2x4 stand help

[JBGood]

I’ve been looking through the forum logs and don’t see this questioned discussed - although I’m sure it’s here somewhere.

I built a 75g glass tank stand out of 2x4s. The wood was slightly warped so I planed the wood and then put pink insulation foam and plywood over it to make sure the top of the stand is level. It was overkill.

Im getting ready to build a 180g glass tank stand and want to put the tank on the 2x4s. Most people who post about diy 2x4 stands do this. All of the 2x4s I see from Home Depot or Lowes are way too warped to do this. What am I missing?? What’s the trick?

 

[esoxlucius]

Don't worry, you're not alone, lol. Warped and twisted wood is a pita, especially when trying to build a stand which needs to be true.

There are several suppliers of wood where I live, whether it's home improvement stores (usually expensive), or timber yards (usually cheaper).

I tend to shop about and properly check each length before buying. Not all of them will be warped, there will be good lengths too, the trick is to get the good ones, lol.

And yes, if you end up with some poor ones then you need to get a bit creative, as you've already discovered during your 75g stand build.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Whoa pretty rare you can't find at least a few straight boards deep down. There has to be something straight between piles of 2x4x8, 2x4x10, 2x4x12, 2x4x16...then try the 2x6s after that I guess. Either it's ultra slim pickins at your lumber store or you might be a bit of perfectionist...

 

[aussieman57]

For a 180 tank I would use at a minimum 2 x 6's for the top of the stand frame (where tank sits). If it was mine I would frame top and bottom in 2 x6. 2 x4 's for the rest of it.

 

[JBGood]

I’ve been trying to decide if 2x6s are necessary. I see some use them and some don’t…. I guess better safe than sorry.

yes I’m definitely a bit of a perfectionist - but given that a pressure point in the wrong place along the base of the tank could be catastrophic, isn’t that the right idea?

 

[Backfromthedead]

You can use an impact driver and sturdy lag bolts to suck ornery pieces of wood flush together. I use these on a lot of my stands if im having trouble joining somewhere.

 

[Rocksor]

I’ve been trying to decide if 2x6s are necessary. I see some use them and some don’t…. I guess better safe than sorry.

yes I’m definitely a bit of a perfectionist - but given that a pressure point in the wrong place along the base of the tank could be catastrophic, isn’t that the right idea?

By base of the glass tank, do you mean the plastic frame around the bottom? or is there no plastic frame for this glass tank?

 

[JBGood]

Yeah plastic frame of glass base.

 

[tlindsey]

Not all of them will be warped, there will be good lengths too, the trick is to get the good ones, lol.

This is true. I personally laid each 2x4 I selected on the floor. Good thing I did that because some of the 2x4's were pretty warped. Laying the lumber flat on the floor helped to see gaps caused by warping.

 

[JBGood]

Ok fair enough so the moral of the story is, find good wood and don’t f*** it up ?