Lets see those steel stands!

[kcress]

My stand is a project in itself.

It's for a 280 Tall I'll be building. It's 70 x 24 x 36T.

It's not the box structures we're seeing here.

My stand needs to raise and lower while holding 3,000lbs on it. It will only be supported near the four corners. There is no way to center support it.

So the top needs to be very rigid. Because of this I'm using 1-1/2" x 3" 0.120" rectangular steel tubing, sort of a two by four made of steel.

I cut the tubing today and hope to throw some welds into to it tomorrow(Sat).

I haven't got the bill yet but steel is a lot more expensive than it used to be.. They told me they get price increases every 2 weeks.

[kcress]

Oh hey! You DO need to worry about how close to the edge you cut. I messed with that today. Seems you need to cut near the ends inside from the end at least the width of your cut off saw blade. I was getting serious blade wander when trying to cut closer than that.

[MeuserReef]

Originally posted by kcress
It's not the box structures we're seeing here.

My stand needs to raise and lower while holding 3,000lbs on it. It will only be supported near the four corners. There is no way to center support it.

Aww... come on kcress, wheres all of your SketchUp renderings for this mad science project?

This sounds pretty neat with the whole "raise and lower while holding 3,000 lbs" aspect.

I paid $1.71/ft for my 1.5"x1.5" square tubing so Im guessing that your 1.5"x3" tubing is going to run you roughly double that. Id guess its probably in the $3.50-$4 /ft now.

Originally posted by kcress
Oh hey! You DO need to worry about how close to the edge you cut. I messed with that today. Seems you need to cut near the ends inside from the end at least the width of your cut off saw blade. I was getting serious blade wander when trying to cut closer than that.

I did experience this too if attempting to cut right at the very end of the stock. I left an extra 1" or so on either end to allow the saw some room to "bite" into the steel without wandering too much. The saw I used seemed to have too much play in its angle setting (it was a bit wabbly) but I was able to recover by using a handheld grinder to clean things up (I would have done that anyway). The jig that I made helped to get the pieces aligned at a true 90°, even if the miter cuts werent exactly 45° each.

Looking forward to seeing this steel beast!

[20vturbo]

wowser this stuff is sticky and gets everywhere!

[MeuserReef]

Originally posted by 20vturbo
wowser this stuff is sticky and gets everywhere!

Yep... and smells good too!

Are you going to apply a second coat? If so, I think the instructions say to do it within 12-24 hours after the first. Supposedly this allows the two coats to bond together.

Your stand looks very nice with that coating on it. Any ideas as to an outside cabinet?

[kcress]

Ah a realll man would've done that in the living room!

LOL

Tell us how it works out.

[Frank AZ]

Out of curiousity - what are people getting quoted for on the steel - I checked out my normal show - and it was $3.80/ft for 1.5 x 1.5 1/8" thick.

[20vturbo]

Originally posted by MeuserReef
Yep... and smells good too!

Are you going to apply a second coat? If so, I think the instructions say to do it within 12-24 hours after the first. Supposedly this allows the two coats to bond together.

Your stand looks very nice with that coating on it. Any ideas as to an outside cabinet?

yeah I already had done a second coat there....whew what fun...now to cut the plywood top!

[MeuserReef]

Originally posted by Frank AZ
Out of curiousity - what are people getting quoted for on the steel - I checked out my normal show - and it was $3.80/ft for 1.5 x 1.5 1/8" thick.

Frank,

I purchased my 1.5" x 1.5" (1/8" thick) steel for $1.71 / ft. It was sold to me in (2) 24' sections. I ended up using a total of 44 feet to build a 32" tall stand for a 60"x18" (120 gallon) tank. I would imagine that you would be looking at somewhere in the 50-60 ft range for your 150, depending on the desired height and footprint.

I know every market is unique, but $3.80 sounds a bit high to me. I would keep searching. Call around to some of the welding shops in the area and ask them where you should go for your steel.

Start with a few of THESE PLACES and if your not satisfied, try a few of THESE PLACES

Originally posted by 20vturbo
yeah I already had done a second coat there....whew what fun...now to cut the plywood top!

Two coats of that stuff should provide a lifetime of resistance to saltwater/humidity. Im guessing that you are using 3/4" ply?

[Frank AZ]

I calculated 50 ft of the 1.5" for my stand. I know prices are going up - but - I don't think they've doubled in 2 months.

There are a couple other places that I've dealt with in the past.

Here's my last "welding" project.

[kcress]

Originally posted by Frank AZ
Out of curiosity - what are people getting quoted for on the steel - I checked out my normal show - and it was $3.80/ft for 1.5 x 1.5 1/8" thick.

That is to the penny what I was quoted for 2x2xsame on Tues.

Depends on where you are though - fuel costs could run it up.

[20vturbo]

Originally posted by MeuserReef

Two coats of that stuff should provide a lifetime of resistance to saltwater/humidity. Im guessing that you are using 3/4" ply?

yup!

[kcress]

I keep doing battle with Google Sketch I'm not getting to first base with that. Nothing much seems logical.

Anywho. Here's some shots of my "platform".

The just cut tubing.



The ends ground to bevels.



In approximate position for welding.

[20vturbo]

http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html this helped me understand it better!

[neodama]

Weeks spent on the NET trying to design a reliable stand for my 12' X 2.5' X 2.5' tank and I stumble upon this thread...literally a DAY after I weld my stand together out of impatience. Ironic. Anyway, after having seen many sturdy stands here and confident posts, I think I MIGHT have to reconsider the design. My tank is 12' X 2.5' X 2.5' and would weigh close to 2.5 tonnes once filled. I have used 50mm X 50mm X 4mm Gal RHS tubing throught the entire stand. Below are some pics:

The tank for starters:




The stand:







The stand - bottoms-up:


Does any of you think I need:

1. More cross braces on top?
2. Should I use diagonal supports too?

Your help is HIGHLY appreciated. Thanks again ya'll.

Neo.

[nyvp]

.


Thats overkill already. That looks alot like my stand for my 120x36x30 tank









There is no way it needs more. Mine needed 4 guys to move and i was able to sleep knowing that it was totally overbuilt




.

[stunreefer]

nyvp - wicked stand! what material did you use for the top and trim?

[kcress]

Originally posted by neodama
Weeks spent on the NET trying to design a reliable stand for my 12' X 2.5' X 2.5' tank and I stumble upon this thread...literally a DAY after I weld my stand together out of impatience. Ironic. Anyway, after having seen many sturdy stands here and confident posts, I think I MIGHT have to reconsider the design. My tank is 12' X 2.5' X 2.5' and would weigh close to 2.5 tonnes once filled. I have used 50mm X 50mm X 4mm Gal RHS tubing throught the entire stand.

Does any of you think I need:

1. More cross braces on top?
2. Should I use diagonal supports too?

Your help is HIGHLY appreciated. Thanks again ya'll.

Neo.

Looks like a nice job! That material is just fine.
You do need some cross bracing though. You can do exactly what 20vturbo did. Or in lew of the gussets put a few front to back braces whichever.

nyvp; You are treading on thin ice with no rack bracing at all. I would be figuring how to add some somehow. Wood siding or two pieces of strap iron bolted across the long plane.

BTW that is a gorgeous sea scape you have going there. Very nice.

20vturbo; Thanks for the google link I will check it out!

[TeeLapia]

Originally posted by kcress

nyvp; You are treading on thin ice with no rack bracing at all. I would be figuring how to add some somehow. Wood siding or two pieces of strap iron bolted across the long plane.

I had a welder design my stand. He tore my design apart and told me it's best to have something go across the long end for greater stability, and less stress as well.

[TeeLapia]

OOPPSS... double post. sorry

[MeuserReef]

Holy Cow! I leave for few days and this thread explodes with more awesome stands!

Frank AZ.. did you build that thing to contact the mother ship or what? What is it? Antenna? Lightning generator? (excellent welding, regardless of what it is!)

kcress.. looking really good!

neodama.. simply crazy tank and stand.

nyvp.. LOVE the granite!

TeeLapia.. got any pics on the way?

[Bricky]

Can I join? I designed this in multiple pieces so that I could get it through the door. The stand is 84"x40"x40".











Each section below got tab to hold plywood.



Then lined the bottom with a sheet of 1/4"ABS

[Bricky]

I then gave the top a hardwood piece of plywood to set the tank on.



Trimmed out the bottom so it matched the floor.



Blue l.e.d. lights below for a cool effect.



The final product with my perimeter shelf and linear actuated canopy that I built. Each section will also get inset frosted glass doors.

[MeuserReef]

Originally posted by Bricky
Can I join?

OK Mods... you can close this thread now! (kidding Mods...only kidding! Closing this thread could unwrap the space-time continuum!!). Bricky had to go and post his IMMACULATE stand!

I read through (and voted for) your build thread and man.... you have got some serious skills my friend! Great work and thanks for posting your stand in this thread.

Im also glad to see that you have your interests in the right order, especially the first 3!

[Bricky]

Thanks for the kind words and the vote.