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DIY stand

A

Arce

So I'm planning a slow build for a 20L, should have it done by the end of the winter.

Here's my stand that I just built. Came out ok, few things here and there but I'm just nit picking.

I plan to just paint it black and put a nice seal on it to keep it looking nice.

This is the frame, simple design. Way overbuilt for a 20L but whatever.
546.jpg

Then I skinned and trimmed it and put the top on.
54.jpg

For the small amount of wood working skills I have and tools laying around the house it came out pretty good. Only thing I cant figure out is how to do the door. I want something simple, and im not really trying to order a custom door from some cabinet company. Any suggestions?
 
A

Arce

iTzJu said:
dude amazing job! better than anything i could of came up with. lol
Click to expand...

Haha thanks, i planned it out over two weeks and did some 3d computer modeling of it till i got it the way i wanted.

In person you can see the few flaws here and there but it came out good. I'm hoping when i paint it it'll look even better.
 
TanksNStuff

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Nice job! Are you going to put a piece of plywood down on the bottom to have a flat base for a sump? (or whatever else you may be storing under there)

Also, will your tank be reef ready? If so, you will need to cut an opening in the "top" for the drain/return pipes.

Not trying to nit pick you, just trying to give suggestions.

I'm in the middle of a stand build myself and believe me, I know how much overthinking goes into making these things. I've changed my mind on skinning designs so many times I stopped counting. I ended up deciding to just have one solid removable panel instead of doors. I'll be using 1/4" luan board with Oak Trim boards on the front to give it a door look (and also give it some rigidity), then just attaching a frame made of 1x2's to it on the back... and that frame will fit into the opening and latch to fasteners mounted on the inside of the stand opening. Still going back and forth between magnets and those roller type latches for the fasteners, but the idea is the 1x2 frame will be custom made to fit tight and snap into the opening and hold the whole panel into place. Hope that makes sense.
 
A

Arce

TanksNStuff said:
Nice job! Are you going to put a piece of plywood down on the bottom to have a flat base for a sump? (or whatever else you may be storing under there)

Also, will your tank be reef ready? If so, you will need to cut an opening in the "top" for the drain/return pipes.

Not trying to nit pick you, just trying to give suggestions.

I'm in the middle of a stand build myself and believe me, I know how much overthinking goes into making these things. I've changed my mind on skinning designs so many times I stopped counting. I ended up deciding to just have one solid removable panel instead of doors. I'll be using 1/4" luan board with Oak Trim boards on the front to give it a door look (and also give it some rigidity), then just attaching a frame made of 1x2's to it on the back... and that frame will fit into the opening and latch to fasteners mounted on the inside of the stand opening. Still going back and forth between magnets and those roller type latches for the fasteners, but the idea is the 1x2 frame will be custom made to fit tight and snap into the opening and hold the whole panel into place. Hope that makes sense.
Click to expand...


Thanks, Yea im going to put the plywood on the bottom just have to go back to the store to get some. The top of the stand is flush to the frame on the back so when i use my glassholes overflow it should be able to make it over the back and i wont have to worry about cutting the top.

I was thinking of doing my door exactly the same way, just not sure what i want to do. I like that thought but at the same time would rather want something hinged on so i dont have to keep removing it.



Mark... said:
Looks like a pro did it. Like it a lot.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
 
E

e_baer

try wainscoting. You can make the frame of the door with 2x4 (or something similar) and use the fram of the door and stand for the hinge. I have photos of what I did on mine, but I cant upload them.
 
A

Arce

Well i finished the door. I did what i originally planned to do and it ended up coming out good.

344.jpg

4324.jpg

I still plan to paint it black, but i want to seal it with something to keep it looking nice and be able to withstand. Can i just use regular poly? or do i use something different since i painted it and didnt stain it. Any insight would be great.
 
redfishbluefish

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
If you are going to paint it, just use a good primer(I like Kilz Complete) and a good exterior latex (or spray paint).

if you wish to put Polyurethane over it (which I wouldn't recommend), go with a spar varnish or marine varnish/polyurethane.
 
A

Arce

redfishbluefish said:
If you are going to paint it, just use a good primer(I like Kilz Complete) and a good exterior latex (or spray paint).

if you wish to put Polyurethane over it (which I wouldn't recommend), go with a spar varnish or marine varnish/polyurethane.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, I just primed it and then painted as you said.

Heres how it came out.Dance

555.jpg

photo_529950.jpg

Finished up, now I just need to start grabbing equipment to start the 20L. Its going to be frustrating to stare at the stand and have no tank. Ill probably just leave it in the basement.:p
 
wolverine57

wolverine57

Very nice! Great job! I'm getting ready to build my first stand for a 4 chamber clownfish breeding tank, which I will open my own thread. Just one question: You mention something about 3D computer model, can you provide me with a link for that?
 
kschweer

kschweer

Administrator
Staff member
Officer Emeritus
Moderator
wolverine57 said:
Very nice! Great job! I'm getting ready to build my first stand for a 4 chamber clownfish breeding tank, which I will open my own thread. Just one question: You mention something about 3D computer model, can you provide me with a link for that?
Click to expand...

Not positive what the op used but I have used google sketchup in the past. A little hard to use until you get used to it.
 
A

Arce

wolverine57 said:
Very nice! Great job! I'm getting ready to build my first stand for a 4 chamber clownfish breeding tank, which I will open my own thread. Just one question: You mention something about 3D computer model, can you provide me with a link for that?
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Easiest to use would probably be sketchup. But i used a program that i used to use back when i studied architecture in school. Its called Rhinoceros and its free for 25 file saves. Its not a hard program at all, in fact you could probably learn the basic commands within a couple hours which is all you would need to do a simple stand design. If you want i can do a quick model if you give me the dimensions and details of what you want built. If you like that program it can easily be torrented to get a free version. No matter which program you want to use just youtube some tutorials to make it easier.
 
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