Steel Stand for a 77 Gallon

[Stile2]

I had some time this weekend to draft my Dad into the project. I had originally wanted an all wood stand, but given my workshop right now, no real table saw, and no money to buy one. I decided that a metal stand skinned with wood would be the better choice.

I drew up some plans and had them checked by a structural engineer that works with my Dad.

Raw Material.


Cutting the metal into the right sizes plus about 1/8"


Here are all the parts for the stand, before sand blasting.


We first milled both ends to ensure that pieces were exactly the same length.

[Stile2]

First we tank welded the top.


The reason for the middle cross tube, is that the tank is as big as the bigger area and the return tubes and closed loop tubes will go through the end section.

Welding the bottom.


We built the whole thing on a 4'x4'x1" slab of steel. It was sitting on a forklift to create a table big enough and flat enough to do the work.
Legs clapped and welding together, also checking for square as we go.


After that was done we made plugs for the eight open ends of the long tubes and welded them in. This is so the entire structure is sealed and when painted will not be exposed to salt water.

[Stile2]

And here is the finished product, at least the metal structure.


And just for fun since we had the forklift, we used it to load it onto my Jeep for the ride home.


Now I just have to complete the holes for the external overflow, paint the metal, and get the wood to skin the stand.

Any questions or comments always welcome.

Keith

[Stile2]

I have a whole thread on my new tank build that no one seems to be reading. Maybe some of you can give some suggestions or comments at New tank build thread

Thanks
Keith

[Bishop]

That's a good looking stand... tig welded even?

[Stile2]

Yes on the tig welding. My Dad is the general manager of Scaled Composites, which designs and builds all different kinds of aircraft. And has been welding engine mounts and landing gear since I was a kid.

Thanks for the compliment, I will be skinning it with birch plywood and making it look like a piece of wood furinture.

[Stile2]

Well I am finally ready to start skinning this stand. I am going to start with the canopy and then the bottom part. It will happen over the next couple of weeks, so I will be updating this thread finally.

Keith

[Stile2]

While I am at it.

Here is a picture of the stand painted with a paint called POR-15. POR-15 is seriously rust proof paint.


And here is the tank on the stand.


I will post the building of the wood skin in both my tank thread and this one.

Keith