Stand Construction? Frame vs No Frame?

[Djturna4thakidz]

So I am in the process of building a stand for my 50g glass cube build. I would like the stand to be 30" x 30" x 36"H. I have been practicing making a frame with 2x4's but I think that that size wood is overkill for a 50g. With a tank that size, could I make a stand with 3/4" or 1" plywood and not have an internal frame? The frame takes up too much room in the sump where space is valuable. Or should I just make a frame out of less robust sized wood?

 

[redfishblewfish]

Yes it can be made with 3/4 ply.....go take a look at commercial stands. They are 3/4 ply stands. Just make sure you don't have the fasterers/screws holding the weight of the tank.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

How do you make sure the weight is off the screws? What how do you fasten the butt joints with no frame to screw into?

 

[billdogg]

Pocket Hole Screws are your friend. You can easily make a stand from 3/4 plywood for a much larger tank, and as long as you can make square cuts, you know in advance that the stand will be perfect. Use a little corner trim to hide the edges (or edge banding) and you will be golden. #/4 plywood can be purchased in just about any species you like from a woodworking store. It may cost a bit more, but using cherry, walnut, etc can really make it pop.

hth

 

[asdfghp]

Use your faborite joinery; be it dovetail, finger, dado, etc.
Use liberal quantities of dowels, biscuts, and glue.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Ok cool. I have the kreg pocket jig. Can you use the jig on plywood? It won't separate the laminated layers or break apart?

My tank is 24x24 and the stand is 30x30. Since the tank does not cover the entire top of the stand, will I get sagging because all of the tanks weight is just being supported by the top not the vertical side panels?

 

[EvenFurther]

It's no problem with plywood.
I used 3/4 ply, kreg pocket joints with polyurethane adhesive. The stand is crazy strong.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

It's no problem with plywood.
I used 3/4 ply, kreg pocket joints with polyurethane adhesive. The stand is crazy strong.

what size screws did you use? polyurethane adhesive, like locktite?

How did you build it? I am having a hard time deciding how to assemble it.

 

[thejuggernaut]

Make your horizontal pieces (top and bottom boards) run the entire length and width of the tank, and the vertical pieces sitting in between them. That way the weight of the tank is supported by the wood, not by whatever you use to joint the boards.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Do you have a bottom? Do you recess it a couple inches or make a cube, with the bottom in contact with the floor?

 

[EvenFurther]

what size screws did you use? polyurethane adhesive, like locktite?

How did you build it? I am having a hard time deciding how to assemble it.

I used many different size screws. Some large 12/14 x 3.5, some the size kreg recommend for 3/4 wood pocket screw joint. My stand is a complicated design because it is oversize. It was tough to build and keep it co-planer and level. Mine is basically a plywood box under a 2 x 4 support frame, with 3/4" ply top.