DIY Stand Skinning

[Masamune]

How does one get their tank from a 2x4 frame into looking like a nice piece of furniture? Virtually every single DIY stand thread I've seen skips this step. The progress pictures go from internal frame to completed stand with cycling tank on top of it.

This is how my stand currently looks (NOTE: I will be adding another support in the center. I just haven't got around to it yet).

[HM3105]

The stand looks pretty nice so far, just make sure you have solid contact on all for corners. I rebuilt my stand three times because I kept screwing that part up.

 

I used magnets to attach mine. I went and bought a sheet of plywood, had Home Depot cut it, then I stained it and sealed it, Then I bought 12 of the heavy duty magnetic cabinet door latches which are in the cabinet accessories area in Home Depot. I also bought some small L brackets and attached them to the skin so that the skin would rest on the frame and the magnets should keep it from falling off. If you just want the skin to rest on the floor then you can skip the L brackets.

 

If pics are better let me know and I can get those.

 

Also, you don't need a center support, all the weight is going to be on the corners and the center brace will just cause issues for maintenance in the sump area.

[Apexlaxfrog]

I built a 2x4 frame for integrity and slapped a combination of plywood and luan plywood on the exterior for aesthetics. Employed lots of left-over trim (rattle-can painted black) to hide corners and edges. Lot's of wood glue, finishing nails, staining, sanding, staining, sanding, polyurethane, sanding, poly, sand, poly, sand and some more polyurethane to finish.

 

I built mine to have a 'display sump', hence the open-front (no door) design; however, I did use some magnets (as HM3105 mentioned) to create an accessible storage area inside the display tank's 'pedestal'.

 

I wish I had more work-in-progress pics to share, but there are a couple on my build thread.

[billybatz9]

The stand frame can be made for $25... skinning and painting will add another $50

 

Looking for a cheap way to skin the stand as well.

[venturalvn]

The stand looks pretty nice so far, just make sure you have solid contact on all for corners. I rebuilt my stand three times because I kept screwing that part up.

 

I used magnets to attach mine. I went and bought a sheet of plywood, had Home Depot cut it, then I stained it and sealed it, Then I bought 12 of the heavy duty magnetic cabinet door latches which are in the cabinet accessories area in Home Depot. I also bought some small L brackets and attached them to the skin so that the skin would rest on the frame and the magnets should keep it from falling off. If you just want the skin to rest on the floor then you can skip the L brackets.

 

If pics are better let me know and I can get those.

 

Also, you don't need a center support, all the weight is going to be on the corners and the center brace will just cause issues for maintenance in the sump area.

This is the idea I'm going to use in my upcoming build over the next couple weeks. Can you post a few pics of how you have the magnets attached? And what size plywood did you use? Is there any sag using the magnets?

[HM3105]

This is the idea I'm going to use in my upcoming build over the next couple weeks. Can you post a few pics of how you have the magnets attached? And what size plywood did you use? Is there any sag using the magnets?

 

Here ya go.

 

The magnets I used are meant to be attached to a door, so they include a metal mounting plate which you screw into the skin and the magnets are attached to the frame.

 

I used 1/2" Birch, so I don't have any sag.

 

Again, remember, if your tank has a rim its important to make sure all four corners are making solid contact and there is ZERO wobble.

 

These are the exact ones I used. Not saying they're perfect, they were available and seem to be working fine.

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Liberty-Heavy-Duty-Magnetic-Catch-with-Strike-C080X0C-BR-C7/100144897

[venturalvn]

Here ya go.

 

The magnets I used are meant to be attached to a door, so they include a metal mounting plate which you screw into the skin and the magnets are attached to the frame.

 

I used 3/4" Birch, so I don't have any sag.

 

Again, remember, if your tank has a rim its important to make sure all four corners are making solid contact and there is ZERO wobble.

 

These are the exact ones I used. Not saying they're perfect, they were available and seem to be working fine.

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Liberty-Heavy-Duty-Magnetic-Catch-with-Strike-C080X0C-BR-C7/100144897

This is EXACTLY what I had in mind for mine as well. Nicely built.

 

Did you finish the edging of the plywood? And do you think a half inch ply wood would be stable for the front panel? I'm trying to keep it as lightweight as possible.

[HM3105]

This is EXACTLY what I had in mind for mine as well. Nicely built.

 

Did you finish the edging of the plywood? And do you think a half inch ply wood would be stable for the front panel? I'm trying to keep it as lightweight as possible.

 

Ok I doubled checked, I actually used 1/2" plywood. I still don't have any sag though but the thinner the material the higher the likelihood it will sag or already be warped when you buy it. I have not finished the edge of the plywood yet but I do plan to do that I just haven't found anything I like enough to use.

 

Also, if I had the chance to do it again, I would have built an extra 6" or so off the back it the stand could be flush against the wall and it would hide the plumbing running down into the sump. That will also help limit noise coming out of the sump. Got the idea from Reef Threads.