DIY Stands Template and Calculator

[Monkeyfish]

I ran into a similar problem last night. Not sure where I went wrong, but when I assembled the boxes (top and bottom) they had a little wiggle which resulted in the legs being off kilter. I think I'm just gonna start from scratch. Oy. A carpenter I am not.

 

[Rhodes19]

Strout glue is actually much stronger than screws. Screws will degrade over time but the glue actually bonds the wood. There have been many tests done where the wood itself failed before the glued joint failed. Screws are usually used to hold the frame together. The key is to put all of your stresses into the wood itself and not put any load bearing areas on the screws as they will fail before the wood will, or they will pull through the wood.

Ditto! Glue is stronger and lasts longer. Whats nice about the glue and screw method, is the screws hold everything in place and you don't have to use clamps.

 

[Rhodes19]

Great thread. However, I'm a total noob at wood working. Here's a few questions.

1. If the wood is glued together (using clamps and a t-square) are screws necessary?

Not so much for strength but to hold everything together as the glue drys.

2. How do you make sure the screw strip is squared?

Start with straight and even boards, look for warping, twisting and cupping. Double check your measurements before cutting.

3. 2.5" or 3" coated deck screws?

2.5" coated deck screws should be fine. Make sure you drill pilot holes and counter sink the screw.

I'll be using a compound miter saw for the cuts. Wood glue, drill and coated deck screws. Square and clamp and a level. Anything I'm missing tool-wise?

If you are using a miter saw, look at making a stop that way all of your similar cuts will be of identical length. HTH

 

[Rhodes19]

I'm gonna use both. The glue to keep things together so it'll be easier for me to screw the wood together. This oughta be interesting

I just spent 90 minutes looking for boards that weren't warped. Yippee.

Do both at the same time. Apply the glue and then screw the wood together and let the glue dry. Applying screws after the glue has dried does not add anything to the stand's strength.

 

[Rhodes19]

Does anyone know which wood glue is best? I want the strongest stuff out, but every manufacturers label says that their glue is the strongest. Thanks.

As far as most wood glues go, they are for the most part, fairly similar. I like the Titebond glues myself. You can use either Titebond I, II, or III. They all work well. HTH

 

[Rhodophyta]

Does anyone know which wood glue is best? I want the strongest stuff out, but every manufacturers label says that their glue is the strongest. Thanks.

If they say theirs is the strongest, it must be true. :artist: They just don't bother to tell you it's not stronger than any of the other brands. Pretty much like when everyone in the race ties for first place. The good ones are all stronger than the wood, so the wood breaks instead of the glue joint. Making the glue stronger still would serve no purpose.

Building a stand for a 120, 60, and four 20 longs this week. Don't have the 120, so may use it for eight 20 longs for now. Just repaired and resealed a glass 300, glass 55, and glass 20 gallon hex tank yesterday. I have some video of it, not yet processed....

 

[noobtothereef]

if you want it really strong glue it with PL400, that is alot stronger than wood glue, not saying wood glue isnt strong....

 

[noobtothereef]

As far as most wood glues go, they are for the most part, fairly similar. I like the Titebond glues myself. You can use either Titebond I, II, or III. They all work well. HTH

they are all made with animal hooves lol

 

[mandingCa]

can someone please give me some feedback. I built this stand yesterday and I am concerned that two of the tanks corners will not be directly over a 2"x4" upright.


I was thinking about adding a couple more uprights under the inside corner of the two frag tanks.

I constructed stand out of 2"x6" top and 2"x4" bottom/everythng else.

This stand measures 72"L x 48" W x 34" tall

It is very solid, even without the 3/4" ply, which will be added to top and bottom soon.

Classic thread!

I am building stands for a multi tank frag system. I have three tanks that I would like to make one or two stands for.

2 tank dimensions are 47 1/2"L x 18" D x 12Tall 42 gallons
the third is 47 1/2" L x 12" D x 12"Tall 32 gallons
116 total gallons on stand.

Could i modify Rockets plan to fit these three tanks?

The overall stand design would be 4'w x 6'long x 3' tall.

I am mainly concerned that the edges of the tanks wont rest directly above the 2x's.
I plan on using 2"x6" for the top rim.


Here is a ROUGH sketch
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wfs8sqBOT8UDmQ5Sbk738Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9cQz0b5Pr3U/S2TBnBPCnrI/AAAAAAAAJEk/VDbd5jhRM_s/s144/frag%20stand.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sacbowens/TheBowenReef?feat=embedwebsite">The Bowen Reef</a></td></tr></table>

 

[cdarte]

RocketEngineer thanks for putting this information out there for us. I am planning using your template to build a stand for my 340. I plan on using 2x8 for the header do you or anyone else have any other recommendations that I need to look at for. Dim are 72x36x31. Thanks Chris

 

[Wannabe29]

I ran into a similar problem last night. Not sure where I went wrong, but when I assembled the boxes (top and bottom) they had a little wiggle which resulted in the legs being off kilter. I think I'm just gonna start from scratch. Oy. A carpenter I am not.

You can fix this. It's a pain but it'll work. Assemble the uprights and the bottom box. Assuming you're using plywood or solid wood boards to finish it off, use the side boards to plumb everything up. Screw the side boards into the bottom frame, making sure it is in-line with the bottom edge of the frame. Clamp the legs to the side board, adjusting for plumb and 90 degree angles. Drill your pilot holes, screw it in and, viola! Your uprights should now be much less whacky, maybe even perfect. If your top frame is wonky, screwing it to the now corrected uprights should set it straight.

 

[Monkeyfish]

You can fix this. It's a pain but it'll work. Assemble the uprights and the bottom box. Assuming you're using plywood or solid wood boards to finish it off, use the side boards to plumb everything up. Screw the side boards into the bottom frame, making sure it is in-line with the bottom edge of the frame. Clamp the legs to the side board, adjusting for plumb and 90 degree angles. Drill your pilot holes, screw it in and, viola! Your uprights should now be much less whacky, maybe even perfect. If your top frame is wonky, screwing it to the now corrected uprights should set it straight.

Thanks for the info. What type of boards are good to use (aesthetics aside)? Originally I had planned on using plywood, but I'm not good enough with a jigsaw to get nice straight cuts.

 

[ultreef]

Got a question for you expert DIY stand builder.

I was wondering would two pieces of plywood (3/4" thick) laminated together with wood glue cut to the exact same size as a 2x4 be strong than a standard 2x4?

I'm asking because I have lots of plywood sheets and can cut them very straight.. much straighter/flatter than a store bought 2x4 will ever be.

Also plywood are laminated to begin with so I assume that it will not expand/contract as much as a 2x4?

I'll be using pocket hole, so will a frame made of plywood be stronger than one made with 2x4?

 

[Rhodes19]

Building a stand for a 120, 60, and four 20 longs this week. Don't have the 120, so may use it for eight 20 longs for now. Just repaired and resealed a glass 300, glass 55, and glass 20 gallon hex tank yesterday. I have some video of it, not yet processed....

Wow, that's a lot of tanks! I'm down to 8 tanks and my wife thinks thats to many! LOL

 

[Rhodes19]

they are all made with animal hooves lol

Funny you should mention that. There used to be a glue factory back home that made glue like that when I was younger. They finally switched to other materials. Still smells when you drive by though. :bigeyes:

 

[Rhodes19]

Originally I had planned on using plywood, but I'm not good enough with a jigsaw to get nice straight cuts.

You can use the jigsaw to cut the plywood just a little bigger than the frame, attach the plywood to the frame, then use a router with a trim/flush bit to cut the plywood flush to the frame. That will give you a clean straight cut that fits the frame perfectly. HTH

 

[Monkeyfish]

Thanks Rhodes, I hadn't thought of that. Another job for the Dremel!

 

[Rhodes19]

Thanks Rhodes, I hadn't thought of that. Another job for the Dremel!

 

[mandingCa]

I have seen so much help here on this thread....please HELP!

I have stand BUILT, but I dont want to "test" it out without someone at least giving me some kind of feedback.............

anyone?

 

[Rhodes19]

I have seen so much help here on this thread....please HELP!

I have stand BUILT, but I dont want to "test" it out without someone at least giving me some kind of feedback.............

anyone?

Hi mandingCa,

You need to give us some more information and pictures so we know what we are talking about. What size aquarium is going on top of it? How was the stand made? What is the stand made from. Give us some details and we can help.