How do you level up wooden stands?

[valiko]

May be a dumb question.

It is easy to level up the aquarium with the steel stand, just use some spacers under the legs.

How do you go in leveling up the wooden stand?

[darkdep]

How far out of level is it?  What does the bottom look like?

[kennyman]

The one I put together this weekend has 2x4 legs that run straight down out the bottom. I just fliped it over and ran the beltsander on it untill it leveld up for the spot I wanted. Good thing I made the legs extend 3" below the bottom of the cabnet part. After I move it around a few times they may be much shorter  

[valiko]

Well, I know that some angle is accepted.

But what would you do with the box frame, the stand that does not have legs....

[kennyman]

I have a box frame on my 55g that I shimmed with thin plywood. I think it was 1/8" stuff. I put two pieces at the low end and some single ones for a foot along the base. I thought it alot better to shim at the base of the stand than near the tank. I held my breath filling that thing though!

kinda like this;
_
_ _______

[nickie]

When I build a wooden stand I like to use the steel corners and end supports,.. sold at home depot... the cement flooring is`nt always level, the scews in the steel braces should never be tightened tight ,..leave a little play for an uneven floor .... check your Table top with a level or even your tank, add some water in the bottom to see if the table top is level .... use cedar shimes sold in packets at home depot.... shim the legs at the floor.... to even out the table top !!l,...  
    When I build a stand, I saw up all the legs first at exactly the same height !!... use all steel supports with screws for the corners and table support... NO GLUE...just screws to allow for movement or adjustment of table top........hope its helpful ... Home depotr have sheets to illustrate construction of a heavy duty table !!iJohn

[darkdep]

Cutting the legs to the same length won't make the table level...unless the floor is perfect...which is often not the case.  

If you look at the construction method used in many cabinets (kitchen, bathroom) the solid carcase sits on a "base frame" that is inset from the front of the cabinet.  This is usually set in place and leveled, then the cabinet is installed on top of it.  This is not likely an option with a finished cabinet tho.

Plywood or cedar shims my friend...

[Iceman]

Install adjustable feet.

[darkdep]

The only problem with adjustable feet for an aquarium stand is it defeats the goal of spreading out the weight over a larger surface area.  It WILL work; but it causes a new issue while solving the old.

[Iceman]

The only problem with adjustable feet for an aquarium stand is it defeats the goal of spreading out the weight over a larger surface area.  It WILL work; but it causes a new issue while solving the old.

Right you are. After reading the post again, one must assume the box frame is sitting flush on the floor. I assumed there was legs. Feet won't work. Hardwood shims seem to be the way to go. Or plywood. One could measure the angles required to have the box frame sit level on said floor, then plane the frame accordingly, but I would not recommend this if: 1) you plan to move the frame and: 2) you are not good with a planer, be it hand or power.

I do let my tanks tilt 1/32" toward the front so when the tank is full of water, the level of the water at the rear of the tank is lower. Ever so slightly. But my largest tank is only a forty gallon. Not sure if this is wise for larger tanks.

So I recommend shims. If it is not level in one corner then you will have to vary the shims in height along the length of each side to ensure stability. Hope this is making sense. Us woodworkers tend to assume you know what we mean.  :roll:  But we mean well.  

[kennyman]

Just simply put your level on the top of the tank, 4' if you got one, and lift the corner of it till it sits straight. You can then see how much shiming you need to do. If its a box frame it will not flex all that much  but supporting the entire raised portion at floor level will limit any stress put on your tank by the stand flexing.