Piggy
Reef enthusiast
You got a pretty good start.
chipmunkofdoom2's 29g EXTREME RENOVATION!
- Thread starter chipmunkofdoom2
- Start date
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Thanks! I just finished the legs of the stand so I'm posting that stuff up now.
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Tank Building Phase 2
Phase 2: The Legs
Okay, so today I slapped together the legs. The joint between the frames is hard to describe, so view the pics!
Okay, so here is where I left off, with the bottom and top frame.
Time to mark where I'm cutting the notch.
Then, cutting the notch
Horray, one of 4 done!
Okay, now that they're all finished, it's time to attach them to the other boards.
I'm using the same dowel-glue-screw method I used for the middle support of the top frame. Measuring where to drill...
Drilling...
Adding glue and dowels.
Then screwing the pieces together!
All finished legs... and my dog, haha.
Okay, so I made crappy cuts and I need to file them down a bit before they'll fit together as well as I'd like, so for now I'm just kinda setting up the pieces as they're eventually gonna be.
I may do the filing tonight, I may not.. I haven't decided yet, haha.
Phase 2: The Legs
Okay, so today I slapped together the legs. The joint between the frames is hard to describe, so view the pics!
Okay, so here is where I left off, with the bottom and top frame.
Time to mark where I'm cutting the notch.
Then, cutting the notch
Horray, one of 4 done!
Okay, now that they're all finished, it's time to attach them to the other boards.
I'm using the same dowel-glue-screw method I used for the middle support of the top frame. Measuring where to drill...
Drilling...
Adding glue and dowels.
Then screwing the pieces together!
All finished legs... and my dog, haha.
Okay, so I made crappy cuts and I need to file them down a bit before they'll fit together as well as I'd like, so for now I'm just kinda setting up the pieces as they're eventually gonna be.
I may do the filing tonight, I may not.. I haven't decided yet, haha.
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
looks good so far
d2mini
Reef enthusiast
Looks nice and sturdy!
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Thanks guys. The plans I saw on another site did the same thing for the legs, except they used a 4x4 and just cut the notch out of it instead of fabricating the legs out of 2x4s. I thought about that, but my dad's saw really blows, so I figured this should work just as well.
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
2x4's are plenty strong, if they can hold up a house then they can hold your tank
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Yeah, I'm thinkin so, haha. If you check out that travesty of a stand that my tank's sitting on now, it's a huge upgrade
Piggy
Reef enthusiast
Your making it look too easy. It'll be one sturdy stand when you finish. I like the way you posted step by step photos.
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Thanks piggy! I've been trying to make it sort of a basic how-to.. like, I didn't post all the details like what went wrong and how I corrected it and little hangups I got stuck on, but I figured it would be more than enough if someone else wanted to give it a shot.
It's definitely been time consuming, what with me splitting a board and having to redo some stuff and with my limited supply of tools, but I think it's going to turn out okay.
It's definitely been time consuming, what with me splitting a board and having to redo some stuff and with my limited supply of tools, but I think it's going to turn out okay.
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Phase 3: Assembling the Skeleton
Okay so this morning I slapped together what I've dubbed the "skeleton" and let me tell you, what a pain in the ass!!
First things first, I had to put a couple spare piece of wood in between the legs so they'd stand still while I was screwing them in.
So then I pretty much added the wood glue, predrilled, and screwed them in place.
After I did that with all 4 of those S.O.Bs... :frustrat:
Time to slather some glue on the the notches and put the top frame on.
Then predrill and drill and...
FINISHED!!
Now time to cover it up with some plywood.. I'm not sure how to do all that, but I'm drawing up some plans and I'll keep you guys updated.
Okay so this morning I slapped together what I've dubbed the "skeleton" and let me tell you, what a pain in the ass!!
First things first, I had to put a couple spare piece of wood in between the legs so they'd stand still while I was screwing them in.
So then I pretty much added the wood glue, predrilled, and screwed them in place.
After I did that with all 4 of those S.O.Bs... :frustrat:
Time to slather some glue on the the notches and put the top frame on.
Then predrill and drill and...
FINISHED!!
Now time to cover it up with some plywood.. I'm not sure how to do all that, but I'm drawing up some plans and I'll keep you guys updated.
d2mini
Reef enthusiast
Looks good! Just measure real well before cutting the plywood.
Put the sides on first, flush with the front and back.
Then when you cut/install the front, cover the edges of the plywood on the sides so it looks clean from the front. Use finishing nails to attach to the frame.
Are you doing doors or something on the front?
Put the sides on first, flush with the front and back.
Then when you cut/install the front, cover the edges of the plywood on the sides so it looks clean from the front. Use finishing nails to attach to the frame.
Are you doing doors or something on the front?
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Yeah, I'm doing doors.. I'm trying to work up something with molding to make the corners rounded on the stand. We'll see though, I need to go to Home Depot to see what kind of wood I can get for it.
I'd like to have both the front and side pieces of plywood flush, and then get something like 1/4 circle molding to put in between.. kinda hard to describe, but it will make the corners rounded if I do it correctly. Then I'll probably fill the holes with filler and sand then paint it.
I'd like to have both the front and side pieces of plywood flush, and then get something like 1/4 circle molding to put in between.. kinda hard to describe, but it will make the corners rounded if I do it correctly. Then I'll probably fill the holes with filler and sand then paint it.
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
looks good, your tank will be nothing for that stand
yote
In Memoriam
Your gonna have a good looking stand when you get it finished.
Piggy
Reef enthusiast
Like the additional pics. That stand is going to be real heavy to move. Looking real good.
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Thanks a lot for all the kind comments guys :mrgreen:
I'm kinda stuck on the doors. I know how I want to make them, but the design I'm basing my stand off of was much different proportionately.. it was shorter than mine and longer, so my doors are going to be kind of tall. I just don't want them to look goofy.. oh well. I'm just going to focus on covering her up at this point.
As for the finish, I was leaning toward painting it black because my tank has black trim and I don't plan on getting a hood for it, so I think it would look goofy if I stained it. Any input?
I'm kinda stuck on the doors. I know how I want to make them, but the design I'm basing my stand off of was much different proportionately.. it was shorter than mine and longer, so my doors are going to be kind of tall. I just don't want them to look goofy.. oh well. I'm just going to focus on covering her up at this point.
As for the finish, I was leaning toward painting it black because my tank has black trim and I don't plan on getting a hood for it, so I think it would look goofy if I stained it. Any input?
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
cant go wrong with black
d2mini
Reef enthusiast
Mine is stained ebony.
With 3 coasts it looks black in the shadows but with some light it has warm brown tones.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluelemonphoto/sets/72157608259679069/
With 3 coasts it looks black in the shadows but with some light it has warm brown tones.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluelemonphoto/sets/72157608259679069/
chipmunkofdoom2
Reefing newb
Wow that doesn't look to bad man. I may do that. I dunno, I'm still a long way from being done. We'll see what I'm feeling like. My stand currently is black and I think it looks good, so I'm probably just gonna stick with the black.
