Carpentry and Woodworking - Bracing shelf ideas??
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MCF
07-18-05, 09:45 AM
I have built in cabinets in my living room with a very large open shelf above the cabinets to set things on (about 4'long x 3' deep). The top is about 1" thick wood and it is supported around the perimeter. I want to support the shelf additioanlly so i can put a 40-50 gallon aquarium there (~400-500lbs). My wife and I sat on the cabinet and it did not move at all or flex any (combined weight about 330lbs). I am thinking of running and attaching a 4x4 up under the shelf the length of the shelf and then putting two vertical 2x4's to brace that. I would think the 4x4 bracing the shelf and the two vertical 2x4 should be sufficient to support 500 lbs...any thoughts?
chfite
07-18-05, 07:50 PM
How is the shelf attached to the wall?
mako
07-18-05, 07:51 PM
You have a couple of options, and consider going overboard intentionally. I have had MANY 55 gallon aquariums and believe me, 55 gallons is a LOT of water spread out over a floor. Never had it happen to a big one, but I did have a 10 gallon lose it's bond and soak my carpet. What a mess.
Anyhow, you'll really want to "build a tank" as you might say, because 500 pounds is correct and it's going to be a constant, 24/7, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year kind of force.
My recommendation is to certainly build in a lot of support, but you'll want vertical support in *at least* three places via the 4X4's, and that's assuming that the supports at the end (where the shelf ends) is super strong-- if not 150% sure, a vertical 2X4 in those places will help you sleep better. A 55 gallon is a 4-foot long tank, so you want a vertical support every 18 inches or so, plus the ends. Again, some folks may think I'm overdoing it here, but I'd much prefer to sleep easy at night than to snicker at how I pulled it off using minimal stuff. 4X4's are much cheaper than replacing molded aquarium-water sogged carpet or wood flooring.
If you're going to paint or stain the 4x4's, be sure to pick out nice ones or call a hardwood store and get some poplar 4X4. It sands to a very smooth finish and doesn't ooze sap like pine or other SYP products might.
Oh, check out http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/
Anyhow, you'll really want to "build a tank" as you might say, because 500 pounds is correct and it's going to be a constant, 24/7, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year kind of force.
My recommendation is to certainly build in a lot of support, but you'll want vertical support in *at least* three places via the 4X4's, and that's assuming that the supports at the end (where the shelf ends) is super strong-- if not 150% sure, a vertical 2X4 in those places will help you sleep better. A 55 gallon is a 4-foot long tank, so you want a vertical support every 18 inches or so, plus the ends. Again, some folks may think I'm overdoing it here, but I'd much prefer to sleep easy at night than to snicker at how I pulled it off using minimal stuff. 4X4's are much cheaper than replacing molded aquarium-water sogged carpet or wood flooring.
If you're going to paint or stain the 4x4's, be sure to pick out nice ones or call a hardwood store and get some poplar 4X4. It sands to a very smooth finish and doesn't ooze sap like pine or other SYP products might.
Oh, check out http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/