my stand build

[killingseed]

okm here is a pic of the current "OC" stand its about 10 years old or more. i bought it from jerry's pet shop when it was going closing it's doors. it was a for a display tank. there is a ibt of a mess but with more storage that should go away.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/P1010473.jpg

i was messing with sketch up from google and come up with this.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/mystand2.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/mystand.jpg

and this is where i currently at with the build. notched a couple of the cross members and used wood plugs , glue and screws

one thing i am not sure if i should add a center braces.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/P1010471.jpg

[Bergovoy]

Notching the top rail / beam like that reduced the structural integrity of that original piece to the depth of the cut that you make.

Think of a beam and after a while it starts to sag, where on your beam will it sag quicker or even break at a certain point.

You do not need to notch the top rail to hang the cross support or joists that you installed. They are cheap hangars, probably $.050 each. Or the joists in this case can be toenailed and end nailed, (I use screws).

those pieces are not carrying any downward force. They are for lateral support.

And the bottom rail, I would lay down flat to the floor.

And, again, I would lay a two by four over the top of that two by six, /(overlap the joints). And you have a bullitt proof stand that will last for ever


bill

[NoCarrier]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8983382#post8983382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bergovoy


And the bottom rail, I would lay down flat to the floor.


Why do you suggest this? I'm actually interested in this idea for my own stand, but I've never seen anyone lay the bottom rail 2x4s flat.

[killingseed]

at of all the sketches i found on RC he is the only one to suggest something a little differnt and i have about 50 links from RC. if you look at the bottom of my factory stand you can see the bottom 2x4's are flat. i may keep going with my shetch not sure now.

[NoCarrier]

Yeah, I see that now. I'm interested in turning them sideways just to gain 2 inches of clearance for the sump and skimmer (and my fat head, when I have to get down there and look around). It just seems like putting the weight on one half of the 2x4 could cause problems.

[jmait769]

Looks good John! I don’t think notching the top board will have any effect as that looks like a 2 X 6 or a 2 X 8 you cut the notches in and you still have plenty of material left under the “notches”. How are you planning to attach the legs to the top and bottom portion? My worry when I built mine was lateral sway. Here is a pic of my plan for my stand:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/120464Stand.jpg

You can see some more pic's of the stand in my gallery page 3.

HTH

Jay

[killingseed]

i used 2x 6's, i notched the 2x4 by 1-1/4 and the 2x6 by 2-1/2 so there is 3-1/2 left on the 2x6, which is the width of a 2x4. i used 1 in. long wood plugs ,glue and wood screws. the top section seems very stonge! i got the ideal some one of the threads i read on RC, there seems to be a couple people that used notching. thats may be the only place i notch. and was hoping that using the 2x6 it would make up the diffence.

i only have a 75gl tank but i was designing to hold maybe a 120 gl tank 4 ft by 2ft. the stand is 48-1/2 and 24-1/2. not sure about height yet. my current stand is like 24 in. high and i was thinking about 30 in. but i am not sure if i will go higher , but would like to.

what are you planning to attach the legs to the top and bottom portion

was planing on doing based on the sketch i did using a potch jig, and maybe adding 2x4 to the inside from the floor to the top like most the stands i have seen here on RC, but after Bergovoy posted about laying the bottom 2x4's flat not sure. i may play with the sketching tool and see how it looks.

[killingseed]

this is one of the stands i saw notched
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178326&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500