Industrial;4767914; said:
Here's a handy chart for the optimal pilot hole sizes.
http://internetwoodworking.com/w5/screws.html
DIY 165 Gallon Aquarium Stand Help
- Thread starter Industrial
- Start date
Here's a handy chart for the optimal pilot hole sizes.
http://internetwoodworking.com/w5/screws.html
bob965;4774302; said:
Thanks! I redid the screws with a new bit and everything came out fine, but I will save that chart for future projects.
Unfortunately, I didn't account for the width of the blade when I was cutting the pieces, and I also only measured out vertical supports on the bottom and lined them up so they were near flush at the top. So the stand is kind of off and I am redoing it tomorrow with new wood since the ends of this wood looks like swiss cheese.
Tonight I painted the stand, and hopefully tomorrow somebody will be able to help me move it into it's desired location!
Okay, I have a dilemna. It looks like I won't be able to get plywood to skin the back with for quite a while, and the way my schedule is going, if I skinned it I wouldn't be able to finish this possibly for a couple of months.
Does this stand seem stable enough that I don't have to skin it? Is there another way I can do it with 2'x4' sheets instead of 6'? Or regular 2x4s?
Does this stand seem stable enough that I don't have to skin it? Is there another way I can do it with 2'x4' sheets instead of 6'? Or regular 2x4s?
If you can't skin it for a while use some 4x2 to make diagonal braces between the uprights on the ends and one or two accross the back. At the moment I can see it twisting / falling over with a really good push. Whether or not it actually would is another question...
Due to limited space I ended up doing a single internal 2x4 brace across the back on the inside along with a 2x4 tension kind of brace in the center. If I did skin the back, the tank location would have been pushed forward a little bit and the corner would be on a hole in the floor between floor joists (no idea why the hole is there).
I filled it up today, and it didn't wobble side to side during my "shake" test, but it did move forward and backwards more than I would have liked. I drained it, screwed on the side panels and refilled it and it didn't improve it too much. Although, I think that is as good as it's going to get.
Tonight I am going to set the temp, and tomorrow I hope to set up some of the gravel in the morning and possibly move the fish in later that night!
I filled it up today, and it didn't wobble side to side during my "shake" test, but it did move forward and backwards more than I would have liked. I drained it, screwed on the side panels and refilled it and it didn't improve it too much. Although, I think that is as good as it's going to get.
Tonight I am going to set the temp, and tomorrow I hope to set up some of the gravel in the morning and possibly move the fish in later that night!
Maduro;4800970; said:
It didn't like actually rock forwards and backwards. It was more like something that could be shaken lightly if somebody would jump next to it.
I just tested some of my store bought stands for 20-29 gallon tanks and they do the same thing much easier. It seemed like it could have been pushed over if I really tried. I have never had a tank larger than a 40br and that stand was built like a tank.
I think tomorrow I am going to check out some of stands at work that the boss made and compare to them.
And if I can, I will try to find a way to stabilize the sides more than they already are.
A piece of plywood (cut like a right triangle) will stabilize lateral movement. It's actually very important to keep the stand strong and tight. I HIGHLY suggest putting them in the corners to ensure that the verticals are tied into the spans.
HTH.
HTH.
