Anyone good at making stands?

saltykelly · #1 11/29/2007, 03:13 PM

I've been wanting to build a stand for my aquarium so that I can have a sump. Problem is I'm horrible with woodworking. Anyone good at this who could at least give me some tips or how to?

shiveley · #2 11/29/2007, 03:19 PM

Hell, I'm in the same boat, but I'd rather just pay some skilled woodworker/cabinet maker to build one for me...as long as it was cheaper than I could buy retail, that is.

so, basically, I'm in the same boat as saltkelly

petes97 · #3 11/29/2007, 04:17 PM

What general size are you looking for. What finish, etc?

reefer334 · #4 11/29/2007, 04:32 PM

I am building 2 of them one for a truvu wide 300 and one for a 120 oceanic tech series.I would love some DIY advice as I am building these myself.

saltykelly · #5 11/29/2007, 04:38 PM

20W x 17L x 30T Classic mahogany finish. And it would be nice if it had something to give it more shape like moulding or something.

bored4long · #6 11/29/2007, 04:50 PM

I'm also attempting to build a stand for my 120. Its a hell of a lot harder than I anticipated. I hope to pick up a compound miter saw this weekend, because I couldn't make square cuts with my circular saw if my life depended on it. My template is Marino's 120 stand and I'd be eccstatic if it comes out half as nice as his:

reefer334: I have a used and mildly torn apart oak stand for a 120 with matching canopy that you may have for cheap if you are interested. It came with my 120 and I decided not to use it.

little_d · #7 11/29/2007, 08:30 PM

It depend on how elaborate you like to make the moulding, my stand and canopy are diy. It fairly simple to make actually.

Tool I used:

Cheap table saw with a fine cutting blade
Regular and Pipe clamps
kreg tool to make the angle holes
drill
srews
wood glue
level
square
sand block and paper
mitre block with saw (even better if you have a mitre saw)
what ever finish you desired.

The moulding took the longest other than that the stand can be put together in a day.

Doors can be found online fairly cheap along with mounting hardware, http://cabinetdoorsandhardware.com/

Draw a 2D image of the front of your stand without any moulding, plan on how many doors and how tall you like to make the stand.

Do not plan such that you have to cut a piece of hardwood the long way, for example if the length of your stand is 48" and you like to use 6" wide hardwood to skin the right and the left, (the finish 6" hardwood is only 5.5" to 5.75" depend on where you bought them from make sure you take into account for that and go measure the wood before you start with the layout, I'll use 5.5" for this example), that mean you left with 37" as an opening, looking at the door website above I see that there is a 18"x25" oak door, 2 of those would be perfect for a flush mount configuration. If you use 4" wide hardwood to skin the top and bottom now you have a 32" tall stand, or wider if you desire a taller stand.

If you plan this right, there will be as low as only 4 cuts for the face of this stand.

Once you got the face down, now start with the frame.

bladeruner143 · #8 11/29/2007, 09:05 PM

Thats a nice looking stand you got there Lil D

saltykelly · #9 11/29/2007, 10:52 PM

Little D's stand is almost exactly what I am looking for. If someone has the know how to make one I could pay them or work out a trade. (I work in pest control and could treat your home.) Otherwise I will ask a friend of mine that is a cabinetmaker.

funman1 · #10 11/29/2007, 11:55 PM

I hear rafael13 is pretty good at them..
Havn't had one made for me but I have seen his work at fellow reefers houses..

saltykelly · #11 11/30/2007, 12:17 AM

Little D- I'd like to believe I could make such a fine piece of furniture with ease, but (with reality and all) I'll never pull it off. It's funny, I can do geometry and calculus and do many things with my hands. But when it comes to woodworking you'd think a fourth grader on ritalin with baseball bats for arms built it. But I really appreciate all the info.

rafael13 · #12 11/30/2007, 04:15 AM

I been known to made a few, my work is not great but it beats paying an arm and a leg for a stand
I'll be glad to help

saltykelly · #13 12/06/2007, 11:29 PM

How much would you charge for your time?

H20Sidhe · #14 12/07/2007, 12:30 AM

Rafael,

Did you make the one I have?

Buskey · #15 12/07/2007, 01:17 AM

Salty Kelley- I feel your pain. I have extensive training tearing down and rebuilding jet engines. But if I had to make some simple shelving in the garage the only way it would stand up is if it is nailed to a wall.
( I've done it)
Matter of fact, my wife still won't let buy wood and try to build something!
That is why my current 55G tank is on an old dresser, no doors, ugly as the bride of Frankenstein! but hey, it is sort of functional. The tank hasn't fallen through it yet!

rafael13 · #16 12/07/2007, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltykelly
How much would you charge for your time?

ONE MILLION DOLLARS !!!!!

j/k I'm really cheap

rafael13 · #17 12/07/2007, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by H20Sidhe
Rafael,

Did you make the one I have?

no, that came with the tank

delusions · #18 12/07/2007, 02:05 PM

I can help anyone that needs info with the structural parts and finishing. Like Little_D said, it just depends on how much time, effort and money you want to put into finishing.

jeweldamsel · #19 12/07/2007, 06:55 PM

The overhead (tools and woods) are not cheap. If you only need one or two stands, it would be cheaper to order them, IMO.

Painting or staining the wood is another big step. I wonder if anyone has any good link about that topic.

kdblove_99 · #20 12/08/2007, 02:33 AM

Mark,

Thank stand and canopy is amazing. Love IT!

D&KSac · #21 12/08/2007, 11:01 AM

wow that is some really nice work. Is that just moulding? It looks really great.

D&KSac · #22 12/08/2007, 11:10 AM

If any of you guys have worked with moulding like that Id love to learn how you guys did that. Ive got a preaty solid stand that doesnt look bad just would like to spruce it up.

jeweldamsel · #23 12/08/2007, 12:03 PM

What is moulding?

D&KSac · #24 12/08/2007, 12:07 PM

like crown moulding forgive me if i spelled it wrong. The trim you can tack on with finish nails and then stain it or paint it.

little_d · #25 12/08/2007, 02:33 PM

Yup, it's just the molding that make it looks a lot beter, the crown molding is a bit harder to cut compared to the base molding but not that hard. Without the flute/column on both side it would be just cake.

The most time consuming part for me is because I am using a mitre box and hand saw to do it rather than a mitre saw.

We can probably setup a diy wookshop over a weekend if many are interested and other that already builded their diy stand and canopy can join in to help.

Anthony

Quote:

Originally posted by D&KSac
If any of you guys have worked with moulding like that Id love to learn how you guys did that. Ive got a preaty solid stand that doesnt look bad just would like to spruce it up.