Post pics of your DIY stands

[Sven]

I´m preparing to build a stand for a 150g tank. I´ve got the "skeleton" planned and will build that with 2x4's and 2x6's.

I´ve been going back and forth about skinning the stand, should I use plywood, mdf, what kind of doors and how should I hinge them.

I´d very much like to see the stands that DIYers here have made, shots of doors and hinge would also be apreciated. If alot of people post pics of their stands, this might prove very useful for others that are in the same situation that I´m in.

Edit: Here is another stand-building adventure with lots of good tips and ideas. WP

[BayBoy1205]

Here is the stand that I built for a 126g. I no longer use that light fixture. It was to heavy in my opinion.
I have made a new one out of aluminum. Can post pics of that if you like.

[Gatekeeper]

Have you looked through the DIY section? Just by glancing at the first page I saw three of them (never mind the big sticky at the top)

[timelessr1]

This is before the staining....its skinned with Cherry ply, and cherry hardwood

[Sven]

Thanks for the replies. Yes I have been looking through the DIY section here and on other boards, Just thought I might get some good idas that I haven't found before. Especially for doors.
Since I never found a thread like this one, I decided to start one and thought it might be useful for others looking into building stands.

[houstonhobby]

Have not built it yet so no pics but somebody on this forum gave me a great idea on doors . . . do a french cleat instead of hinges. Two things are nice about this. (1) When you want to get under there to work you just lift the whole door off and get it out of the way. (2) Do four of these across the front. It means the whole front comes off for easier access, plus four doors will look like a piece of furniture, while two big doors will look like an aquarium stand.

[dbosman@msu.edu]

If you're planning on paint, mdf, or better yet sign board mdf can be perfect. Sign board takes paint really well.

Painted pine generally looks bad unless you fill, seal and sand reseal, and sand again.

On a stand that size, if you plan to skin with plywood, a decent veneer really doesn't cost that much more than good birch plywood.

If you aren't experienced with door hanging, consider skipping hinges or having a cabinet shop make the doors and install the hinges for you. If you are willing to let them do it in slack time, the cost won't be a bad as you might think. Learning on a huge piece of furniture you will be looking at every day isn't usually a good thing.

Don't forget to install a good power strip setup inside the stand. I like this one http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5H300-.../dp/B00006BB7U Ten outlets and a fifteen foot cord.

Good luck.

[redman88]

i plan on putting the door on next week so i will post another pic then.

[brion0]

I made this stand, the front panel comes out so nothing blocks access under the stand. Also saved a few dollars on hinges an handles.

[Hoppy]

This is the one I made for my 45 gallon tank:


And, for the ten gallon tank I tore down last week end:

[dantra]

I still have a lot of work to do. I started building a stand for my 60p about three days ago. I still have to install the “Euro Hinges”, sand it down as I apply wood filler to try and make it seamless so that the laminate (Formica) applies smoothly.

Clearly my inspiration and blueprint comes from Jason Baliban. I too ordered the laminate (Formica) from Lowe’s. Thanks Jason.

EDIT** Finally finish the stand. I decided to paint it as opposed to finishing it with formica. I'll just hold on to the formica for another project.

(Rough finished)

(Primed)

(Finished product)

[Minsc]

Not as nice as some of the others, this is my 15 tall.

[Sven]

Thanks for the replies. I defenately not experienced with doors, so I´ll look into that french cleat or having the doors built for me by professionals. Since the tank will be in my living room I´ll probably be involving professionals to please the mrs.

[BayBoy1205]

If you don't want to build your own doors I would look at Home Depot or Lowe's for doors. Many sizes can be found. I did strip down the doors to bare wood as I didn't like the color they came in and then stained them to match the wood.
Here are some doors I used on my bar:

[rolloffhill]

Lots more pics here...