125 Gallon Stand and Canopy Build

[ErikFromNJ]

Long story short. I'm a carpenter. Just finished up a huge job and received the final payment on Friday. My local tool supplier is running a HUGE sale on power tools, so its time to spend some money!

I have a few compound miter saws, but none are sliding compound, nor do I have a stand, so I picked up one of those

always wanted a Kreg pocket screw jig, so I picked up one of those

Rigid makes this tiny, but strong as hell, 400 lb torqued cordless screw gun. I wanted one the day I saw it come out. So I picked up one of those.

Makita makes this kick ass little 2 lb impact driver. I had borrowed a fellow carpenters once before and absolutely loved it. You wouldn't believe the balls this little gun has! So I picked up one of those.

2 weeks ago I picked up a 125 gallon that has a black stand. My house is all trimmed out in oak so its time to make a stand and canopy to match the house!!

By time I made up a cut list and ran out to pick up some materials, I only got a little over an hour in on it.

I'll be posting pics as I go. The pocket screw jig is tha sh|t! A coupla crosscuts on the new dewalt, an hour later and heres where I'm at. Tomorrow I'll finish the main box itself and the drawer cases. Hopefully I'll get to start on the drawer fronts and doors as well. We shall see.

Anyways... Enjoy!!

If you havn't figured it out, it'll have 3 drawers and 3 doors. Maybe 6 doors, I dunno, we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Thanks for lookin!

 

[cp newbie]

Looks great so far....nice score on the tools.

 

[ttmf]

looking good. always wanted to get a kreg jig like that and a dove tail jig. s/c saws are great. where i live, all those tools you picked up would be about $1400....on sale too

 

[ErikFromNJ]

looking good. always wanted to get a kreg jig like that and a dove tail jig. s/c saws are great. where i live, all those tools you picked up would be about $1400....on sale too

Same here. The kreg jig makes it SO easy! I had screwed 2 scraps together and tried to break it by standing on it... nope!! I'm amazed at how strong the joint is. I glued my joints too, so this stand should last for years!

My supplier had a ''Power Spring'' Sale. The more you buy, the more you save. $200-500 = $75 off, $500-700 = $125 off, $700-900 = $200 off and anything over a grand is $300 off. I picked $1003 in tools, so all this for $700, plus I had a $250 gift card that another supplier gave me for helping push up there sales in the last quarter (kiss asses). So $450 in total. Not too bad eh?? I just hate the thought of bringing these on the job and letting my guys use them. Right now that saw cuts so true and square.




Sh|tty part.... its raining today over here. I'm going to convince the wife to move the project into the basement but that might be more headache then its worth!

 

[ErikFromNJ]

Well it rained here all day today but I moved the project to the basement. Here is where I'm at.

Sorry for the cell phone pics. My better half had the camera today.

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Mounting the side panels.

There are no table tools here. Everything is cut with hand power tools and a straight edge. Table tools are too bulky and heavy to bring down to the basement. Anyways...

Cutting the back panel.

Shell complete. All the panels have rabbits cut in them to receive the adjacent panel. No lap or butt seams.

Drawers assembled and mounted.

Drawer fronts installed.

Got started on the doors..

Doors done. Just have to drill them for hinges and mount them.

Thats it. The majority of it is together. I have a bunch of mouldings I will be stacking to create some depth and give it a little more charecter.

Unfortunately tomorrow is back to work. Either I'll try to put some time into it at night during the week or if not, I'll continue this weeked coming up.

I still have to design and make up a cut list for the canopy too.

Stay Tuned!!

 

[JK47]

Nice work! The stand and doors look great! I wish you were in Oregon, I have about 6 stands I need to build and the only thing I can make look good out of wood is fire......

All mine are DIY 2" x 4" stands. The wife wants something nice like yours before dining room gets a 180. Keep the pics coming!

 

[ErikFromNJ]

Thanks. Its really not that complicated. If you have the basic power tools you can very easily accomplish the same.

 

[yikesjason]

It looks great. Very nice score on the tools too.

I would think you might need some more support for a 125 gallon tank. That is a lot of weight to not have any framing isn't it?

 

[ErikFromNJ]

It looks great. Very nice score on the tools too.

I would think you might need some more support for a 125 gallon tank. That is a lot of weight to not have any framing isn't it?

No need for additional framing. Thats all 3/4 plywood. All the joints are rabbited and glued as well. It would take alot more then a 125 tank filled with water and gravel to snap or bow 3/4'' plywood on edge. Most think you need 2x4's being thats the way they see most build there stands. Now if it was a 250 gallon I would throw some studs in there. Even that, depending how it is designed it wouldn't be neccessary either.

The manufacturers stand that came with the tank is entirely made up of 1x4 pine standing up. 3/4'' x 3-1/2'' x 30'' pine against a 3/4'' x 40'' x 6' piece of plywood is apples and oranges.

 

[Jamieishard]

it looks awesome.... i wish i knew how to build stuff like that ....i have a ton of tanks i could do stands and canopies for....its going to look cool all put together.