Where to get a custom stand?
- Thread starter Raul-7
- Start date
heh.. what makes one a "master" stand maker? but yes, RL has an inhouse welder and can make metal stands for ya.
you're talking budget at this point. "no pine or softwood" leaves a lot of options, what's your budget? what do you want it to look like? post up some example pictures of what you're shooting for. MDF is a bear of a material to work with, it tears up blades and is heavy as hell.
most importantly, what size tank is this for? there's a threshold of cost/benefit between wood and steel. Personally, i think that threshold is about 120g. Below that, you can build a stand out of wood for cheaper than steel, above that, steel becomes a better option.
the caveat here is that most people do not factor "labor" into the equation. with wood stands, lots of people have wood working tools, and know how to cut / nail / screw pieces together, so they're only looking at the price of the materials. With steel, not everyone has welder / cutters and the know how. This is why steel stands seem "expensive", even though realistically, steel stands for tanks above 120g not only costs less, but weigh less, and performs better if you're not paying someone to build it.
case in point, this 6x2x3 stand made of 2"x2" steel tubing costed me $130 in material. that's about how much you'd be paying for 2x6 and 2x4 for a wood stand.
anyways, if you're looking for legit recommendations, put more effort into your request. the more specific you are, the most specific we can be.
you're talking budget at this point. "no pine or softwood" leaves a lot of options, what's your budget? what do you want it to look like? post up some example pictures of what you're shooting for. MDF is a bear of a material to work with, it tears up blades and is heavy as hell.
most importantly, what size tank is this for? there's a threshold of cost/benefit between wood and steel. Personally, i think that threshold is about 120g. Below that, you can build a stand out of wood for cheaper than steel, above that, steel becomes a better option.
the caveat here is that most people do not factor "labor" into the equation. with wood stands, lots of people have wood working tools, and know how to cut / nail / screw pieces together, so they're only looking at the price of the materials. With steel, not everyone has welder / cutters and the know how. This is why steel stands seem "expensive", even though realistically, steel stands for tanks above 120g not only costs less, but weigh less, and performs better if you're not paying someone to build it.
case in point, this 6x2x3 stand made of 2"x2" steel tubing costed me $130 in material. that's about how much you'd be paying for 2x6 and 2x4 for a wood stand.
anyways, if you're looking for legit recommendations, put more effort into your request. the more specific you are, the most specific we can be.
Industrial Metal Supply
not the cheapest place when buying retail, but they have 20% off coupons almost as often as Harbor Freight. I just wait for those coupons to buy.
not the cheapest place when buying retail, but they have 20% off coupons almost as often as Harbor Freight. I just wait for those coupons to buy.
thickness really isn't a problem, 1/16" is more than enough for what we're doing. you don't need structural steel.
the thing to consider is the cross section.
I only went 2"x2" because i had the coupon, and the cost difference between 1.5x1.5 was negligible. I could have done 1.5x1.5 for my 6x2x3 stand, with only 1 vertical post for the 6' span, and it would have been fine. I went with 2 because I wanted 3 doors instead of 2 big ones.
anyways, long story short, you only need 2x2 for the stand size you mentioned.
the thing to consider is the cross section.
I only went 2"x2" because i had the coupon, and the cost difference between 1.5x1.5 was negligible. I could have done 1.5x1.5 for my 6x2x3 stand, with only 1 vertical post for the 6' span, and it would have been fine. I went with 2 because I wanted 3 doors instead of 2 big ones.
anyways, long story short, you only need 2x2 for the stand size you mentioned.
