Things You'll Need
- 4-inch by 4-inch by 37-inch lengths of lumber (4)
- 4-inch by 4-inch by 11-inch lengths of lumber (4)
- 4-inch by 4-inch by 22-inch lengths of lumber (4)
- Belt or hand sander
- 4-inch angle brackets (24)
- 3-inch wood screws
- Wood glue
- Screw gun
- 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of 1/2-inch plywood
- Jigsaw
- 4-foot by 8-foot sheets of 1/8-inch plywood (2)
- Finishing nails
- Stain or paint
- Polyurethane finish
Instructions
Sand the ends of the 4-inch by 4-inch lumber lengths until they are smooth.
Set out a rectangle made up of two 37-inch pieces of 4-inch by 4-inch lumber laid side by side, 11 inches apart, with two of the 11-inch pieces joining the ends together. Glue this rectangle together with wood glue. Use an angle bracket secured with wood screws at each corner to join the pieces together securely. Repeat this process to build another, identical rectangle. Allow them to dry fully before continuing. These rectangles will be the top and bottom of the fish-tank stand.
Vertically attach the four 22-inch lengths of 4-inch by 4-inch lumber on top of the corners of the bottom rectangle, using wood glue and angle brackets. There should be two angle brackets for each of these "legs," so they can be attached to both pieces of 4 by 4 extending from the corners of the base. Allow the glue to dry before continuing.
Set the remaining rectangle on top of the vertical supports and affix it in place, using wood glue and angle brackets in the same configuration used to affix the supports to the base. Allow the glue to dry before continuing.
Trace the outline of the bottom of your fish tank onto the piece of 1/2-inch plywood, then add 1/2 inch in all dimensions and draw the new, expanded outline. Use the jigsaw to cut out this piece, which will be the top surface of the stand. Sand the cut edges smooth. Trace the sanded piece on the plywood and cut out an identical piece, then sand it smooth as well. This last piece will be the bottom of the stand.
Affix the 1/2-inch plywood pieces to the top and bottom of the stand, with the flat end flush with one side of the frame and the bowed side extending out beyond the other. Use wood glue and wood screws to secure them.
Cut out panels of 1/8-inch plywood that fit the dimensions of the sides of the stand and affix them in place with wood glue and finishing nails. Allow the glue to dry before continuing.
Paint or stain the stand as you wish. When the paint is dry, paint on a layer of clear polyurethane to protect the finish.