9' stand build progress

[GraphicGr8s]

You're counting on the fasteners alone to carry the weight? You trust therm more than I do. All of my racks are dado joints screwed together. Wood to wood to floor.

You sound like a foundation man.  I knew an exceptional carpenter once who was a foundation man.  He could build a stand that would support as much weight as the dirt under the foundation.  I wish he'd built my current stands.

I've been called a lot of things. Most of which can't be repeated in mixed company.

There are two methods of building. The right way and the wrong way. I am a structural man. Since I am niggardly with my funds I build the former as much as possible. I've been building for a few decades. Furniture, cabinets, barn, fish house, this house (well a lot of it anyhow.)

[JC]

You're counting on the fasteners alone to carry the weight? You trust therm more than I do. All of my racks are dado joints screwed together. Wood to wood to floor.

Yes I have 100% faith that it will hold. I was waiting for someone to make that comment haha. I have an 8' stand in that room that I've had for 3yrs with no issues and been taken apart and rebuilt 4 times from moving, that one has held a 75,40 breeder, and 4 20's

[GraphicGr8s]

I've learned the hard way never to trust fasteners alone. Eventually they let you down.

Here's a freebie. With all of the stuff I've built over the years I've also learned never to trust a tape measure. I use one for overall measurements but never for the actual build.

[JC]

I would trust my stand any day over one bought at a pet shop made of crappy particle board that costs hundreds of dollars

[LizStreithorst]

Even the man I knew used a tape.  He told me that his grandfather refused to use a tape.  He only trusted the thing on the folding stick.  What do you use to measure close things?  Is there something other than a folding stick or a tape?

[LizStreithorst]

Those pet store stands are made for people who never change water.  They use partial board for the floors of house trailers.  That pisses me off, too.  Josh, your stand is not in the same category as those stands.  Neither is it in the same category and what Graphic's describes.  It's every bit as good as the stands holding my tanks up.  One day I know they'll have to be replaced.  It will be a total nightmare.

[GraphicGr8s]

Even the man I knew used a tape.  He told me that his grandfather refused to use a tape.  He only trusted the thing on the folding stick.  What do you use to measure close things?  Is there something other than a folding stick or a tape?

It depends on what I am building. For my library I made a story stick. I decided what I wanted for a reveal and laid everything out with brass bars and the actual wood and plywood on that story stick. I used that story stick to layout every obstacle  in the room. I used the actual book to lay out the height of the shelves. Now I will admit when I build racks I do use a tape. I measure the tank and round up to the nearest inch. Then I cut the dadoes using the actual 2x material to mark them.

[BallAquatics]

As long as you use the right fasteners you'll be fine.  You just need a fastener with the proper strength per the load you are carrying.

Dennis

[LizStreithorst]

Even the man I knew used a tape.  He told me that his grandfather refused to use a tape.  He only trusted the thing on the folding stick.  What do you use to measure close things?  Is there something other than a folding stick or a tape?

It depends on what I am building. For my library I made a story stick. I decided what I wanted for a reveal and laid everything out with brass bars and the actual wood and plywood on that story stick. I used that story stick to layout every obstacle  in the room. I used the actual book to lay out the height of the shelves. Now I will admit when I build racks I do use a tape. I measure the tank and round up to the nearest inch. Then I cut the dadoes using the actual 2x material to mark them.

I'd never heard of a story stick and I was a carpenters helper for a while   I looked it up.  What a wonderful tool!

[GraphicGr8s]

Even the man I knew used a tape.  He told me that his grandfather refused to use a tape.  He only trusted the thing on the folding stick.  What do you use to measure close things?  Is there something other than a folding stick or a tape?

It depends on what I am building. For my library I made a story stick. I decided what I wanted for a reveal and laid everything out with brass bars and the actual wood and plywood on that story stick. I used that story stick to layout every obstacle  in the room. I used the actual book to lay out the height of the shelves. Now I will admit when I build racks I do use a tape. I measure the tank and round up to the nearest inch. Then I cut the dadoes using the actual 2x material to mark them.

I'd never heard of a story stick and I was a carpenters helper for a while   I looked it up.  What a wonderful tool!

When you need repeatability there's nothing better. You measure once lay out as many parts as you need. All will be accurate. Ever use a plumb bob?

[LizStreithorst]

Of course.  A plumb bob cannot be wrong.  I used to think the same thing about levels.  Levels need to be pampered.  They can be thrown off easily.  The story stick must also take into account the width of the blade you use to cut the wood as well, right?  If not, it would be off, too.

[b125killer]

You're counting on the fasteners alone to carry the weight? You trust therm more than I do. All of my racks are dado joints screwed together. Wood to wood to floor.

It looks good but that's the first thing I was thinking of. I notch the 2x4 or put supporting 2x4 to the ground.  I always build my stand to hold up a car if need be. It's better to error on the side of caution then pick up gallons of water out the fish room.

[GraphicGr8s]

Of course.  A plumb bob cannot be wrong.  I used to think the same thing about levels.  Levels need to be pampered.  They can be thrown off easily.  The story stick must also take into account the width of the blade you use to cut the wood as well, right?  If not, it would be off, too.

Not necessary to account for the blade. You are always cutting on the waste side.

[Mugwump]

My stands are held together with dry wall screws.....

[Ron Sower]

My stands are held together with dry wall screws.....

Dry wall screws....one of man's best inventions. Right up there with peanut butter, jelly, 2x4's, duct tape, and WD40!