Help with diy stand

[Bacon505]

I just finished the frame for my stand. Everything seems to be even out and center. I measure all 4 corners and the measurements are very close together from top to bottom and every angle are extremely close to 90 degree. What makes me sratch my head is that 3 side on the base are flat on the group except one corner lifted up about 1/8 of an inch.
Do you think it will even out with the weight of the tank?
Tank will sit on 3/4 board
The pix wih yellow circle is off the group, if i put weight on green the blue will be off the ground vise versa.

 

[bean2986]

Do you have a right angle to check the stand? It could be the floor being unlevel and the stand might be fine.

 

[Heliarc19]

Measure corner to corner on all sides and top and bottom, if these numbers are equal and lengths are the same it is almost certainly the floor

 

[hijinks7]

So those pine boards aren't straight. No matter what you do to measure the length there's always some bend in the boards. I think that is what you are noticing. Furniture makers have jointers and planers to get over this. They also dry out the wood. The framing lumber also isn't dried very well so as it sits it bends and moves even more.

What I'd do is buy a $30 hand planner and just plane off wood till it sits flat and even. I would plane it before you put weight on it.

 

[TheAquarian]

Wood likes to move after it’s cut, run a string line tight across the top of the frame. If there is a space between the line and the frame in the middle equal to the 1/8” the corner has raised it should settle back down with weight. If 5he line is tight to the frame all the way across then you will likely need to place a shim under the raised corner.

 

[Bacon505]

I dont think its the floor, i move the stand around the house and still he same. All the angles are straight. If i have enough weight on two opposide end then the stand will stay flat

 

[bean2986]

Floors in general are not usually that level. I would get a large level and make sure. What is the most important is that the top of the stand where the tank is going is perfectly level. If you shim under the base of the stand and the top is perfectly level you're good to go. I would not rely on the tank weight to level the stand.

 

[Bacon505]

Measure corner to corner on all sides and top and bottom, if these numbers are equal and lengths are the same it is almost certainly the floor

All measurements are very close also not the floor because i move the stand around the house and still the same

 

[Bacon505]

Floors in general are not usually that level. I would get a large level and make sure. What is the most important is that the top of the stand where the tank is going is perfectly level. If you shim under the base of the stand and the top is perfectly level you're good to go. I would not rely on the tank weight to level the stand.

All are leveled on the top

 

[Bacon505]

So i added about 25g of water on one end and i stand on the other end with my body weight, the stand stay flat to the ground and the top seems to level out with a levling ruler

 

[jhoop]

I have built two stands very similar to yours. I would put four feet on the corners so it can slide and that will also balance it out. I think its the pine 2 x 4's that are the reason. I still think it will be sturdy enough to do the job.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

So those pine boards aren't straight. No matter what you do to measure the length there's always some bend in the boards. I think that is what you are noticing. Furniture makers have jointers and planers to get over this. They also dry out the wood. The framing lumber also isn't dried very well so as it sits it bends and moves even more.

What I'd do is buy a $30 hand planner and just plane off wood till it sits flat and even. I would plane it before you put weight on it.

That was my first thought too my buddy a contracror buys the Lowes premium 2x4's etc and it is worth the extra $ for those lumber varries so much I cut 40 baullastera and clear coated them an we laid off of the project for a while so they are clamped to one of the work benches both sideways and to the bench with scraps so the sont twist or warp any.

 

[bean2986]

All are leveled on the top

If the top is level I would just continue with the expectation that you'll have to shim the corners to keep it from rocking and to keep the top level.

 

[scuzy]

So all the weight is relying on the screws to the bottom frame? Any major shift will fall off the bottom frame. I would put some 2x4 connecting the top and bottom frame.

 

[Bacon505]

So all the weight is relying on the screws to the bottom frame? Any major shift will fall off the bottom frame. I would put some 2x4 connecting the top and bottom frame.

That pix is unfinished photo. The top has additional 4 more vertical 2x4 and will be skin with 3/4 all around and top. With the weight of the tank and water its less likely shift(lean) like you said.