DIY Stand Question

[Dan I]

I am at the moment building my stand. I am setting up the top base with 2x6. I noticed this crack running across the wood and was wondering if it is no good anymore. Tank is 60 (L) x 24 (W) x 20 (H).

 

[Flippers4pups]

I am at the moment building my stand. I am setting up the top base with 2x6. I noticed this crack running across the wood and was wondering if it is no good anymore. Tank is 60 (L) x 24 (W) x 20 (H).

For peace of mind I'd replace it. Pre drill your holes before sinking your screws and that shouldn't happen.

 

[Dan I]

For peace of mind I'd replace it. Pre drill your holes before sinking your screws and that shouldn't happen.

That I did, which is funny.

 

[Flippers4pups]

That I did, which is funny.

Just a bad piece of lumber then.

 

[theMeat]

Come off the end of the wood and angle the screw into the other piece and that’s not as likely to happen. If you get another screw on there it is fine.

 

[508_ryanc]

Could always double up the piece.And put a few screws through top going through the crack.

 

[Jeeperz]

Was this kiln dried lumber? I try to use green wood as its less likely to crack in my experience. Whenever I use the kiln dried it tends to split or crack

 

[Saveafish]

Something I did is moisten your wood and pre drill. Use a counter sink bit. If your wood is too dry. And you counter sink the screws the head will split it. Oh for the ones worried about warping. You moisten the wood. Not soak it. Moisten it again than put the tank on it with buckets of Salk in the tank. Once it dries it'll be flat. The weight will smash it down as it dries to the house humidity

 

[Jeeperz]

I'm not sure how big a concern wet wood is, it'll pick up plenty of moisture from the sump. Even if it's well painted, only a 2 part epoxy would block the moisture.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I had the same thing happen in my stand mod (supporting around 350lbs) had a 2x12 split. I just used loctite PL8x on the crack and I'm not loosing any sleep over it. I use the stuff all the time at work and it bonds stronger than the actual wood fibers do, at work when we break wood apart it will fail in a different place never at the glued joint. But if it's going to eat at you, just replace it.

 

[Dragon52]

I'm not sure how big a concern wet wood is, it'll pick up plenty of moisture from the sump. Even if it's well painted, only a 2 part epoxy would block the moisture.

You can also use Flex Seal to waterproof it, that's what I did to my sump area.

 

[Joekovar]

I always cringe a little when I see people using SPF (spruce, pine, fir) or whitewood for tank stands.

Take a look at what's used where when building houses. The SPF is used for interior non load bearing walls, where as yellow pine is used for exterior walls, roof trusses, floor joists, and other load bearing spans.

That said, I wouldn't trust any defects in that particular piece of the stand.

 

[Jeeperz]

That's not true. I've never seen new construction use anything but the same Doug fir 2x on everything. The only thing that may be different are the large beams(headers) or glue lam beams. I've never even seen yellow pine in a lumber yard in the PNW. Most common is white wood if you are cheap or Doug fir.

 

[Joekovar]

That's not true. I've never seen new construction use anything but the same Doug fir 2x on everything. The only thing that may be different are the large beams(headers) or glue lam beams. I've never even seen yellow pine in a lumber yard in the PNW. Most common is white wood if you are cheap or Doug fir.

Here in FL, yellow pine is all over.