270 Gallon SPS tank for JBNY

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9523314#post9523314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Is that a satin finish?

My biggest complaint with my own stuff is that the urethane looks runny or has brush strokes. If I could avoid that, I'd be much happier.

Melev - You can wipe on polys too. You don't have to use a brush. Make sure you use a lint-free rag and wipe the finish on with long even swaths. This is what Norm, from The New Yankee Workshop, does on his finishes now.

I hate nothing more than bubbles in a top coat. Looks like crap.

Great job JB NY!!! :thumbsup:

 

[JB NY]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

melev It is a satin finish. It looks really smooth because I used a filler before the poly. I was using red oak and didn't want all the pores from the grain to show in the final poly coat.

I used to get brush marks in my poly too. This time I used a foam brush and it came out perfect. If you are getting runs in the poly you are using too much. I've got one small run on the side that I didn't catch, but it's not too noticeable.

drummereef I used the foam brush because Norm used it on NYW, made a big difference. That guy know how to get a good finish! I had never used a wipe on poly and was too nervous to try it on such a big piece.

Yeah bubbles on the final coat suck big time. I ended up with 4 coats of poly on one piece because I used too much poly on the 3rd coat and ended up with some bubbles. Sanded it down and put on another thin coat and got no bubbles finally.

 

[melev]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[JW Jersey]

Thanks for your detailed instructions on how you stained and finished your stand, It looks fantastic!!!!. I only hope mine comes out half as nice.

 

[Spracklcat]

I'm a big fan of the wipe-on polyurethanes. I think it gets a finish which looks closer to the old French polish than polyurethane, which can sometimes look like plastic if it is too heavy. With the wipe on there are never any bubbles, and you can do a lot of extremely thin coats. Much much easier to do well.

 

[crab0000]

If you get some bubbles in the final coat you can go over it with some fine steel wool, then hand rub some paste wax on it to even it out.

 

[Zoos]

Very nice, it has that store bought finish if you know what i mean

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9525582#post9525582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
I'm a big fan of the wipe-on polyurethanes. I think it gets a finish which looks closer to the old French polish than polyurethane, which can sometimes look like plastic if it is too heavy. With the wipe on there are never any bubbles, and you can do a lot of extremely thin coats. Much much easier to do well.

Hey Christine, I didn't know you worked with wood finishing, see I learn something new every day. Good to read that is easy to work with, I think I'll try it when I start working on the sides and drawers of the stand.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9526425#post9526425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crab0000
If you get some bubbles in the final coat you can go over it with some fine steel wool, then hand rub some paste wax on it to even it out.

I didn't know that, thanks. I've got a can of paste wax I use on my table saw that I can use.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9526545#post9526545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoos
Very nice, it has that store bought finish if you know what i mean

Thanks, that was what I am trying for.

 

[JB NY]

So here is an update on where I am. The pieces I stained are now up with the stand. Now I just need to get the tank from the basement to the stand. I am hoping to get that done this weekend, if I can get enough people to help with the move.

 

[crab0000]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9539676#post9539676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB NY
I didn't know that, thanks. I've got a can of paste wax I use on my table saw that I can use.

It has always worked well for me. Now I use an automotive paint gun to apply finishes and it works very well.

 

[JB NY]

Yeah, I had heard that spray on was the way to go. Just such a pain to setup an area to do the spraying.

 

[boozeman]

such an inspiration to see a fellow NY'er tackle a large reef !
if you need help getting it in the house let me know.

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9541443#post9541443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boozeman
such an inspiration to see a fellow NY'er tackle a large reef !
if you need help getting it in the house let me know.

Thanks, Yeah I could use a hand. I will PM you the info.

 

[SERVO]

Man Joe,

Are you building a dining room table or a fish tank stand? Looks great!

 

[ReefBum]

Joe-

The stand looks like it will be outstanding. Are you still planning on building a canopy or are you considering an open top?

 

[JB NY]

SERVO Thanks for the kinds words. I'm trying to get the stand to look a little bit more like the furniture we have in our living room. The last stand came out great, but to me it still looked "home made" I'm trying to change that with this stand. Hopefully I can pull it off.

ReefBumI'm still up in the air with the top. I like the look of an open top but really dislike the amout of light that leaks into the room when using that style.

 

[IRISSERVICE]

very nice...

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9525582#post9525582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
I'm a big fan of the wipe-on polyurethanes. I think it gets a finish which looks closer to the old French polish than polyurethane, which can sometimes look like plastic if it is too heavy. With the wipe on there are never any bubbles, and you can do a lot of extremely thin coats. Much much easier to do well.

I sent you a PM.

 

[JazzMan]

Joe, everything looks great so far. I have a feeling this stand is going to blow the other stand away, and thats saying something since the other stand was very nice.

I wish I could help move the tank, but I am stuck going to the mother in-laws for a family get together. I am only about an hour from you and would have helped if I could have.

Good luck on the move and remember, lift from the knees!

Looking forward to more pics.....

 

[JB NY]

Thanks. Yeah the stand is starting to look good. Unfortunately when I was prepping the stand for the tank today I put blue painters tape on the top, thinking that it would protect the finish when we move the stand. When I took the tape off...it pulled up most of the poly with it, so now I have to redo it. oh well...

But the good news is the tank went on the stand today. Everything worked fine. I'll post more pics of the move later on in the week. I'm flying out of town tomorrow morning so I will be off RC for a few days. But I wanted to at least post one shot of the tank.

Yah baby!!