DIY Fail...

So i just built my DIY stand for my 40 acrylic. This thing is a monster, i have no doubt in my mind that it can withstand the weight...... HOWEVER, apparently i suck at cutting and the 3/4" plywood at the top isnt level, the stand itself is fairly level though.

This causes one of the corners of my tank to sit about 1/4" above the top of the stand. Should i use styrofoam and let gravity do its job? Is it that simple?

 

Styrofoam will deform over time and stress the acrylic. I'd think wood skims maybe.... That sucks... the stand looks good.

M

 

well i feel like i cant give up on this after all that work. i was thinking 2 options:

1. Use a planer and try to plane the hump out of the top 3/4" plywood piece
2. remove the 3/4" plywood and put a 1/2" on top to see if it "gives" a bit better to the un equal cuts i guess

i cant put wood skims between the tank and top of stand, that would just not work well...

 

Neither would using Styrofoam or the 1/2 inch plywood method you described. The only way is to take off the 3/4 inch plywood and FIX the problem.

 

so how bout i take the 3/4" off, shim the 4 corners (top of 2x4's) as necessary. Check with the level (1 end on each corner) and screw the plywood back down through the shims into the 2x4's.

 

Sounds reasonable.

M

 

+1 on that.

Since I prescribe to the "better safe than sorry" school of thought, I would also shim the midpoint of each longer run (usually the back and front edges). 3/4 inch plywood is rated at 24 inch span max, anything longer and it could bend. Other than that, I think you have a good plan.

 

think i should pick up some lathe and use that for shims?

 

Why don't you use some wood putty to smooth everything out? This will fill in gaps and all that.

 

wood putty? never heard of it, i think shimming between the 2x4's and plywood sousd like a safer bet.