Wood For Stand Advice

[jazzsam]

I figure that pressure treated 2/4 would be stronger than any other wood for the stand. What does everyone else think?

 

[mikem]

A duglas fir 2x4 is the same strength as douglas fir pressure treated lumber.

 

[NEWSALT]

I've built 2 stands and always used regular 2x4's. I got them from Home Depot. I think they're Spruce-Pine-Fir

 

[jazzsam]

That is good to hear. i will be starting my new stand tomorrow.

The stuff about reefs I can rush is my own laziness!

Has only put the plywood on the bottom to be the total length of the stand or just cut out the 2/4 slots and drop it in? I was afraid the weight would kill the plywood on the bottom if it sits on the plywood.

 

[mikem]

Don't buy the kiln dried wood. It's too hard to work with.(too dry) It splits and cracks easy. The kiln dried would be the almost white 2x4's

 

[IrradiatedReef]

Pressure treated wood use to have arsnic in it to prevent rotting and bug damage, dunno if it still does. I wouldn't want to put that around any livestock. Can't help but think that it would fume up a little. Great for deck posts and fences though.

 

[AngelPete]

Pressure treated wood use to have arsnic in it to prevent rotting and bug damage, dunno if it still does. I wouldn't want to put that around any livestock. Can't help but think that it would fume up a little. Great for deck posts and fences though.

Is the pressure treated wood the one that feels wet ? ive been using the 2x4's labeled "KD DF" in home depot.

 

[mikem]

The old PT wood was green. They came out with a new PT wood that is a light green and drier with no arsnic in it. I'm not sure what the DF means on the Kiln Dried since I stay away from all KD's.

 

[JohnS_323]

Mike, please tell me you think it would be safe to use the new tye of PT wood around a tank! I just (like an hour ago) finished building a stand for the 125 I picked up. It's got PT 4x4's for legs and PT 2x12's for the top. I'd REALLY hate to have to take it all apart. Especially since HD doesn't sell non-PT 4x4's or 2x12's.

 

[mikem]

Was it the new PT or old? The old is dark green and wet. The new is light green and drier. My HD only sells the new. Hope it's a regional thing.

 

[JohnS_323]

I'm pretty sure it was the new stuff. It is much lighter (in color) than that old kind.

 

[mikem]

No problem then. Lets see some pics. of the progress.

 

[JohnS_323]

No problem then. Lets see some pics. of the progress.

Phew! I really didn't want to have to rethink/rebuild the entire thing. I'll post some pics tonight. I have to clear the debris from around it first.

I'm off to Lowes again to get the parts to plumb it into the system. This ought to be fun. Somehow I see a bigger pump in my future!

 

[Phyl]

So if a little sawdust ended up in say... 55g of freshly mixed saltwater would you toss it or use it?

 

[IrradiatedReef]

Unless I was 100% sure it was non-arsnic... I would toss it.

 

[Phyl]

it probably has some other vile chemical in it anyway. Our guess was to toss it. I just hate doing that with 55g of water.

Better safe than sorry though!

 

[mikem]

Depends how much sawdust too. The new lumber is complety safe for life forms. Was at a Builders confrence a few months ago and the topic was PT. wood and the Co. that makes it. There was a $600 million dollar law suit against them from the parks and recreation developers. The CO. paid $100 million in damages and were to put the other $500mill in a new product which is supposed to be 100% safe. Only 20 years will tell.