First off; I would like to thank my neighbor Mr. B who is an expert in wood working and is gonna help me on this. And all the users on Monster Fish Keepers that replied to a ton of my messages. Especially dr_sudz He is on my MFK God list now, along with Wolf3101(for general aquaria discussion God)
Unfortunately I was only able to purchase the wood today. We weren’t expecting to be shopping for wood for 2:30hours!!!
haha I also found out that the DIY project cost more than buying a normal stand at a pet shop.lol but this will be fun and the time building it will make this stand a priceless “mastercard” stand.
So I woke up at around 7:45, took a shower, ate, brushed my teeth. Cleaned the feces off the turtle tank, etc.
Met up with my neighbor at 9:00am. And hed out to the wood shop. Took around 15minutes to get there.
Before I forget..here’s the beautiful plan I drew up
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY011.jpg
Here’s the store, Southern Lumber, a family owned business and not a chain like home depot. It’s a BIG place.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY014.jpg
So I walk in and I am amazed!!! I was told by people on MFK to use plywood for a DIY tank stand. I was thinking there’s a piece of wood actually called “plywood” WRONG! I am surprised of the variety of wood that is included in that one word! Mr. B showed me all around the shop and told me what kind of wood is stronger, he also told me about the looks of the wood. But I wasn’t concerned about the looks; this stand is not gonna be a “fancy” stand anyways. As long as it holds 400lbs of weight, then it’s good!
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY008.jpg
There were manzanita wood too, which I have in my bird cage for my Parakeet, haha. There was somekind of yellow wood..which looked nasty. Balsa, that looked nice but was extremely light and seems a little “flimsy”. Some of the wood had big knots in it…which scared me a little because it might get crushed in the long run.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY009.jpg
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY010.jpg
The price were based on “per foot”. Some wood like the marine(I think) cost around $37 per foot!!
I decided to go with this one..cost efficient, strong, and I kinda like the small knots on it. Seems a little “exotic”
I decided to go with the pine wood
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY012.jpg
I also got a piece of wood to put on the bottom half of the stand.
And a big piece of wood for the “fence” around the top of the tank so Cola(Kinosternon turtle) won’t escape even if the water is filled to the top.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY013.jpg
Well please check back tomorrow night or so…I should update it.
The building of the stand only should take only 3hours. But the waiting time for the waterproofing will take some time..I have to do 3 coats too…
And I need to build the fence..which shouldn’t take too long..
We are going to do a mortise and tenon joint..which I was told is easy, but you need some special equiptment. No screws needed..just wood and glue.
Unfortunately I was only able to purchase the wood today. We weren’t expecting to be shopping for wood for 2:30hours!!!
haha I also found out that the DIY project cost more than buying a normal stand at a pet shop.lol but this will be fun and the time building it will make this stand a priceless “mastercard” stand.
So I woke up at around 7:45, took a shower, ate, brushed my teeth. Cleaned the feces off the turtle tank, etc.
Met up with my neighbor at 9:00am. And hed out to the wood shop. Took around 15minutes to get there.
Before I forget..here’s the beautiful plan I drew up
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY011.jpg
Here’s the store, Southern Lumber, a family owned business and not a chain like home depot. It’s a BIG place.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY014.jpg
So I walk in and I am amazed!!! I was told by people on MFK to use plywood for a DIY tank stand. I was thinking there’s a piece of wood actually called “plywood” WRONG! I am surprised of the variety of wood that is included in that one word! Mr. B showed me all around the shop and told me what kind of wood is stronger, he also told me about the looks of the wood. But I wasn’t concerned about the looks; this stand is not gonna be a “fancy” stand anyways. As long as it holds 400lbs of weight, then it’s good!
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY008.jpg
There were manzanita wood too, which I have in my bird cage for my Parakeet, haha. There was somekind of yellow wood..which looked nasty. Balsa, that looked nice but was extremely light and seems a little “flimsy”. Some of the wood had big knots in it…which scared me a little because it might get crushed in the long run.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY009.jpg
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY010.jpg
The price were based on “per foot”. Some wood like the marine(I think) cost around $37 per foot!!
I decided to go with this one..cost efficient, strong, and I kinda like the small knots on it. Seems a little “exotic”
I decided to go with the pine wood
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY012.jpg
I also got a piece of wood to put on the bottom half of the stand.
And a big piece of wood for the “fence” around the top of the tank so Cola(Kinosternon turtle) won’t escape even if the water is filled to the top.
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/JEAE/?action=view¤t=DIY013.jpg
Well please check back tomorrow night or so…I should update it.
The building of the stand only should take only 3hours. But the waiting time for the waterproofing will take some time..I have to do 3 coats too…
And I need to build the fence..which shouldn’t take too long..
We are going to do a mortise and tenon joint..which I was told is easy, but you need some special equiptment. No screws needed..just wood and glue.
weak