2x4's vs. 4x4's

[RedDevilDon2005]

if you dont mind me asking..why not? is treated harder to work with or something? i know nothing about wood or building. my project that i'll be starting (hopefully by new years) will be a DIY thread of epic proportions, due to a) no knowledge b) no money c) no tools. that's right. I dont even have a saw...it's gonna be the best (worst) DIY thread ever

its harder to work with due to materials, mainly fasteners, treated takes a special fastener. and its a hell of a lot easier using 2x4s

 

[DragonKeeper]

IMO 4x4 have a bad habit of twisting for some reason. Plus treated 4x4 will expel toxins into the air that are really bad for us air breathers.

Better solution is 2 2x4's sandwiched together with a piece of ply in between. Just as strong as a 4x4 with little twisting involved.

Keeper

 

[Ang]

IMO 4x4 have a bad habit of twisting for some reason. Plus treated 4x4 will expel toxins into the air that are really bad for us air breathers.

Better solution is 2 2x4's sandwiched together with a piece of ply in between. Just as strong as a 4x4 with little twisting involved.

Keeper

twisting?

 

[Noto]

Yeah. You'll end up with the top of the post rotated compared to the bottom. It pulls fasteners loose and really compromises the integrity of the whole construction.

 

[Ang]

Yeah. You'll end up with the top of the post rotated compared to the bottom. It pulls fasteners loose and really compromises the integrity of the whole construction.

hmmm.

didnt know that.

maybe i'll go with 2x4's then.


either way, by my husband's calculations.... with our design we came up with and using either 4x4 posts or 2x4's nailed together...it will support about
40,000 lbs.

 

[loogielv]

it seems to me that 2x4s with ply in the middle is severe overkill for just about anything. I would think you could build a stand with just 5 posts setup this way for a tank. No, an actual ARMY TANK. 1 on each corner and 1 in the middle.

 

[Guapote]

4X's are harder to get untreated also. i work at lowes and the only way we can get untreated 4x's is to special order them from a mill.

Really? Home Depot has them readily available.

4x4 posts are the only way go for stands. I have a 120 gallon (48x24x24), a 180gallon (72x24x24), and 2-40 gallons (48x12x16) on a single stand and not a single worry.

 

[Bawb2u]

I think it's amazing how overbuilt 99.99999% of homemade stands are. Granted, if you don't really understand working with wood, I can see how the illusion of thickness equals strength can seduce you but it's more about HOW a stand is built than how thick the wood you use. One thing I see that constantly stuns me, is the practice of making a super strong frame and then putting it together so most of the load is held up by the NAILS going through the frame rather than the wood. By glueing and screwing 1"x4" pine boards into L, T and I girders, I've built framework that will literally hold a car and still be able to be moved without the crane and derrick most of these monter tank stands need.

 

[Guapote]

I think it's amazing how overbuilt 99.99999% of homemade stands are. Granted, if you don't really understand working with wood, I can see how the illusion of thickness equals strength can seduce you but it's more about HOW a stand is built than how thick the wood you use. One thing I see that constantly stuns me, is the practice of making a super strong frame and then putting it together so most of the load is held up by the NAILS going through the frame rather than the wood. By glueing and screwing 1"x4" pine boards into L, T and I girders, I've built framework that will literally hold a car and still be able to be moved without the crane and derrick most of these monter tank stands need.

I agree with the nail comment. I use 3" gold screws and even some simpson brackets on the corners. Overbuilt, yes! Guess that is why I work for Hilti

 

[chesterthehero]

ive got 4x4s and 2x8s for my 75..... such overkill.. whatever though i still paid more for screws than i did for lumber...