Mike's 140 Cubish Build

[miwoodar]

:beer: Cheers to RC! Let me know if you ever post pics. I would like to see your shelf/tank/desk combo.

 

[veloboy]

miwoodar- thanks for all your help! Couple more quickies-

Regarding the wood shaving/stain/glue wood filler-did you use CA glue for that or white (wood) glue? I would think wood glue would work better, but my local Woodcraft recommended a thin CA glue? I'm planning on testing a couple otions tonight....

Why did you use a laquer/wax rather than a poly for the final coat(s)? If its for asthetic reasons I can certainly understand! Do you know if that finish combination is as durable as a poly? I tested a poly last night and I'm getting one heck of a sheen - with a satin poly. Wondering if your laquer/wax may reduce some of that....

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[miwoodar]

Use wood glue (white/yellow). You don't want it to set up during application. I was able to mix a batch and use it for a good 15 minutes before it hardened too much. CA glue definitely has uses in woodworking but this is not one of them IMO. I'm assuming your Woodcraft didn't understand your question.

I used a brush on satin poly for my previous stand but didn't really like it. Don't get me wrong, it turned out OK but after putting so much work into the wood I wanted it to be better.

On this build, the guy that prepared samples for me did so with laquer and wax. His samples turned out how I wanted. As for user error, I am guilty in not being a perfect applicator of the approach. If I were to do it again, I would have added a few more coats of laquer (maybe 6 or 7 total). Laquer coats go on QUICK...maybe 2 minutes each then a half hour of dry time. Overall though, I like it and don't know if I'll be using poly ever again.

The laquer/wax combo I used is not very shiny. I tend to stay away from shiny too. None of our 'nice' furniture has any appreciable amount of shine. The pieces we like the most just have simple finishes (appear simple anyways) that show off the grains.

 

[melev]

Mike, the woodwork around my tank is stained only, and I do my best to wipe up any drips immediately. I don't want any sheen to my woodwork at all. Perhaps your wax is a good idea for horizontal areas like the shelf wrapping my tank. I must have missed this being discussed earlier. Do you mind going into it a bit more, again? Was this a paste wax?

 

[LooseHip]

I think it is time for an updated FTS!

 

[miwoodar]

Hi Marc, long time no see! This is the wax I used. It's just a wipe on, let it dry, and wipe off application. It seems to seal the wood really well (laquer has also been applied). Apparently they make a 'dark' product as well. I will probably pick up a can of that when I recoat.

Derrick - yes an updated FTS is overdue. I rushed through some photos last week but they didn't come out worth a darn. I need to set aside an hour to do it right.

 

[LooseHip]

I see, did that monti color up at all yet?

 

[miwoodar]

The chili pepper? The rim got a little scuffed up while in the bag. That part has healed. The colors remain the same ATM. It's kind of like a grey/blue with hints of green. Polyps are red but small. It's still on the sand awaiting placement. Should I start moving it up? How long was it behind your rocks?

 

[LooseHip]

well I am not an expert on the best placement for coloration! When it was at its best, I had it in the middle of my tank, but off to the left of my reflector so it wasn't getting pounded by light.

It could have been a week or two from the time it fell behind a rock to the time I found it! I hope it comes back, it was a very nice green color before that happend

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13957016#post13957016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miwoodar
Hi Marc, long time no see! This is the wax I used. It's just a wipe on, let it dry, and wipe off application. It seems to seal the wood really well (laquer has also been applied). Apparently they make a 'dark' product as well. I will probably pick up a can of that when I recoat.

I follow this thread all the time, but haven't had anything to say. So that stuff is a paste, based on the can's label. Interesting. I may have to see if I can get Home Depot to demonstrate on a scrap piece. How long did you have to wait for it to dry? And it is a matte finish then?

 

[2_zoa]

You also might be able to use SC Johnsons floor wax for the finish. It is used for the same things and might be easire to find. I bought my can at the local grocery store.

 

[miwoodar]

I waited about 10 minutes. It will turn hazy as it dries. I wouldn't call it matte but it doesn't really add much shine. It's more of a finishing coat.

 

[miwoodar]

Sunday night....

Well, Sunday night was -10 in Denver. Somehow the garage door was left open overnight (hmmm, honey?). Some pipes in the garage froze but recovered A-OK after some gentle warming with a torch. The RO/DI canisters exploded though. Not exactly the best time of the year to have unexpected expenses! Oh-well, good opportunity to buy the pre/post TDS meter I've always wanted.

 

[miwoodar]

Bad photos

Bad photos

These photos were made in haste. I seriously need to apologize for the quality. Next time I will set aside more time to take some decent shots (I'm a quantity-based photographer...not a skilled, quality-based photographer who knows what he/she is doing)

New frags since my last photos (I wasn't able to take even remotely decent photos of some of these this evening)...
* Pink Lemonade
* Undata
* Deepwater Acro
* Chips
* Various plating monti's
* Many nice zoas
* Pink montipora digi
* Crayola-like table
* Chili Pepper

The back isn't really this dark...it's a trick of the camera.

Green Slimer and Pink Digi

 

[miwoodar]

Idaho Grape

Leng Sy green/purple

Recovering Chili Pepper

True Undata The mother colony is friggin AWESOME! I can't wait until my frag grows up!

 

[spleify]

WOW!! Its looking awesome Mike.

Its very sad looking at that small piece of Green Slimer, after knowing what you had at one time.

Keep up the great work bud.

 

[miwoodar]

Nubs suck. :lol:

All in good time.

 

[porthios]

a great rebirth imo.

that pocillopora is gorgeous!

 

[miwoodar]

Thanks. The poci's have spread all over the tank through polyp bail out. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 100 colonies starting up. I'm kind of nervous that they will end up causing problems later. Should I be?

 

[OnlyCrimson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13959888#post13959888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miwoodar
Thanks. The poci's have spread all over the tank through polyp bail out. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 100 colonies starting up. I'm kind of nervous that they will end up causing problems later. Should I be?

I would be on the look out for them growing in the wrong places. I have heard stories...