Hello all,
like most people I didn't remember to take many pics during the making of my stand, but hopefully what I did remember to take will help someone.
First, I had to figure out the dimentions of the stand. Most important, (besides the fact that it will be bearing the weight of a small house
) I needed to make sure it would fit through the door.
I figured the length of each cut and how many boards it will take total. I used 2x4s, 4x4s, and 3/4" plywood (and a million decking screws).
Next I went to the local home improvement store and had all of my boards cut to length. Could have done this myself, but I saved alot of time and they didn't charge much to pre cut everything. My only challenge was finding someone to cut my 4x4s. Thankfully there was a lumber store down the road with a large radial saw.
Below is how I started to put it together.
Making sure it was as level as possible, I made the 6x4 frame first. Then I placed the 4x4s evenly and screwed 2x4s to them. Next I attatched 2x4s evenly spaced between the 4x4s to evenly distribute the weight of the tank (seen in the next picture below).
I might also add the reason for the plywood top is I have an acrylic tank which needs to have the entire bottom of the tank supported...glass tanks are supported differently. It also adds strength (and ALOT of weight
).
Not the best pic, but this is a shot of the underneath side of the top of the stand.
This is a pic of the bottom of the stand. I used plywood on the bottom as well. It adds strength and helps distribute the weight of the tank (also saves carpet).
Making the 6x4 frame around the 4x4s ment that I would need to add 2x4s between the upper and lower frame so I would have something to attatch the skin to. Also adding strength to the stand. Not the best of pics to show this, but you get the idea.
And...finished!
Once I had all of the pieces cut, it only took about 1 1/2 days to put the frame together. Another couple of days to skin and stain it.
It takes an appiance dolly and two people to move it, but it's solid!
Good luck!
like most people I didn't remember to take many pics during the making of my stand, but hopefully what I did remember to take will help someone.
First, I had to figure out the dimentions of the stand. Most important, (besides the fact that it will be bearing the weight of a small house
) I needed to make sure it would fit through the door.I figured the length of each cut and how many boards it will take total. I used 2x4s, 4x4s, and 3/4" plywood (and a million decking screws).
Next I went to the local home improvement store and had all of my boards cut to length. Could have done this myself, but I saved alot of time and they didn't charge much to pre cut everything. My only challenge was finding someone to cut my 4x4s. Thankfully there was a lumber store down the road with a large radial saw.
Below is how I started to put it together.
Making sure it was as level as possible, I made the 6x4 frame first. Then I placed the 4x4s evenly and screwed 2x4s to them. Next I attatched 2x4s evenly spaced between the 4x4s to evenly distribute the weight of the tank (seen in the next picture below).
I might also add the reason for the plywood top is I have an acrylic tank which needs to have the entire bottom of the tank supported...glass tanks are supported differently. It also adds strength (and ALOT of weight
).Not the best pic, but this is a shot of the underneath side of the top of the stand.
This is a pic of the bottom of the stand. I used plywood on the bottom as well. It adds strength and helps distribute the weight of the tank (also saves carpet).
Making the 6x4 frame around the 4x4s ment that I would need to add 2x4s between the upper and lower frame so I would have something to attatch the skin to. Also adding strength to the stand. Not the best of pics to show this, but you get the idea.
And...finished!
Once I had all of the pieces cut, it only took about 1 1/2 days to put the frame together. Another couple of days to skin and stain it.
It takes an appiance dolly and two people to move it, but it's solid!
Good luck!
how much do these acrylics' cost to get made?