A couple of update pix for you Joe and anyone else who is interested. Thought I would post these pix while I take a break from swinging on that old hand drill.
Plywood Tank Questions
- Thread starter Sham
- Start date
Finished the front frame assembly. It measures 82 1/2 x 33 1/2 inches. Next I'll start drilling pilot holes in the plywood for the screws so I can assemble that part of the tank. By the time I finish that the glue will be dry on the front frame and I can sand the surfaces to get it all smooth and even on both sides.
Progress...Looking good.
I have a drill just like that but lost the instructions to it (actually the first drill I ever used...why is it when your a kid they seem like so much fun).
Let me guess...block sanding? uh!
You do nice work (very methodical too)...when someone wants you to work professionally what do you do? (I don't mean run away
)
Looks like your having nice weather for this project.
Dr Joe
.
I have a drill just like that but lost the instructions to it (actually the first drill I ever used...why is it when your a kid they seem like so much fun).
Let me guess...block sanding? uh!
You do nice work (very methodical too)...when someone wants you to work professionally what do you do? (I don't mean run away
)Looks like your having nice weather for this project.
Dr Joe
.
I will sand the front frame with a speed file which takes a long thin sheet of sand paper. Good for getting surfaces nice and even. Sometimes Joe the old ways are the best ways. Compare how furniture was made 50 yrs ago to the stuff you buy today........My house is furnished with antiques, most well over a hundred years old, some made from american oak and its all still going strong. Not that I have the talent for work of that standard but I do respect what a decent craftsmen can accomplish. 
I'm a stock trader Joe so I work from home and have ample time to indulge in what happens to interest me. My GF complains I have way to many interests and now she is worried that the ground floor of our house will be covered in fish tanks
As for our weather, you could easily compare it to Florida, same yearly temperatures only diffence we are now in mid summer.......
I also live within about half and hours boat ride of the great barrier reef, the biggest coral reef in the world. Plenty of nice fish out there
Back to the tank, I now have 95% of the ply cut just need to drill a whole bunch of pilot holes for the screws. I have this idea to use some inch by inch to strengthen the the tank along the ply joins internally. Also thinking on a product called pond tite which I would say is similar to your previously mentioned sanitred. It comes in a nice blue colour. If I use it on the tank I still won't paint the front frame with it as I definitely want the silicone to bond to the resine/glass. I have a few more ideas to but best I post some pix of what I'm going to do cause my way of explaining is probably not clear enough
Some will probably think I'm not building this tank strong enough but after looking at what those that have went before me have done I think what I have in mind will work fine. It won't be massive overkill, just solid and reliable ...........I hope
Yeah Chris I ll keep putting up pix long as you guys are interested.
I'm a stock trader Joe so I work from home and have ample time to indulge in what happens to interest me. My GF complains I have way to many interests and now she is worried that the ground floor of our house will be covered in fish tanks
As for our weather, you could easily compare it to Florida, same yearly temperatures only diffence we are now in mid summer.......
I also live within about half and hours boat ride of the great barrier reef, the biggest coral reef in the world. Plenty of nice fish out there
Back to the tank, I now have 95% of the ply cut just need to drill a whole bunch of pilot holes for the screws. I have this idea to use some inch by inch to strengthen the the tank along the ply joins internally. Also thinking on a product called pond tite which I would say is similar to your previously mentioned sanitred. It comes in a nice blue colour. If I use it on the tank I still won't paint the front frame with it as I definitely want the silicone to bond to the resine/glass. I have a few more ideas to but best I post some pix of what I'm going to do cause my way of explaining is probably not clear enough
Some will probably think I'm not building this tank strong enough but after looking at what those that have went before me have done I think what I have in mind will work fine. It won't be massive overkill, just solid and reliable ...........I hope
Yeah Chris I ll keep putting up pix long as you guys are interested.
We're world famous for our beaches and our red tide (in some places for 1.5 yrs now). We actually had several mile wide dead zones in the Gulf.
I'm glad we don't have a beautiful reef like yours, I can't bare to think what would have happened to it. They're doing some incredibly stupid thing here that are damaging nature so bad.
Funny, 25yrs ago I wanted to move to Oz but I can't remember why
. (but I know why I'd go now)
I personally think you are doing a fine job of describing everything
Are you counter sinking the glass or building a frame around it?
Dr Joe
.
I'm glad we don't have a beautiful reef like yours, I can't bare to think what would have happened to it. They're doing some incredibly stupid thing here that are damaging nature so bad.
Funny, 25yrs ago I wanted to move to Oz but I can't remember why
. (but I know why I'd go now)I personally think you are doing a fine job of describing everything
Are you counter sinking the glass or building a frame around it?
Dr Joe
.
Ten years ago I nearly moved to america, now I just buy what I like thats american and bring it here I got a 67 mustang convertible from the states 3yrs back was my last big import..
I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence But I must admit the grand canyon is the most awesome place I have been to.....
On to the tank, I got a little more finished today although still a long way to go. Basic tank assembled now as you will see in the pix. Next I ll trim the front window panel to fit properly and finish the tank a little more. I am now thinking my stand is not strong enough and will probably put another row of veriticals down the middle of the stand. Anyways heres the pix for this days work
I got a 67 mustang convertible from the states 3yrs back was my last big import..I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
But I must admit the grand canyon is the most awesome place I have been to.....On to the tank, I got a little more finished today although still a long way to go. Basic tank assembled now as you will see in the pix. Next I ll trim the front window panel to fit properly and finish the tank a little more. I am now thinking my stand is not strong enough and will probably put another row of veriticals down the middle of the stand. Anyways heres the pix for this days work
you gonna reinforce those sides or back in any way? others used 2x4's turned on the 2" side and used quite a few to help prevent the plywood from flexing when filled, especially since yours is taller... i'm curious to how your gonna go about that or if your confident enough that those screws will hold the pressure of the tank jus going through the ends of the plywood like that. awesome work tho man
