So my GF's dad and I built a stand this weekend. Took us a while, her dad is handy with tools and woodworking but I'm not quite sure we understood the dynamics of building an aquarium stand. I was looking through that 70+ page thread on RC about building stands and a few things made me a little un-easy.
So the tank is 38.5" long x 36.5" tall x 25.5" wide. the frame was built with 2x4's
The corners were notched with a jigsaw and then glued and drilled with 2 big ass screws
Pic above shows screws in red
Big screw was drilled out about an inch and placed on the top of that beam
This is where my concern is.
The stand was built to fit the cubby hole it is going in, not the dimensions of the tank. According to the thread on RC the 4 corners should be on the 4 vertical legs of the stand so the weight is verticle only in the legs.
This picture shows without the 3/4" plywood top where the stand would be "pushing down"
This is with the 3/4" plywood top installed just for reference.
The whole stand was skinned with 1/4" plywood
Looking up from inside the cabinet
Installed in the cubby hole
Another angle.
If I were to center the tank on the stand (which I wasn't planning on doing because I wanted the Vortechs on the side) this is where the tank would sit without the top on.
In your experience is this anything to be worried about? I don't think any screws are taking any shear force on them. I think the GF's dads thought when doing it this way was to more evenly distribute the weight of the tank throughout the whole stand and not the four corners.
I'm am assuming it will be ok. The 3/4" plywood on top is braced by 4 additional lateral beams. Every joint is glued nicely, for the screws we drilled pilot holes for all of them and recessed them with one of those bits, the 1/4" skin was glued and nail gunned in all over the place.
Anything to be concerned about?
Thanks much all! Hopefully this will be ok so I sand it and stain it this week.
Jay
So the tank is 38.5" long x 36.5" tall x 25.5" wide. the frame was built with 2x4's
The corners were notched with a jigsaw and then glued and drilled with 2 big ass screws
Pic above shows screws in red
Big screw was drilled out about an inch and placed on the top of that beam
This is where my concern is.
The stand was built to fit the cubby hole it is going in, not the dimensions of the tank. According to the thread on RC the 4 corners should be on the 4 vertical legs of the stand so the weight is verticle only in the legs.
This picture shows without the 3/4" plywood top where the stand would be "pushing down"
This is with the 3/4" plywood top installed just for reference.
The whole stand was skinned with 1/4" plywood
Looking up from inside the cabinet
Installed in the cubby hole
Another angle.
If I were to center the tank on the stand (which I wasn't planning on doing because I wanted the Vortechs on the side) this is where the tank would sit without the top on.
In your experience is this anything to be worried about? I don't think any screws are taking any shear force on them. I think the GF's dads thought when doing it this way was to more evenly distribute the weight of the tank throughout the whole stand and not the four corners.
I'm am assuming it will be ok. The 3/4" plywood on top is braced by 4 additional lateral beams. Every joint is glued nicely, for the screws we drilled pilot holes for all of them and recessed them with one of those bits, the 1/4" skin was glued and nail gunned in all over the place.
Anything to be concerned about?
Thanks much all! Hopefully this will be ok so I sand it and stain it this week.
Jay