Wood Vs Steel Stand

[snowmansnow]

I've NEVER had a steel stand built, and always just DIY'd a wood stand.

What are advantages of steel
Advantages of wood?
Have you owned a steel stand?

This particular stand is for my slow build ( a semi-large tank).
48x36x24 (possibly 30H not sure yet)

I've seen really nice wood stands, but what about steel ones? how do you face them ? magnets? hinges?


Any help is greatly appreciated

B. Snow

 

[tinmanunited]

Have a look through my build thread. And your welcome to come take a first hand looks as well. Steel stand by the way.

 

[reefrunner]

I am actually having a custom steel stand made for my new frag tank..... The frag tank is 4'x3'x10" 4 sided starphire..... The stand will be made from 1 1/2" 7ga steel.... I will finish it off with a white powder coat.... I am also going to have a carpenter try to make attachable panels.....

I think there are many advantages to steel over wood, primary being no warping

 

[jimmystephens]

Ive always like the steal stand with the magnetic wooden panels. Someone on here did one that was awesome.

 

[j_b_]

In my mind, YOU can build <span style="color: Green">($$)</span> a wood stand that is plenty sturdy/strong to hold a tank that size, and probably at a fraction of the cost of a steel stand. Once you have someone else build it for you <span style="color: Green">($$)</span>, and powder coat it <span style="color: green">($$)</span> so it doesn't rust, and deliver it <span style="color: green">($$)</span>, and skin it somehow<span style="color: green">($$)</span>, I'd think you'd be into it for much more than a DIY wood stand.

For me personally, this would be a no-brainer. If I can get the same result for less jack, that's the route I'm taking for sure. For what it's worth, I've never owned a steel stand, and likely never will because I see it as an unnecessary expense for the tanks I've owned, or care to own.

So, it boils down to this...you have to ask yourself; what do I need this stand to do, and can either of these two materials make that happen?

• Hold the tank up level, and support the weight. Wood &#8730; Steel &#8730;

• Provide enough room underneath for the sump and other equipment. Wood &#8730; Steel &#8730;

Then you should look to the future a bit...I think when you get ready to start adding/changing out parts and pieces, as we all do, you'll become frustrated with the steel stand.

With a wood stand, you can just grab a screw and screwdriver and attach that PVC strap, or mount that controller box, etc.

What do you do with a steel stand? It can possibly, and unnecessarily complicate things.

I've personally never seen a wood stand warp, like Rick mentioned, but that's not to say it couldn't happen. I'd think there would have to be some pretty bad things occur to facilitate that, though. Not trying to be flippant, or sound like an educated posterior, but I'm assuming this tank/stand will be maintained inside the living area of your climate-controlled residence; correct? And you're not going to be routinely dumping lots of water on the stand, and this will be one of maybe two tanks, and not sitting in a humid room with 50 or more tanks.

I personally believe wood is your answer, based on price.

Hope this helps with your decision...

 

[reefrunner]

Well, my brother is the one doing the fabrication/powder coat and I am installing a small tile backsplash in exchange for the stand.... Is wood cheaper and can it "get the job done", probably.... But at the end of the day, I'm doing it cause I can, lol..... And yes, wood stands DO warp over time, it's inevitable.... Now, I could be wrong, but the last time I checked, wood isn't stronger or more durable than 1 1/2" square tube 7ga steel.... And ALL lumber isn't 100% perfect, even right out of the mill yard....

 

[grouper therapy]

ReefRunner;902730 wrote: Well, my brother is the one doing the fabrication/powder coat and I am installing a small tile backsplash in exchange for the stand.... Is wood cheaper and can it "get the job done", probably.... But at the end of the day, I'm doing it cause I can, lol..... And yes, wood stands DO warp over time, it's inevitable.... Now, I could be wrong, but the last time I checked, wood isn't stronger or more durable than 1 1/2" square tube 7ga steel.......

Inaccurate. Much depends on the wood type, how it is milled ,how it is assembled and how it is protected.
And ALL lumber isn't 100% perfect, even right out of the mill yard. Neither is steel. I actually have milled wood to with a .001 tolerance +/-

If you are referring to "framing lumber " then probably so.

 

[reefrunner]

Yes, if you want to go into all the various factors such as different types of wood, how it's cut, where it comes from, who makes it, how you coat it and how it's treated, fine. BUT, comparative to the wood that MOST ppl use to make their own stand, the material I am using is MUCH stronger. The majority of people who make their own stands do not using the highest grade of lumber available, that's the point. Gotta love it, If u saw originally, I didn't bash you wood lovers, just stated what I was making....

 

[tinmanunited]

For reference. My steel stand 48X24X36 16g 2x2 square tube powder coated, with panels custom fabricated and painted came in at under $900.
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class="gc-images" title="steelstand2.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[grouper therapy]

ReefRunner;902753 wrote: Yes, if you want to go into all the various factors such as different types of wood, how it's cut, where it comes from, who makes it, how you coat it and how it's treated, fine. BUT, comparative to the wood that MOST ppl use to make their own stand, the material I am using is MUCH stronger. The majority of people who make their own stands do not using the highest grade of lumber available, that's the point. Gotta love it, If u saw originally, I didn't bash you wood lovers, just stated what I was making....

No ill will here at all just stating the facts. I think you might have to consider some of the same factors wood or steel. The op asked for a comparison you gave one I disagree no foul. I build both and like both.

 

[snowmansnow]

ReefRunner;902730 wrote: Well, my brother is the one doing the fabrication/powder coat and I am installing a small tile backsplash in exchange for the stand.... Is wood cheaper and can it "get the job done", probably.... But at the end of the day, I'm doing it cause I can, lol..... And yes, wood stands DO warp over time, it's inevitable.... Now, I could be wrong, but the last time I checked, wood isn't stronger or more durable than 1 1/2" square tube 7ga steel.... And ALL lumber isn't 100% perfect, even right out of the mill yard....

I don't think a wood stand (built right) IS CHEAPER actually. From what I've priced a metal stand for larger tanks seems like a more economical route. Even if panels are built to hold in place over the stand, I'm not seeing the thousands that a nice wood stand would cost.

again, I'm just exploring options here...

 

[grouper therapy]

SnowManSnow;902875 wrote: I don't think a wood stand (built right) IS CHEAPER actually. From what I've priced a metal stand for larger tanks seems like a more economical route. Even if panels are built to hold in place over the stand, I'm not seeing the thousands that a nice wood stand would cost.

again, I'm just exploring options here...

I've done both all wood and metal with wood and I can't see a big difference price wise. But if one has a good source of a metal stand then it might be cheaper especially if you are just doing panels.
A wood stand typically has more detail to it. I am doing an all wood stand for a custom 350 and I am doing the stained stand,canopy and flanking bookshelves for what the owner was quoted for a metal frame stand only!!!
Pricing can be all over the place.
I see no advantages of metal over wood. To say that metal is stronger is not completely accurate, that would be relative to size and application of both. I can assure you this it will take less weight to bend a 2x2 1/4" wall tube quicker than a sheet of36" tall 3/4" thick plywood stood on edge. There are times when metal will facilitate certain design requirements especially sometimes with peninsula style tank,on the flip side the same goes for wood.

 

[morganatlanta]

I love the access TinManUnited's stand gives compared to a stand that uses plywood as the structural component. If I ever get a stand built, I'd go that direction.

 

[grouper therapy]

MorganAtlanta;902928 wrote: I love the access TinManUnited's stand gives compared to a stand that uses plywood as the structural component. If I ever get a stand built, I'd go that direction.

A plywood stand can offer close to the same accessibility, within a couple of inches anyway. Almost all of the upper quality hinges now have a push button clip allowing the door to be easily removed. I actually have a design I am working on that incorporates metal/steel into the structure of a plywood stand so as to allow a more open design.
TinManUnited's is a cool design . I like the way the ARC tank at GMC was done as well

Edit:

ReefRunner;902753 wrote: Yes, if you want to go into all the various factors such as different types of wood, how it's cut, where it comes from, who makes it, how you coat it and how it's treated, fine. BUT, comparative to the wood that MOST ppl use to make their own stand, the material I am using is MUCH stronger. The majority of people who make their own stands do not using the highest grade of lumber available, that's the point. Gotta love it, If u saw originally, I didn't bash you wood lovers, just stated what I was making....

I'm pretty sure most would not weld their own steel stand either, that is why I made the comparison between the two as if they would outsource which seemed logical to me. No worries here just trying make sure an accurate comparison was made ,apples to apples if you will. I think most here would want to make sure that happened in regards their source of income. Would you not?

 

[morganatlanta]

I laid a piece of 6 foot 1.5" angle iron along the back of my stand the last time I had the water out of my tank. It allowed me to remove one of the upright supports in the back so that I could fit a 75 gallon (cut down to 16") underneath my 125 for my sump. So a hybrid wood and steel stand is possible and might give the best of both worlds.

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