Like many of you fellow reefers I have built numerous stands over the years. I learned from building stands with my dad for his tanks and then did it on my own as I dove into the hobby myself. I am not a carpenter but am handy around the house and do a lot of woodworking in any spare time I have. I prefer to over engineer anything I build, especially something that will be supporting x# gallons of water in my house, and can over complicate things at times.
With that in mind, I am absolutely baffled as to how commercial stands sold with tanks support the kind of weight they do and don't collapse or fall over with the slightest of force! I am currently in the process of building a stand for a 46 bowfront to replace the one it came with that I did use for a few years before I bought a house. It is made out of .75inch particle board with no real wood or studs, no complex joinery for extra strong joints, and if I took it apart I doubt any decent screws or nails. It's all simple physics and downward force but I still have a hard time trusting them.
Just a little rant and venting. I will post photos of the stand and a eventually start a build thread. Still working on the framework of the stand, about 90% complete then time to skin and trim. Not sure how Im going to finish it yet I have been a big fan of wood dye for color, tinted Danish oil for depth, and poly for protection. Always used oil based poly but might try water based this time around.
With that in mind, I am absolutely baffled as to how commercial stands sold with tanks support the kind of weight they do and don't collapse or fall over with the slightest of force! I am currently in the process of building a stand for a 46 bowfront to replace the one it came with that I did use for a few years before I bought a house. It is made out of .75inch particle board with no real wood or studs, no complex joinery for extra strong joints, and if I took it apart I doubt any decent screws or nails. It's all simple physics and downward force but I still have a hard time trusting them.
Just a little rant and venting. I will post photos of the stand and a eventually start a build thread. Still working on the framework of the stand, about 90% complete then time to skin and trim. Not sure how Im going to finish it yet I have been a big fan of wood dye for color, tinted Danish oil for depth, and poly for protection. Always used oil based poly but might try water based this time around.