Building a 2x4 frame is easy. Making it look good... not so much.
I've researched all available local wood, even went to a local lumber yard to see better grades of wood. Choosing wood seems to be what I'm caught up on, because I am already thinking ahead about how I want it finished... and I would prefer it to be stained.
Stand design will be simple, along the lines of..
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/imag...ardStandand12InchCanopyFinishedinColonia1.JPG
This will need both ply sheets for large surfaces, and boards that do not show ply ends for detail spots.
Ive been reading/watching many things about staining/dying, etc, etc, etc woods... What I've discovered is that there is no "trifecta" choice for wood to use in a project.
Pine - Many different sizes and qualities of pine boards. Have not found and FPS plywood boards that are even worth finishing. The better pieces have ugly grain and even some filler and cracks. However, there are lots of pine moldings that could be used. Remember, staining requires same wood types. Pine is difficult to stain.
Blondewood/Whitewood - These ply boards are finish/capable, possibly some variant of FPS, but its unknown if they will take stain same as the boards. They have absolutely no grain, so why bother with stain?
Oak - Limited sizes of oak boards. Larger ones (10" for canopy header) are prohibitively expensive ($100+ for 1x10x8'). Some decent sheets of oak veneer ply, but again do not seem to match closely oak boards. Very few oak moldings that are not pre stained.
Maple - Some finish worthy maple sheets with nice grain, limited sizes of maple boards. Notoriously difficult to stain.
MDF- My feeling is that if the project will be painted, why use anything other than MDF? It doesnt warp, is strong, smooth, can be bought primed, many sizes/shapes, cost effective.
I'm drifting towards maple ply and maple boards. Because its difficult to stain, I might just use a clear finish, although I wanted espresso.
Any suggestions for wood type to use that stains well, and is available in good range of sizes and affordable?
I've researched all available local wood, even went to a local lumber yard to see better grades of wood. Choosing wood seems to be what I'm caught up on, because I am already thinking ahead about how I want it finished... and I would prefer it to be stained.
Stand design will be simple, along the lines of..
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/imag...ardStandand12InchCanopyFinishedinColonia1.JPG
This will need both ply sheets for large surfaces, and boards that do not show ply ends for detail spots.
Ive been reading/watching many things about staining/dying, etc, etc, etc woods... What I've discovered is that there is no "trifecta" choice for wood to use in a project.
Pine - Many different sizes and qualities of pine boards. Have not found and FPS plywood boards that are even worth finishing. The better pieces have ugly grain and even some filler and cracks. However, there are lots of pine moldings that could be used. Remember, staining requires same wood types. Pine is difficult to stain.
Blondewood/Whitewood - These ply boards are finish/capable, possibly some variant of FPS, but its unknown if they will take stain same as the boards. They have absolutely no grain, so why bother with stain?
Oak - Limited sizes of oak boards. Larger ones (10" for canopy header) are prohibitively expensive ($100+ for 1x10x8'). Some decent sheets of oak veneer ply, but again do not seem to match closely oak boards. Very few oak moldings that are not pre stained.
Maple - Some finish worthy maple sheets with nice grain, limited sizes of maple boards. Notoriously difficult to stain.
MDF- My feeling is that if the project will be painted, why use anything other than MDF? It doesnt warp, is strong, smooth, can be bought primed, many sizes/shapes, cost effective.
I'm drifting towards maple ply and maple boards. Because its difficult to stain, I might just use a clear finish, although I wanted espresso.
Any suggestions for wood type to use that stains well, and is available in good range of sizes and affordable?