Help with DIY stand
- Thread starter JJ70
- Start date
I'm thinking it may be easier to go with the same way as you've done- the triple 2x4 uprights might be easier than I thought- not that it'll be "easy" like opening a beer, but once I'm done, I can do that a lot...I think the 4x4's will take up more room than i want on the inside of my tank with not a whole lot of benefit-- yours looks awesome- i'm trying to figure out what color i want it to end up- classic black or some kind of woody color- we'll see.
I had black as a backup plan in case I screwed up the staining.JJ70: Thank for the great thread here. I copied your design and was able finish my stand.
Yarquint: The shell of the stand is very easy and quick to make (providing you cut everything correct
). It was a good weekend project for me. The hardest part was the staining. It was my first type. I did alot of wiping off when I screwed up.
Yarquint: The shell of the stand is very easy and quick to make (providing you cut everything correct
). It was a good weekend project for me. The hardest part was the staining. It was my first type. I did alot of wiping off when I screwed up.I'm trying to figure out how to con the guys at HD or Lowe's into making the cuts for me- I just don't entirely trust myself to do that part right- I know I can put it together- I'm thinking of either showing up with a foam neck brace, or my friend who's a cute blonde girl and have her ask them...Considering a good bit of money is perched atop this thing, i want the cuts done right, which means- probably not by me... I really like the wood look, so maybe a stain would be nice- start with that and end up with black? who knows. Yeah, clkohly, if you can a pic would be good- Oh- and yeah, I know i have to give a solid bottom for my acrylic tank- looks like most people use a 5/8 sheet of ply for that-
jnb
Premium Member
hmmm in my experience they may cut square but you should babysit them on exact length of each cut and if teir blade happens to be getting dull - there will be some tearout on the crosscuts but you can just use the otherside to face the outside or finish off with a slight rooundoverrouter bit or sandpaper.
jnb
Premium Member
I wish I was an engineer - I want to make a stand which will not be faced off with plywood - just four legs and the span -
I want to make a 5 foot long stand for a 120 by 24 by 24 which will be four feet - so I will have 6 inches on both sides beyond the tank edges which I will design the legs such that they will be supporting the far edge of the spans - i.e. the legs will be 8inch wide so they will actually be supporting the span of 4 feet. The point is I do not want any center legs - I will be using 2 3/4 (for total of 1.5 inch thickness for both the front and back spans) by 6 inch wide red oak for the span of 5 feet - my concern is that it will properly support the weight. I am also considering going to 6 foot stand but using 8 inch wide red oak - in this case the legs will not be directly under the aquarium sides but I would find a way to get that extra edge support if I have to - I would not like to have a center leg in this case as well. So you can envision why I would want this - I plan to hang rattan shade material on the sides and front allowing sort of a tropical/light look and offering lots of ventilation for heat (chiller), etc.
Any comments from the engineers in the group?
I want to make a 5 foot long stand for a 120 by 24 by 24 which will be four feet - so I will have 6 inches on both sides beyond the tank edges which I will design the legs such that they will be supporting the far edge of the spans - i.e. the legs will be 8inch wide so they will actually be supporting the span of 4 feet. The point is I do not want any center legs - I will be using 2 3/4 (for total of 1.5 inch thickness for both the front and back spans) by 6 inch wide red oak for the span of 5 feet - my concern is that it will properly support the weight. I am also considering going to 6 foot stand but using 8 inch wide red oak - in this case the legs will not be directly under the aquarium sides but I would find a way to get that extra edge support if I have to - I would not like to have a center leg in this case as well. So you can envision why I would want this - I plan to hang rattan shade material on the sides and front allowing sort of a tropical/light look and offering lots of ventilation for heat (chiller), etc.
Any comments from the engineers in the group?
jeffbrig
Premium Member
yarquint,
I don't think the people at HD will make the cuts with the precision you need. Not only do the cuts have to be square, but you need multiple pieces to have the exact same dimensions. All of your posts must be the exact same length for the top to be level. All of your top rails must be the exact same length for the stand to come out square.
There are some cool tricks you can do, though. For example, when I needed to cut several 2x4s to the same length for my stand, I would clamp 4 together and make a single cut on the miter saw...that pretty much guarantees 4 identical pieces of wood.
Remember, no one at HD has a vested interest in how your project turns out. If you're reasonably competent and handy you will do a better job (this is good advice to live by). You may want to consider renting/borrowing a chop/miter saw, or you can even buy a cheap one for $100.
I don't think the people at HD will make the cuts with the precision you need. Not only do the cuts have to be square, but you need multiple pieces to have the exact same dimensions. All of your posts must be the exact same length for the top to be level. All of your top rails must be the exact same length for the stand to come out square.
There are some cool tricks you can do, though. For example, when I needed to cut several 2x4s to the same length for my stand, I would clamp 4 together and make a single cut on the miter saw...that pretty much guarantees 4 identical pieces of wood.
Remember, no one at HD has a vested interest in how your project turns out. If you're reasonably competent and handy you will do a better job (this is good advice to live by). You may want to consider renting/borrowing a chop/miter saw, or you can even buy a cheap one for $100.
That's true- you guys all make valid points. I think I will try to do the boards together when I make the cuts- or take a look for a cabinet place that will do it for me. I've gotten pretty handy in the past few years- built triangular flower boxes out of red wood ( good thing I can do geometry- I knew algebra was useles..) I built the hood for our college's old 125...and my baby, my diy Submarine- I'll try and post a pic. in my gallery soon- I just figure with those things, they wouldn't involve 75 gallons of water and 1000lbs of weigh come crashing down...the worst that would've happened with the sub- it was Remote control, about the size of a milk crate- would be it would implode- which would be worth it because that would be cool to watch!
JJ70
New member
sms76: I used a mitre saw and jig saw. The jig saw was used to cut the skin. I used some quick grips to hold a 2x4 as a straight edge to make the cutout and doors. I would just go for it. The main structure of 2x4's isn't expensive so any mess-ups are not costly. I wasn't really worried until I started cutting the oak ply.
yaurquint: Let's see some pics.
yaurquint: Let's see some pics.
In a bizarre change of events, as I finished making my stand for my 75g, it dawned on me that "Hey, I just don't enjoy this hobby anymore.." I don't really know- i laughed, saying it was my "Mid-Reef Crisis". I'll try to post some pics soon though, I'll be getting a 20 or 30g tank tomorrow to transfer my current livestock (just a mated pair of maroons and 10 or so pieces of great quality coral) Which I'll keep, but I'll be selling off my 55g tank, stand, filter, all the random junk, my 75g, custom stand...I think I just want the freedom to run off on vacation and not have to think about an investment and living creatures in my care (well, I'll still have that, but my roommate can care for a 20 easier than a 75)
SHOmuchFUN
New member
I'll show you guys what I did with my doors and structure, but I'll start my own thread. Don't want to hijack this one... Pics coming in a few minutes.
JJ70, i am using your design and i started building stand for my 115G which has a same footprint as yours. Only modification i made is as my tank is already very high (31") i am not making stand that high as yours but everything else is same.
Sorry i don't have pics but so far i made top and bottom frame and cut supports. I will keep you posted. Any pics of your stand? Is it finished?
Sorry i don't have pics but so far i made top and bottom frame and cut supports. I will keep you posted. Any pics of your stand? Is it finished?
JJ70 said:
Well this tank used to be reef tank and i had dual 250 MH with dual 65W PC actinics. Now i am going to set it us as FOWLR with few mushrooms and zoas or may be low light reef with few softies here and there for low manintance.
I am thinking about 6 T5 lights. What do you think?
Also basically i finish the stand frame and i also put plywood on top and bottom. Next thing is to do sides and front skin. I have few questions:
1) For side skin, do i cut the plywood exactly the same dimention as side frame or little bit short and put edges on plywood sides?
2) Should i also do the same thing for from plywood? Means leave some space for edges?
How did you do it? I am thinking about setting up just like JBNY did, no door and front panel.
What's the best way to do it? Any recommendations?
