DIY aquarium stand and canopy attempt (fail)

Ok well I consider myself to be a jack of all trades. Usually I have a knack for being able to get things done weather it be fish related, tattooing, drawing/painting, masonry, mechanics, technology related... But the only thing I can't seem to get around is carpentry.
About three days ago, I acquired an interest in building a new stand and canopy for my 125 gallon. I did a google search for design plans and found a few. I chose one to emulate and just alter the measurements.
I went into the project headstrong and confident. I bought pine wood 2x4's, ply wood and screws, borrowed the necessary power tools from my cousin who owns a tool shop here in Trinidad and commenced with my design thinking this thing would be easy.
Boy oh boy I was wrong. Firstly, I was able to cut the 2x4 very easily with a miter saw. Started to screw the beams together to realize that these 2x4's are insanely hard. My screws were not going through the wood easily at all and my drill was just eating away the heads of the screws.
Next, I decided to use a drill bit to pre drill the holes so that the screws would go in easier. The drill bit was slightly too big. So the screws went in a tad too easily.
Next, I continued construction and realized that I can't seem to wrap my head/hands around carpentry.
I threw in the drill and gonna use the wobbly attempt of an aquarium stand for a work desk of some sort.
Any advice or techniques I'm missing here?
It is insanely frustrating.
I will post pics of the "fail" tomorrow.
Any advice would be really appreciated. Attempt part two next week.

 

Sounds like you are on the right track. Pilot holes will make it easier to get your screws in plus it will prevent the wood from splitting. It will be easier to help once you post your pics.

 

Got photos?
Pre drilling is a must. Get the correct drill bit.
On the first page of my build thread there are a couple of tools I got from Harbor freight pretty cheap. Scroll to post #7:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-of...imless-thread-2013-a-149613.html#.U1Cd7ShalYA
The red clamps are a life saver. It is super important to make a stand level so try to get cuts and joints as perfect as you can.
With the pocket hole guide you can eliminate a lot of extra wood that would otherwise be necessary.
Search results for: 'pocket hole guide'
I'm not sure if they deliver to Trinidad but if not look around for one.
Google "rocket engineer tank stand" and you will find about every thing you need to know.
Good luck.

 

Thank you for the responses, I'm gonna go get my phone now to take some quick photos.

 

Sounds like you were using a screw bit that was too small for the screw.

 

Above is the design but I did alter the measurements. My aquarium measures 60" long and 18" wide.

The screws in place. Some are still jotting out and can't get them through the wood.
The drill bit I got today is a 3/16" and that's a tad too big. The screws seem to just slip in.

Above, some screws can't go in any further, the Phillip bit just ate away the head so can't even take them out.

And here is the size gap in almost all four legs, rendering the stand wobbly.

 

And here's where I just left it.

 

I was initially till I got the size right. I needed a number 2. I got my hands on them. A bit easier but they're still destroying the heads. Maybe a #3 might work better.

 

Thanks a lot for the links that jig looks like something I would love to get my hands on...
I will try to source one for the attempt pt2,

 

Pocket hole jigs and corner clamps make things a lot easier. If you can't come up with a jig, get screws that use a torx or square bit they don't round out like a phillips head screw will. If you haven't already done it search up rocket engineer stand as Av8 stated.