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Making a rain barrel stand.

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fourjeepin

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It would probably hold me, but I wouldn’t stand on that. With two full water barrels, it will fold like a cheap suit.
 
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EOC_Jason

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This kind of reminds me of a high school competition thing where teams were challenged to build something holding a certain amount of weight using the least amount of materials.

I would hate to see it fail after it's put in place... I can just picture the collapse ripping out the brick veneer, busting the water spigot near the ground, shattering the basement window, and water going everywhere!

It's like one of those Farmer's commercials.
 

bullnerd

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This kind of reminds me of a high school competition thing where teams were challenged to build something holding a certain amount of weight using the least amount of materials.

I and two friends won that in 9th grade, 83' I think. Soda straw skyscraper. Held a bunch of weight, but I forget how much. Made the Trenton newspapers! lol!
 

Kaizen

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I would hate to see it fail after it's put in place... I can just picture the collapse ripping out the brick veneer, busting the water spigot near the ground, shattering the basement window, and water going everywhere!
.

This is why I want video. It would be epic. At least he can make a few bucks if it goes viral




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deranged

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So the big takeaway that I noticed from the OP's last post, was that his house water spigot was going to be located under the "stand", as in, a human may at some point, for some reason, place it's body underneath the vats of water to turn on the hose. And at no point will this human bump or sideload any of the columns.

I wasn't too against it, until that point, the human in a compromised position under the "structure".
 

Shiftless

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The OP has allowed for an easy access spigot that he is going to connect to the house spigot to avoid too much crawling around under this little wooden frame holding over 800 pounds. (See pic3 in post #26) I assume it will be connected with a short piece of garden hose that will be under full house pressure 24/7. Another far more minor but still bad idea.
Let me add my name to the almost 30 others who have already voiced their concerns and warnings about this woefully inadequate rain barrel support structure.

ambenz: It will be far easier and less expensive, not to mention SAFER, to stop now and rebuild that thing rather than wait until it collapses and possibly causes injury or death.
 
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WQ59B

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A quick Google image search for "rain barrel stand" shows even the smallest single rain barrels are on 4x4s instead of 1.5x1.5s.
 

PugetDude

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This thread is like so many here on the GJ...

OP asks "what do you think of my design?"

GJ responds with a huge, collective, nearly unanimous thumbs down. Many are professionals in engineering/design/construction/fabrication and point out all the reasons why.

OP shrugs off all the advice he solicited, stubbornly forges ahead anyway.

Yet another social media search for affirmation. :(
 

bradleykd

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Im interested in the final product.

I'd like to see it succeed, but I'd also like to see it fail... I'm torn between the OP getting to give everyone here a middle finger and getting to see a pile of toothpicks in a puddle.

I guess I'd like to see it succeed more because there likely won't be video when or if it fails, so it'll just be a bunch of guys here being dicks... that's not as fun.
 

EOC_Jason

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Anyone check the local news websites in his area? Hehe...

I think his idea was good, his plan was good, but like all too many projects gone awry someone inevitably cheaps out the building materials and chaos ensues...
 

BD1

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I figured it out. He's figuring on " LIGHT " rain. Sorry had to add more humor.
Dry in Chicago.
 

Shiftless

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Ambenz where are you?

We are interested in an update, please!

(He isn’t dead. I see that he was logged onto GJ a couple of hours ago.)
 
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EOC_Jason

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This is coincidence but so funny. Came across this on FB feed and just had to post the picture...

I don't think they used 2x2's... lol.
 

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theundermount

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This is coincidence but so funny. Came across this on FB feed and just had to post the picture...

I don't think they used 2x2's... lol.
that's a nice setup like the idea of the overflow

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southalabama

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I read the entire thread hoping to see how well it held up.

I saw some comments about drywall screws. Hopefully the OP didn't use drywall screws. Though we have done it drywall screws shouldn't be used for anything structural.

2x2 treated lumber is the crappiest lumber at the lumberyard locally. I live in a saw mill town. You can't do long projects with it because it twists and bows. Occasionally a knot is in it and you just break it in pieces.

I've got a couple rain barrels awaiting a stand. I intend to use 4x4 posts 30" into the ground.

Good luck. Your project your decisions.
 

nbpt100

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I have built a few of them for customers and always used 4x4's for 4 the legs and 2 x 6's elsewhere. It is not real precise work. My customers want something that will be robust and not expensive. "It is not an Ethan Allen" as one of my cabinet making teachers would often say.

If you want it to look like an Ethan Allen, have at it. But I never had anyone who would want to pay for such detail and aesthetics.
 

Shiftless

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Hey, ambenz...
We haven’t heard from you in 9 days. Did your stand hold up to the test, did it collapse, or did your project get stalled? It looked like you had finished your initial design build.
What’s happening? :dunno:
 

strutaeng

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Ok, I read this long thread...I was just going to suggest that this was a perfect project for STEEL angles and tubes.

Anyways, I was curious and did a simplified calculation and a 2x2 #2 southern pine post 3' tall is good for roughly 1,350 pounds of axial load, so it is likely that it will hold up the weight. The connections might be a different story. It is hard to connect 2x2s without splitting. There is just not enough meat. 2x4s would have been better, but at least he lapped/rabbeted them.

Ok, I've eaten all my popcorn!:lol_hitti

I think OP will be fine, give him a break.
 

Kaizen

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Just saying if I was this poor guy I’d be welding up solid bar and applying veneer to it just so I didn’t have to cave. Hell I’d have gotten a third barrel to put on top for good measure


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BukitCase

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"I’d be welding up solid bar and applying veneer to it"

Yup, 2" .120 wall square tube, half lapped like those little sticks, ten bux worth of wood grained contact paper, couple extra knots drawn in with a sharpie, and a healthy dose of "nyaah, told ya so"... :beer: ...Steve
 

Firstram

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Way under built, I'd never trust that unless it's supposed to fall on action.

Hell, I used 4x on a planting table for my wife.
IMG_3701.jpg
 

jonshonda

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I admire his attitude towards those who might challenge his ideas. But in this case the criticism you are receiving isn't along the lines of "oh, I would have only used cedar I cut by hand from the forests of sri lanka, and hand crafted it with tools from the 1800's". The criticism you are receiving is actually valid, and you should strongly consider donating that stand to a dumpster, or re-purposing it as a balsa wood storage stand.

With all joking aside, try again with 4x4's or double up 2x4's.
 
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