I decided to build the stand for my newly acquired 75g tank. I didn't like how low all the store bought stands sit and how overpriced they are for the quality. I consider myself pretty handy but have never really built anything with wood, so my tools and knowledge are limited. After looking over many DIY stands I decided to go with the 2x4 frame. This appears to be the easiest build for beginners with limited tools and allows for no center support on a 4ft span.
Material list:
Top Select 2x4x96 kiln dried white wood(pine) --- hand picked for straightness and least amount of knots. Also tried to pick the best cuts to avoid bowing. Looking at the ends, the grain the grain should be straight as possible.
2.5'' polymer coated wood screws.
100 grit sand paper --- for sanding off splinters
Tools used:
12'' combo square --- for drawing straight lines and squaring the wood when screwing together.
18v cordless drill
12'' compound miter saw --- Borrowed from friend. Squared-up blade angles before cutting wood for stand(used combo square for this).
First thing I did was write out on paper how many cuts and of what size I needed to make a 35'' tall stand with all 2x4's. I used RocketEngineer's (on RC) stand calculator for this.
I wanted the stand dimensions to be 49x19x35
upper rails = 49'' x2
upper ends = 16'' x2
upper middle = 16'' x1
screw strips = 33'' x4
uprights = 28'' x8
bottom rails = 49'' x2
bottom ends = 16'' x2
bottom middle = 16'' x1
Total cut list:
49'' x4
16'' x6
33'' x4
28'' x8
Then I decided the layout of the cuts per 2x4 to have the least amount of waste. I first cut both ends of the 2x4's to make sure the ends where square
board 1. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 2. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 3. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 4. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 5. 33 -33 -28 ~2'' waste
board 6. 33 -33 -28 ~2'' waste
board 7. 28 - 28 -16 - 16 ~8'' waste
I then cut all my boards, taking my time to make sure my measurements were right and my cuts where straight.
View of cuts...
Top frame laid out...
I built the top and bottom frames first. Making sure the boards on one side are completely flush, using the square to do so.
Frames stacked...
I then attached 4 uprights to the screw strips with 2 screws each. Then attached the screw strips to the bottom frame.
Material list:
Top Select 2x4x96 kiln dried white wood(pine) --- hand picked for straightness and least amount of knots. Also tried to pick the best cuts to avoid bowing. Looking at the ends, the grain the grain should be straight as possible.
2.5'' polymer coated wood screws.
100 grit sand paper --- for sanding off splinters
Tools used:
12'' combo square --- for drawing straight lines and squaring the wood when screwing together.
18v cordless drill
12'' compound miter saw --- Borrowed from friend. Squared-up blade angles before cutting wood for stand(used combo square for this).
First thing I did was write out on paper how many cuts and of what size I needed to make a 35'' tall stand with all 2x4's. I used RocketEngineer's (on RC) stand calculator for this.
I wanted the stand dimensions to be 49x19x35
upper rails = 49'' x2
upper ends = 16'' x2
upper middle = 16'' x1
screw strips = 33'' x4
uprights = 28'' x8
bottom rails = 49'' x2
bottom ends = 16'' x2
bottom middle = 16'' x1
Total cut list:
49'' x4
16'' x6
33'' x4
28'' x8
Then I decided the layout of the cuts per 2x4 to have the least amount of waste. I first cut both ends of the 2x4's to make sure the ends where square
board 1. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 2. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 3. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 4. 49 -28 -16 ~5'' waste
board 5. 33 -33 -28 ~2'' waste
board 6. 33 -33 -28 ~2'' waste
board 7. 28 - 28 -16 - 16 ~8'' waste
I then cut all my boards, taking my time to make sure my measurements were right and my cuts where straight.
View of cuts...
Top frame laid out...
I built the top and bottom frames first. Making sure the boards on one side are completely flush, using the square to do so.
Frames stacked...
I then attached 4 uprights to the screw strips with 2 screws each. Then attached the screw strips to the bottom frame.