is this stand safe to use?

[SunnyHouTX]

look at the big brain on sunny

Some of us have to show up with something other than a MP40wES dontcha know

[SunnyHouTX]

That psi number is probably more towards studs than strength of plywood on end. With this stand it looks like everything is plywood. While plywood is still strong, looking at the chipping on the inside, it's not real high quality plywood either. The stand will hold the weight fine if it's built straight. Just put a level to it, if everything looks square, it will be more than fine. I'd reinforce it if it's not perfectly square though.

Yes, that number was for white pine wood and not a commentary on plywood. But plywood that's properly bonded is very strong as well. Even in a slightly deteriorated condition, it will hold a 40 gallon tank just fine. From looking closely at the pics, only the two end pieces look to have very minor damage in them. All in all, stand will be fine as is to hold up a 40 gallon tank.

[sunkenmetal]

Some of us have to show up with something other than a MP40wES dontcha know

Haters gonna hate...

[sunkenmetal]

Yes, that number was for white pine wood and not a commentary on plywood. But plywood that's properly bonded is very strong as well. Even in a slightly deteriorated condition, it will hold a 40 gallon tank just fine. From looking closely at the pics, only the two end pieces look to have very minor damage in them. All in all, stand will be fine as is to hold up a 40 gallon tank.

when in doubt use steel

[SunnyHouTX]

Not hatin' fewl on your MP like you on my head size

No homo )

[SunnyHouTX]

when in doubt use steel

If you're resorting to steel, you're not too confident in your wood

[Totenkampf]

Ppl don't realize just how strong wood is under compression...

actually i do understand pretty well since i have done a bit of woodworking and lutherie, amoung the other hobbies that i no longer have time for lol. your compression figures assume pressure evenly applied at a 90 degree angle along the path of gravity. thats okay until you bump the tank. the wood isnt what typically fails, its the joints and i am looking at those and the fact that the huge cutouts give little support along those sides versus torsion forces. plywood flexes far more than boards do, and thats where a potential problem can start if there isnt a good subframe. plywood skinned over a subframe can be very strong. my guitar cabinets are made from 3/4" thick 7 layer baltic birch plywood that has been finger jointed to itself on all sides without a subframe. i can put a volkswagon on those suckers. so i would think that 15 bucks worth of wood, woodglue, and screws and a few hours of time is well worth the insurance against chasing 100s of dollars of fish around the floor. thats just me though.

[SunnyHouTX]

I wasn't pointing anything fingers at you Jeff Just a general statement on how ppl over-build stands that are heavy and hard to move around.

The OP can decide now that we've confused him as much as we can

[Totenkampf]

lol, YOURE LOOKING AT ME! MOM! i am definately one of those overbuilder people. you can never have too much wood.

[alexrex20]

If the tank is not a reef-ready, then I would skin the top with some plywood, to tie the corners in to each other. I'm not carpenter, but I've ghetto-rigged enough wood structures to know that single piece of plywood would greatly reinforce the entire structure.

[alexrex20]

The OP can decide now that we've confused him as much as we can

I think he should make a stand out of 1x1 square tubing, ideally 4130.

[SunnyHouTX]

you can never have too much wood.

That sounds very ghey

Mommm!!! He's looking at me weird

[mistahoo]

I wasn't pointing anything fingers at you Jeff Just a general statement on how ppl over-build stands that are heavy and hard to move around.

The OP can decide now that we've confused him as much as we can

LOL my little 10g stand I made has some thick a$z wood! I think 2"? It was laying around the patio so I just went ahead and saved myself a few bucks and cut that up

[cu0ngsayz]

Me personally I would have reinforce the top...Rather over do the stand than have a stand collapse on me half way through the set up.

[SunnyHouTX]

Me personally I would have reinforce the top...Rather over do the stand than have a stand collapse on me half way through the set up.

Sounds like somebody not confident of their wood.