ChrisQ's Upgrade Build....Again

[Chrisq0904]

Yet again I'm starting another build thread and once more I'm doing an upgrade. I never though I would have had as many changes in life throughout the past few years but things happen. Anyway, things should start to settle down for ,me now and that gives me the opportunity to build something new. What I have planned isn't my "dream" tank but it will do for hopefully a while since I really like the footprint on this tank. Ideally I would like to be in the 100+ range but that can wait until I actually own my own place.

This is my third stand that I built and the first time I used 1x wood. I plan on adding 1/2 or 3/4 skin to it for more support. I will be building this stand slower than the others so it comes out way better than what I have done in the past. I've stolen a few people's design ideas this time around after going through some build threads (thanks rovster) which will hopefully let me accomplish what I want.

Well that's enough blabbing here is what I have accomplished thus far. Yesterday I was bored and work was slow so I made a trip to Home Depot for a few things and this is what I ended up with.

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[rovster]

Looks good. If you need any suggestions on anything including skin design, let me know. I had a few ideas for my own build. Another design I was considering was like the reef savvy modern or contemporary design. Very easy to carry out and simple, yet looks nice and finished. Are you going to stain or paint? If stain, make sure you do your homework and use a prestain conditioner. Looks great so far. So what tank did we settle on? 80? 120? Big difference to that 57 that's for sure!

 

[Chrisq0904]

Looks good. If you need any suggestions on anything including skin design, let me know. I had a few ideas for my own build. Another design I was considering was like the reef savvy modern or contemporary design. Very easy to carry out and simple, yet looks nice and finished. Are you going to stain or paint? If stain, make sure you do your homework and use a prestain conditioner. Looks great so far. So what tank did we settle on? 80? 120? Big difference to that 57 that's for sure!

I can't spill the beans on the tank just yet! Jk I'm going with the 80. Business is slow again today so I'm cutting up some more wood.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Feel like I'm making some progress...

 

[Chrisq0904]

Rovster, I guess I used the wrong term when I said skinning. I meant the trim (or w/e you call the design aspect of it). I plan on staining this one, I even purchased the nicer plywood to make it what I believe to be easier to condition and stain. I'm going to look up some videos tonight for proper staining techniques. I don't own a router so that part may be a little tricky. Luckily I THINK I'm only going to have an opening in the front. For my set up I don't think I need access to the sides. My current stand doesn't have side doors and I can't think of a time that I said man I wish I had doors on the side. I don't have to have my mind made on that just yet, just need to make it up in the next couple of days.

 

[rovster]

The skin is the plywood you "skin" it with, LOL! The trim is all the other stuff you do to add panache!

Staining is easy. Conditioner is a MUST!!!!! Condition, wait 5 min, apply stain, let sit for a few minutes, and wipe away with rag. Easy peasy! I did not condition the inside of my doors because I was being lazy and you can totally tell the difference.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Was able to put on another side this morning before work.

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[Chrisq0904]

Anyone have ideas for a "simple" trim on the stand? There's going to be ~1/2" gap between the tank and the edge of the stand. Can't think of anything good....

 

[Chrisq0904]

Well I finally put the top skin on, I added two more supports on top because I decided to skin the top with 1/4" red oak to prevent being able to see such a big edge. Now that everything is together there are a few imperfections (gaps) that really bother me, at the same time I don't feel like doing it all over again so hopefully when I stain it it will not bother me so much.

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[tonyyloww]

looks good. I would have not know were to start.. I would have had wood all over the house.:headwally:

 

[rovster]

Carry the trim over the tank. Lots of options with trim depending on what style you're after. Even the simple stuff using just plain stock when done right can really look nice. If you want simple you can just wrap a piece of stock around the top and maybe put a lift on there as an option. Use some prefab corner trim for the corners and you're good to go. If you want to get fancy you can use moldings and all kinds of froufrou stuff!

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and browse the trim section and see if anything gives you any inspiration!

 

[Chrisq0904]

I picked up the tank today and I must say allpets surprised me, I ordered it yesterday and they said they would have it for me today which I honestly didn't believe but sure enough they had it!

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Here it is on the stand
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Here is the gap that I ended up with, much better than the 1/2" I thought I was gonna have.
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[S13<3]

Carry the trim over the tank. Lots of options with trim depending on what style you're after. Even the simple stuff using just plain stock when done right can really look nice. If you want simple you can just wrap a piece of stock around the top and maybe put a lift on there as an option. Use some prefab corner trim for the corners and you're good to go. If you want to get fancy you can use moldings and all kinds of froufrou stuff!

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and browse the trim section and see if anything gives you any inspiration!

+1 ^
some 1" outside corner for the verticals and some 2-3" flat bar top and bottom would be a simple trim layout and hides all the gaps

 

[tonyyloww]

Balling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:dance::dance::dance::dance:

 

[Chrisq0904]

Tonight I was able to get the door done. Doors have always been my downfall, more specifically hinges for the doors. Once again I messed up the hinges and my solution was to make one big door by joining them together. I don't know how better to explain how my doors are held in place, but I made a "hook" out of wood and have a spacer on the bottom. I'll post pics of everything tomorrow or sometime during the weekend. I also got the trimming done, I decided to keep it simple. I have trim that goes around the top of the stand and sticks up about 2" to help cover the black plastic on the bottom. I think that pretty much all I got done today, some things were a massive headache today but I feel like I accomplished a good amount and I'm proud of how it looks.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Here are the pics of what I got done yesterday.



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[S13<3]

congrats, looks really good!

 

[thedragon]

Very nice build. You know your trim and skin are most likely gonna stain differently.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Very nice build. You know your trim and skin are most likely gonna stain differently.

Ya I'm aware of that, I'm actually debating if I should do two different colors.

 

[tonyyloww]

ya!!!!! that looks like BALLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great job chris:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: