Skirts around steel stands

[Fliger]

Well I know there are a few on this thread - but I can't find them now. I'm trying to see pictures of wood frames around steel stands. Does anyone have this - or know of threads that have these? I'm trying to get some ideas of how to do it. I'm either going to do it myself or have a furniture builder do it - but one that I have in mind is a little lost how to make it all work.

I'm leaning towards doing it myself, to justify buying lots of cool new toys.

Thanks,

David

[grim]

For a minute there I thought you might have been talking about a fabric skirt (as I've seen done) and were eluding to a sewing machine being a 'cool toy'.

You'll need to look up a custom cabinet maker, not necessarily furniture builder, although they are related. You can make one relatively easily, as the structure is there and you are really only making cover panels. You'll definately need at least a table saw to do this kind of thing on a big tank. Second tool is going to be a compound miter for any moldings/millwork. Anything else is just small hand and finish tools. I'd recommend buying a small pnuematic finish nailer as well, best thing since sliced bread for tacking together things temporarily (or while glue sets).

You'll be able to easily cover both the cost of the wood and the tools for the price any cabinet maker will quote you (if it's anything at least somewhat substantial). You've got a chance at making something halfway decent, but if you don't, toss it and try again, at least you've got the tools and are slowly on your way to getting the know how.

Expect the wood to cost much more than you thought if you go with a good quality hardwood and anything better than (usually less than paint quality, anything else is better than) home depot millwork.

jb

[grim]

Part II - How to make it work

You'll want to make 3 panels in total, sides and the front, not connected. The simplest is going to make 3 static panels, no doors, just fancy millwork to make it look anything other than plain. (You might want to use 2-3 panels across the front if you are spanning a very large difference)

You are going to drill into the steel stand and tap them so you've got rigid connection points. Don't go drilling with a big drill, these points aren't really holding much weight. Now, you've got some options, if you are really making a skirt, we'll just use these holes to hold screws that you'll hang the panels on like a picture on a wall, you'll need to attach the hang points to the back of all the panels (preferrably square). At the bottoms I'd use simple magnet latches (metal plate on door, magnet on the stand) to keep things snug. You'll be able to easily pull off all the panels and put them back without much effort. You could hinge your panels to the stand, but that would be a much more involved project.

jb