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Aquarist Forums => Equipment / DIY => Topic started by: BigDaddy on January 28, 2007, 07:16:32 PM

Title: I love oak!!!
Post by: BigDaddy on January 28, 2007, 07:16:32 PM
Almost a full day sweating my *ss off tearing down planters boxes has finally paid off!  All the solid oak trim I got from these boxes that were headed for the dumpster have now been converted into my newest 75 gallon stand.  The only part of the stand that isn't solid oak are the side panels, the inner door paneling, and the floor and back plate of the stand (which are an oak-veneered plywood)

Can't wait to get this thing stained and varnished!  Anyone have a heated space I could work with, as I use a water-based stain and an acrylic finish that both work better if applied at room temperature.

Here's the stand, along with the canopy that's already stained and finished.  Still have to pick out some hardware for the doors and top covers...

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fovas.ca%2Fgallery%2F171_28_01_07_5_06_56.jpg&hash=cecaf1fb5f8a8e7fe8967fdeabea6b311e192989)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fovas.ca%2Fgallery%2F171_28_01_07_5_08_01.jpg&hash=6320b78dcf1b73f452584ae20a8a1267b82dae1e)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fovas.ca%2Fgallery%2F171_28_01_07_5_08_37.jpg&hash=094d114e27e4b22a8af724be2d4a01350222801b)
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: murgus on January 28, 2007, 07:28:31 PM
 :o Wow :o

Nice work Biggie D!  Very nice indeed!

I need a custom wall unit fish tank enclosure built - interested??

Andrew
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: schauret on January 28, 2007, 07:40:04 PM

Very nice work BigDaddy.

Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: beowulf on January 28, 2007, 07:43:12 PM
Sweet indeed.  You should post the price difference of what it cost you to make versus what something like this would cost in store.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: Seanc on January 28, 2007, 07:46:30 PM
man thats what i want my stand to look like. or at least on the outside, inside i don't think it is possible.
that is an inspiring stand you got there big D
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on January 28, 2007, 08:24:41 PM
Wow, you must have been busy... I love the stain job on the canopy especially.  Great job!
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: nelson on January 28, 2007, 08:38:58 PM
A huge improvement over the home made wooden stand that came with the tank I picked up from you a couple of years ago BD. Yep, the same tank I managed to smash before I got it home ::)
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: charlie on January 28, 2007, 08:42:39 PM
BD nice prototype ;), when are you starting production  ;D, well done.
Regards
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: speckledmind on January 28, 2007, 08:48:21 PM
Sweet.
Oak is classy : )

If only I had a work shop.
I have the skills, just no room or tools to make thinks happen : (
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: babblefish1960 on January 28, 2007, 09:32:53 PM
It certainly seems criminal the way some of the better hardwoods get tossed like yesterday's newspapers. Good for you for taking the time and making the effort to salvage something that could wind up looking so lovely.

You clearly have some talent there, perhaps you may wish to continue on with this skill to make all those rich fish people happy having some very fine handiwork under their glass boxes.

Congratulations on making something that looks good enough to have in your living room as furniture. A very fine example indeed.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: busdriver on January 28, 2007, 10:38:17 PM
So, when are you going into the business of making really good looking aquarium furniture? Because that is what it looks like, very nice furniture.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: PoisonJello on January 29, 2007, 03:46:11 AM
nice job on the stand, oak is really nice wood to work with
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: bitterman on January 29, 2007, 07:50:04 AM
Nice Work!  Thats red oak right? If so ensure it is totally sealed on all sides as red oak can easily turn black when it comes in contact with water.

That would cost a pretty penny if you purchased the oak new! Just in materials alone.

Good Job,
   Bruce.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: RoxyDog on January 29, 2007, 09:59:26 AM
awesome job BD.  :)  the fact you were able to recycle and make something so nice is fantastic!
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: beowulf on January 29, 2007, 10:07:52 AM
Quick question regarding the recycling.  Where did you find the wood?  My dream is to make a kitchen table using recycled wood from an old barn or something along those lines.  It would also be nice to make something similar to what you make for my 65g.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: zapisto on January 29, 2007, 10:29:11 AM
very nice
wow
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on January 29, 2007, 10:49:11 AM
beowulf:

Quote from: BigDaddy on January 28, 2007, 07:16:32 PM
Almost a full day sweating my *ss off tearing down planters boxes has finally paid off!  All the solid oak trim I got from these boxes that were headed for the dumpster have now been converted into my newest 75 gallon stand. 
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: succinctfish on January 29, 2007, 11:16:51 AM
I think the question is where did BD get the planter boxes? 
What can I say that everyone else hasn't?  It's beautiful, very nice job BD.  Do you have any pics of the process of "sweating your *ss off"   ;D (I mean of course, the structure under the lovely finished stand?)
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: kennyman on January 29, 2007, 11:36:33 AM
Wow you must have had to get all that wood run through a plainer and joiner. Awesome project and congratulations on having the self discipline to get that done! Can I borrow some  ;D
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: beowulf on January 29, 2007, 11:59:00 AM
Quote from: PaleoFishGirl on January 29, 2007, 10:49:11 AM
beowulf:


I got that much but what I wanted to know was if they where his or if they are from a friend or even bought from a junkyard.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: BigDaddy on January 29, 2007, 12:37:09 PM
Wow... thanks for the feedback.  I can't take all that credit though... My wife's uncle did most of the construction.  I salvaged the wood and did the staining and finishing, he did the grunt work in the wood shop. 

The wood actually came from a building my company manages.  The client didn't want the boxes anymore, and the company only got recycling $$$ for the aluminium sheeting surrounding the boxes, the wood and fibreglass forms were destined for the dumpster.

No joiner or plainer.  A table saw and a router was all that was used to construct the stand.  These were pretty much 2 x 4's of oak that got cleaned up into pieces ranging from 2 to 5 feet in length.

Total cost of material alone would have been in at least $500+ .  The actual cost of material was a single 4 x 8 sheet for the panelling which was less than $100.  To purchase something similar ... the Sedona kit from Big Al's for example, would retail for almost $700 plus taxes, and I can guarantee it wouldn't be using solid oak 2 x 4 for the framing.

PS Nelson - That tank and stand actually came from Loyed... it was supposed to be for BigMomma but I didn't have her hooked back then like I do now   ;)
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: pwrca on January 29, 2007, 07:22:34 PM
Big M, told me to check out the pics of the new stand; very impressive.  Just goes to show, one mans garbage is another mans gold!  Great job, will really be a show peice when its all stained. 
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: alparent on January 29, 2007, 08:06:28 PM
HEEEE! J'CAPOTE!

Very nice work! ...... you can tell your wife's uncle I said so.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: darkdep on January 30, 2007, 11:14:52 AM
BD:  Fantastic work.  Looks stunning.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: fishycanuck on January 30, 2007, 05:39:10 PM
BD, we can make room in our shop for you to do the staining, but only if you bring PopTarts.
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: BigDaddy on January 31, 2007, 12:56:17 PM
Be careful fishy... I might just take you up on it!
Title: Re: I love oak!!!
Post by: Muad'Dib on January 31, 2007, 01:41:25 PM
Hey BD!
Looks Great!!
I'm always happy to hear stories where "reclaimed" lumber gets a second chance, and Oak is such a nice wood.