Ideas for skinning my stand please....

[jb61264]

I have a 75 gallon mixed reef with a 55 gallon sump below. The stand is built like a tank (so I've been told). I'm not married so I haven't had any pressure to make it look better since I started it up six months ago...and actually, I enjoy being able to have a big view of whats going on underneath the tank.

But, alas I would now like to consider skinning the stand in some fashion that enables me to quickly remove the "skin" for complete access to the sump like I have now...not really interested in elaborate wood trimming or anything, but would like it to look nice

Thanks for any and all ideas...here are a couple of pics before I started it up last summer:

Here's a quick shot from the side with the actinics on the other day

 

[slief]

I would get some 3/4" oak veneer and cover the 2x4's with that. Then pick out some nice stain and some clear coat.

This is a stand and canopy that I built myself many years back. It was simple. I skinned it and added some moldings to "case it out".

This is one of the few pictures I have of that tank.

You could also cover it with melamine but you would have to seal the particle board side real well. I don't suggest going that route though. You could get plywood laminated with Formica. Or just go cheap and cover it with some pine..

 

[jb61264]

I'm wondering if there is a "clean" way to skin it with a nice rigid flat black countertop/formica or something so I could remove them when needed and have access to the entire sump area below and then just put them back on when I'm done

 

[Henry Bowman]

Install magnets and make panels to fit. Just pull them off?

 

[nano427]

I would get some 3/4" oak veneer and cover the 2x4's with that. Then pick out some nice stain and some clear coat.

This is a stand and canopy that I built myself many years back. It was simple. I skinned it and added some moldings to "case it out".

This is one of the few pictures I have of that tank.

You could also cover it with melamine but you would have to seal the particle board side real well. I don't suggest going that route though. You could get plywood laminated with Formica. Or just go cheap and cover it with some pine..

What is more dangerous? Putting your hand in a tank with 2 sharks and a big eel, or standing on the step stool like that...:lmao:

 

[sgolden]

formica and velcro would work nicely, and waterproof too...cut it with a razor knife and straight edge, then file edges smooth...for less than 100$ if you had to buy the whole sheet..

 

[davocean]

You don't even need the magnets or velcro, just make a 3 sided face that stands on it's own.
All my cabs are that way, slide on, slide out.
I also do quick release hinges so doors just pop off.
If for some reason the doors are heavy, and cab seems unbalanced, then add your velcro or magnets.

 

[davocean]

These are all 3 sided free standing facades.
These are 1x but you could do w/ ply as well.

Then I add a cap to hide the ugly

 

[MATT CLOWNS]

I have too say the doors on that stand are very sweett

 

[davocean]

Thanks man!
I just did another stand for a friend very similar, but I actually like this glass better.

 

[jb61264]

Nice Davocean!...where do you get glass like that?...how is it "mounted" to the inside of the door?

 

[MATT CLOWNS]

i might copy that next stand i do.i an allways a blsck stand guy but those colors look nice,and then a light from thr ferugem makes it look even sweeter

 

[davocean]

Any glass supplier should have this or similar, I found several like it, as well as alot of other totally different that looked cool too.
That last pic I had just installed glass, and the silicone I use dries clear later, and I cut excess, so looks sloppy in that pic.
For marine apps I always silicone face using a paintable clear to keep water out of cab, also helps for sound.
Inside of door is rabbitted out 1/4" for glass insert.

 

[davocean]

i might copy that next stand i do.i an allways a blsck stand guy but those colors look nice,and then a light from thr ferugem makes it look even sweeter

That was the deal, I was looking at my cab, and figured I'd make use of fuge light.
I liked the idea of glowy, but diffused enough to hide gear.

 

[mandingCa]

Those pants are super slick. Hammer pants with a twist of WWF. And a mini feathered mullet. Man, you embraced that era! (so did i...)

 

[noobtothereef]

I'm wondering if there is a "clean" way to skin it with a nice rigid flat black countertop/formica or something so I could remove them when needed and have access to the entire sump area below and then just put them back on when I'm done

like this? i just put pieces of wood on the bottom of the lift off panel and will be installing cabinet latches on the top

 

[noobtothereef]

Thanks man!
I just did another stand for a friend very similar, but I actually like this glass better.

nice work! did you biscuit all of the joints in the skin? wish i had a biscuit cutter, would have made mine alot better, i just cut small pieces of wood and glued/nailed to the back of the joint...... then sanded the front of joint flush

 

[jb61264]

like this? i just put pieces of wood on the bottom of the lift off panel and will be installing cabinet latches on the top

Now thats a cool idea..do you have any other shots of how you're doing this?..how are they mounted so they "lift off"?

 

[davocean]

nice work! did you biscuit all of the joints in the skin? wish i had a biscuit cutter, would have made mine alot better, i just cut small pieces of wood and glued/nailed to the back of the joint...... then sanded the front of joint flush

Biscuits and gravy, yep!LOL

 

[jesserettele]

Thanks man!
I just did another stand for a friend very similar, but I actually like this glass better.

Very nice, thanks for the ideas.