LoJack- good luck. Sorry but I just saw your pm. Post pics of your progress!
Here are some pics of the tank inspired by your build.
I was sure to give you credit both here on Reefcentral and my local forum I post on.
Thanks again for the detailed pictures you posted of the construction process. I'm not sure I would have been able to handle the pillar construction without them.
Rough:
Two coats Red Mahogany - 3 Coats Gloss Poly:
I wanted to build mine with maple so badly. But I can only get oak locally and wasn't willing to do it all by mail order. Since I was staining dark anyway, I just sucked it up and constructed the stand out of red oak.
And a few more:
There were also a few things I did differently ... based on things you had mentioned you would have done differently.
The inside and top of the stand are painted. I didn't bother with stain since its pine and it would look drastically different, but I still painted it with a black paint to give it a finished look.
I also really wish I would have sanded more ...
My trim was also different from yours and that was just personal preference, and what I could actually make at home with the bits I had.
I just wanted to say thanks again for originally posting this thread ... my stand would not be what it is without the time and effort you put into yours, and then the time and effort you put into making it public for us.
--Tyler