Need Ideas For DIY Tables for 4x8 trays.

[Treetroit City]

I'm thinking of making some relatively simple ones out of plywood and 4x4's

Anyone got any better ideas? Need to have casters on the bottom and they need to be very short, like the table only 8-10 inches off the floor. Just high enough to slide a tote under to catch drainage.

Thank in advance if anyone has any ideas.

 

[hvac guy]

Don't use OSB, use plywood. If you use 1/2" or thicker, then cut strips about 10" to 12" wide that can be the sides. When you screw the 1/2" plywood sides to the 4' x 8' plywood sheet, use #6 wood screws, #8 wodd screws may split the plywood. If you want to make the tables more versatile, add some piano hinge to each side wall then it can fold down when you move the tables.

The legs use a mitre saw incase you need some angle braces for the legs. Once you have a good setup with table saw and mitre saw, you can build your tables pretty quick. If you need to layer the inside of the table, some panda film and leave the white side facing up. The castors are easy to find at Home Depot, but don't get them too big, then you can't screw them to bottom of the legs.

 

[Treetroit City]

Thanks hvac guy.

I guess I could be a little more clear, I'm just needing stands/tables not the actual trays. I have the trays already just looking for ideas to keep them elevated.

Thinking now of just going with "Fast Fit" metal stands but at 200 a pop I'd love something cheaper.

 

[burns1n209]

I made mine out of 1 1/2 in abs pipe, trays fit nice and snug and also very light if you need to move them by yyour self

 

[Treetroit City]

I made mine out of 1 1/2 in abs pipe, trays fit nice and snug and also very light if you need to move them by yyour self

Are you supporting it from the bottom or the lip? Why ABS and not PVC?

 

[Born Loser]

Ive never bought metal stands, I always have welded up my own. I had this 'wonderful idea' one day, and made 2 with 8' legs on the corners. The 1.5" OD legs slid inside of 1.5" ID stubs welded to the main frame. Holes were drilled every 4 inches along 4' of the legs, and one hole in each of the corner stubs. A trailer hitch pin secured the leg to the frame at whatever height I needed.(Adjustable for different res. heights/comfort).
Sounded like a great idea, I had corner posts on each tray that almost reached the ceiling -to easily add a net or cables for plant support. That was nice. But it was all but impossible to raise and lower the trays alone- empty or loaded. 2 people could manage it (kind of), but 4 would have worked best. I work alone at all times, so that idea wasn't the best...
The slip-fit/pin was nice for disassembly and storage though. But they eventually got tossed in a move, and the next ones were simple wood frames (2x4s and ply)---its just waaay faster, and I don't feel so bad about tossing them.

Now that I am thinking about it, why not 2 METRO carts for each tray? Would be nice and simple, easily adjustable height, casters, steel, posts avail in any length, Can support tons of weight, and can be kept as storage shelves if you decide to go another route.
METRO is the chrome looking wire units like many restaurants use for dry good storage.
I forget what the max shelf length is, but I believe a 4'er or bigger is avail.

 

[burns1n209]

Are you supporting it from the bottom or the lip? Why ABS and not PVC?

i support my 4x4 trays by the lip, nice tight fit, but the 4x8 is from the bottom basicilly a stand that the table sits on top of. I had to do that with the big table because i put a support across the middle and it didnt allow the tray to fall on to the lip. I just used abs because i have black trays and it matched better. Id think the pvc would work just as well. I did it this way because it was easier and faster to cut pipe and glue rather then bust out the table or circular saw and start cutting. Ive had 32 3gal bags in the big one freshly waterd and held weight just fine

 

[Treetroit City]

So I just found this company that sells square aluminum tubing, nylon connectors and even 2" casters to match.

Esto Connectors.

Gonna price out a 4x8 setup and see if it's worth it to go that route. If I can do one for under 100 I might give it a go.

 

[rocketman420]

I am about to get 2 4x8 ebb and flow tables and we are just building simple 2x4 frame. frame it like a house 16 in on center and put a few cross beams in it will be plenty strong, wood hold all the weight of our houses it can handle little plants.

 

[PetFlora]

delete double post

 

[PetFlora]

Search youtube for Hydro Halo Drip Rings

I am using a modified version with 320 gph pump to spray instead of drip

Trays are stoopid expensive. I use ~ 2 x 4 totes

View attachment 226737 View attachment 226738

 

[Treetroit City]

Search youtube for Hydro Halo Drip Rings

I am using a modified version with 320 gph pump to spray instead of drip

Trays are stoopid expensive. I use ~ 2 x 4 totes

View attachment 226739 View attachment 226737 View attachment 226738

The trays weren't too bad actually, I got them for $120 a piece.

 

[Treetroit City]

Well I'm going with 1 1/4" pvc for my stands now that I've discovered these specialty caps meant for accepting casters.

 

[pisspotgrower]

4 by 8 tables seem to sit on a couple of brick stacks no problems here

 

[Treetroit City]

4 by 8 tables seem to sit on a couple of brick stacks no problems here

Yeah? Do they roll pretty good like that?

If they don't roll your idea does me absolutely no good my friend.

 

[burns1n209]

Well I'm going with 1 1/4" pvc for my stands now that I've discovered these specialty caps meant for accepting casters.

View Image

No shit I need these for my stands, gonna look and see if they have 1 1/2. Your gonna like the stands, light weight, look good. What do I win for best stand idea? Jk... get a nice pair of pipe cutters, the type you cut like scissors and some glue and call it aday, oh yea and a level to keep legs straight.

 

[pisspotgrower]

Yeah? Do they roll pretty good like that?

If they don't roll your idea does me absolutely no good my friend.

My apologies, didnt read that u needed em to roll, my bad...looking foward seeing how ya pull it off

 

[LEDfoot]

Well I'm going with 1 1/4" pvc for my stands now that I've discovered these specialty caps meant for accepting casters.

View Image

I see the image is from amazon--can I please have another clue?


Edit: search "pvc caster cap"

 

[Nosmo King]

Lowes/Home Depot has folding saw horses...two tables in two minutes

 

[Treetroit City]

My apologies, didnt read that u needed em to roll, my bad...looking foward seeing how ya pull it off

No problem. I just have a specific idea in mind and it requires that I be able to move my trays around.

My tray in veg sits on 4 cinder blocks and a sheet of plywood.