stand

[Smyth]

would i have to reinforce the stand (pine) if i choose to remove center beam and make it a simple non weight bearing detachable thing. i have 38g tank, guesstimate 400lbs. has anyone done this before because i don't like assuming the corners bear all the weight.

 

[Nickjr000]

The corners bear most of the weight. But I wouldn't take out that brace it's in there for support. That's why the back of the tank has it too. A pic of thr stand would help

 

[Smyth]

well my brother talked me into doing it, so i guess this is me asking now for honest opinions. would you trust it?

 

[Smyth]

this is some what after pics but not finished, still have to screw in legs. wonder if i can get away with just front two or just do all four?

 

[JohnS_323]

It's hard to tell from the picture but is your top rail sitting ON the supports or attached to the faces of them? If it's not sitting on top of them, I'm not sure I'd trust the screws alone to hold the weight of the tank over time.

 

[Smyth]

Yes that top rail I added will be on top of 4 legs that will extend to ground. I did use a bunch of screws to attach that new rail to the old one which will take on the bottom rim of tank. I was thinking to put a piece of ply wood on top of stand to distribute the weight before the tank goes on, but i know the look would bother me. well all in all it was 7 buck worth of wood and some time with my brother.

 

[rodclement]

I like what you did! I have the same stand and always get worried but they always seem to work...go figure!

Question...why does everyone use scews and not nails? nails have a higher friction coeficient and damage the wood less then screws...or am I missing something?? I know poeple use deck screws but with the damage done in the wood due to the larger hole and stress caused by the "screwing" (man I am gonna hear about this one!), wouldn't it affect the integrity more??? Wouldn't it make the wood more likely to suffer from humidity, infiltration, and rot???

Just asking here...I know nothing of carpentry...

Rod

 

[Phyl]

Friction coefficient?! And you say you don't know anything about carpentry?! LOL! Ok. I've probably used screws just not knowing any better. ;D

 

[rodclement]

I can mention tensile strenght...it's higher in nails as well... ;D go figure!

rod

 

[NEWSALT]

All the stands I've built used screws. In fact, they were sheetrock screws. My thinking is that the screw requires more torque to drive it through the wood and results in a tighter joint than a nail would. As far as damaging the wood, I've drilled a pilot hole for every screw I've used. After the drilling the pilot hole, I put soap on the threads of the screw. That helps tremendously in driving the screw. I think alot of the joints made when building a stand subjects the screw (or nail) to shear not so much tension.