Better than Garf

[lyquidphyre]

http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php

From what I can tell so far, I like this one better than garf because it tells you approx price and breaks down the steps and the equipment needed. Its a definate bookmark =o)

[yaksplat]

The resultant drawings are way too overbuilt. There is no need to have 4x4's holding up the tank. The sheathing specified (3/4") is more than enough to hold up the tank.

I also think that the GARF stand is overbuilt. But I guess people want that extra piece of mind. I ran the calculations, and 3/4" ply is plenty to hold up a 55 gallon with a very good safety factor.

Jim

[sumphead]

Overbuilt?!?!? Well I suppose with the 3/4" siding then yes, but it recommended that my new nearly 50 Gallon cube be built with 2X2s. 2X2s at 44" TALL! no way. For a stand that tall and heavy? not enough reassurance for me.

R-

[nervousdog]

Thanks for the link.

[yaksplat]

I'd put my PE stamp on it.

I'll put it this way, building a stand for 800# out of 2x4's is comparable to building you house out of 12" wide flange I-beams.

Can it be done?....yes
Do you need to?....no

The pages that give you plans just do one thing, overbuild. I guarantee that the people that wrote those pages really just slapped the stand together. Nothing more....no calculations.

[BillyZ]

Odds are they're not mechanical engineers and don't have the information to figure the average compression load of white pine or any of the other nifty engineering werds that I promptly forgot the minute I decided to change majors!

Most plans overbuild because it's easy and 2x4's are cheap.