Lift-o-Mat Gas Struts

[vanburen]

Based on a great idea provided on Mr. Durso's thread, I ordered these for my tank:

They were to replace this horrible method of holding my tank lid open:

which was a stick that propped the cover open.

Here are the installed struts:

and the lid closed:

A pair cost $34 at Rockler.

 

[extinguishfire]

Do you have a link to his article?

 

[vanburen]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=505355&perpage=25&pagenumber=11

 

[original-reefland]

Thanks for the pictures... hopefully they hold up well in a moist salty environment. Even if you only get a few years out of them they don't cost much.

 

[vanburen]

The hard part is getting them mounted (which really wasn't that hard). If they rust out after a few years, I can simply swap them out - using the same mounting posts.

 

[hdtvguy]

Keep a light coat of oil on them they will last years!

 

[jthnhale]

Glad they worked out. It will be nice not having to worry about knocking the stick out
How heavy do you think the door is?

 

[melev]

That looks great!

 

[Northside Reef]

I like them a lot I think the best part about them is.... the company that sells them is 11 miles from my house lol

those will work great for the front of my canopy

 

[hdtvguy]

What did you finish your canopy with? From the pics it looks like you used multiple European hinges?

 

[vanburen]

Yes, used Euro hinges because I didn't want the hinge pins visible and the hinge line needed to be on the outside. Seems to work so far.

 

[hdtvguy]

Thanks, What wood or drywall did you use to box in the canopy? Looks great. Getting ideas I will be finishing my tank soon.

 

[vanburen]

I used hardwood oak plywood with 3/4" oak end grain covers for the bulk of it. The challenge was mounting it to the studs. The whole assembly will actually be able to be removed, leaving only a small hole in the wall where my return/overflow pipes head to the basement. Didn't even hurt the crown molding, just coped the new pieces to the old.
The plywood is really stable but HEAVY. Mounting required finding studs and also attaching to the ceiling joists.

 

[original-reefland]

What did you do to the plywood to prevent bowing from the heat and humidity? The pictures make it look like such a perfect fit that if the door warps a little it will not close.

 

[vanburen]

3/4 hardwood with oak edging is pretty stiff.

 

[cato]

vanburen how are those gas struts holding up??

 

[vanburen]

Still working like champs - no rust or problems so far.

 

[cato]

Nice, any special maintenance your doing on them?

 

[vanburen]

None whatsoever.

 

[moonpod]