find they are much nicer to use then plywood, but they don't come cheap at $33 each 8' x 20" board.

 

[nyvp]

here is the stand before sand and paint

 

[loweryster]

looks great, is this going behind a wall or are you going to finish it.

 

[nyvp]

I'm going to get some cabinets that match my kitchen to cover the front. I'm going to paint it with 2 part marine paint (black)

 

[loweryster]

cool, post more pictures as it comes along.
Do you have a thread to this massive tank already started?

 

[nyvp]

Here you go sorry to steal thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=847516

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7753995#post7753995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by loweryster
I thought about steel, let me know how it turns out.
I'm very handy myself the problem is I own a small 1-1 condo, It's almost impossible to do any projects. I like the idea of a miter saw though. Maybe I could swing this, anyone have any drawings on how a stand should be built.

If you need precision, the miter saw is the tool of choice. I built the structural frame for my stand using 2x4s and plywood, then covered it with finished cabinetry faces. The dimensions had to be near perfect for everything to fit. The miter saw allows you to make perfectly square cuts, which is much harder to do (but not impossible) with a circular saw or table saw.

I used a 12" sliding compound miter saw. I would clamp 4 2x4s together, and cut 4 leg pieces of exactly the same dimensions. Same for the lateral beams and cross braces. I made corner posts from multiple 2x4s, and notched them out on the miter saw to leave a lip for resting the lateral beams on top. (you always want the top beams resting on top of the legs...fasteners should not be responsible for holding the weight)

When I assmbled the structural stand, I was pleased to see that the 2x4 frame was perfectly square on its own. The plywood skin was added for strength - not to correct the shape.

Pics and info on the stand constuction here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4266035#post4266035

 

[bawla47]

ya, i agree, the only 2 you really need are a miter and a table saw. you wont be able to make nice front doors, sides and trim without a table saw and a miter saw will make the structure square and dead on.

A router is recoomended to really make a nice profesional trim as well.