The Class Act Aquarium Stand

[Peppie]

Very good planning on your part.I love it when a plan comes together.
Wow you stated you will gain a whole 1/8'' more in there. That means you will be able to add 4-6 more coats of sealer in there, LOL

I know you are a ways out from the finish faze, but are you getting excited at the thought of having something to rub????

 

[user 2204]

Very good planning on your part.I love it when a plan comes together.
Wow you stated you will gain a whole 1/8'' more in there. That means you will be able to add 4-6 more coats of sealer in there, LOL

I know you are a ways out from the finish faze, but are you getting excited at the thought of having something to rub????

*lol* Actually I'll be able to get another 4-6 coats of that super high gloss white in there. I do like that the plan is coming together nicely and I was even able to make a slight change in the design for the backside of the canopy. Pictures will be posted soon and I'll explain.

Yes, getting real excited about the hours and hours that will be spent sanding, wetsanding, rubbing and polishing this canopy out. Should look sweet by the time its done.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[user 2204]

Shop Shots for August 8th 2011.

Almost have the main portion of the canopy done. Backside is temporarily mounted into place awaiting some final work to be performed tomorrow. Finished the mortise on the canopy for the piano hinge and installed the hinge today. Along with trimming the back upper edge of the canopy. It is made longer in the back on purpose, this will hopefully help deflect light coming from the canopy. Still need to finalize the light mounting and then I can route out the top ventilation.

Oh yes and the reason for that little cutout in the backside is so that I can pull those big plugs for the lighting through when I need to.

 

[user 2204]

Shop Shots for August 8th 2011.

Almost have the main portion of the canopy done. Backside is temporarily mounted into place awaiting some final work to be performed tomorrow. Finished the mortise on the canopy for the piano hinge and installed the hinge today. Along with trimming the back upper edge of the canopy. It is made longer in the back on purpose, this will hopefully help deflect light coming from the canopy. Still need to finalize the light mounting and then I can route out the top ventilation.

Oh yes and the reason for that little cutout in the backside is so that I can pull those big plugs for the lighting through when I need to.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[user 2204]

Shop Shots for August 9th 2011. Lights are mounted and ready. Next up will be mounting the fan grills/guards. Oh and did I mention this canopy is getting HEAVY!!!

Cheers,
Alex

 

[rainydave]

Looking good!

 

[Krish]

Very nice Alex!! I expect nothing but the best from you! Any less and we ban you!!! :lol:

 

[user 2204]

THx Dave and Krish. And yes I know Krish, I always have my best foot going forward from here on out for sure. :lol:

 

[user 2204]

Shop Shots part 2 for August 9th 2011.

I was able to get the fan guard hoels routed out and mount the fan grills for a quick photoshoot. Now the main section goes to sanding and then we're off to trim work and stain/paint.

Cheers,
Alex

Photo 1&2: Show routing the holes for fans. Guess all them years building speaker boxes helps with making a nice holes.
Photo 3: Shows the backside of the canopy without grills.
Photo 4&5: Show the fan grills/guards mounted.

 

[Peppie]

Are all the fans going to blow the same direction? One in two out? Two out one in?
I really like your fan guards. To bad they wont be visible, Unless you rise the hood. To bad you couldnt block out the light some how and mount them were they could be seen.

 

[user 2204]

Peppie, The plan for air flow at this time is to have all fans blowing in across both the surface of the water and across the glass of the MH pendant. There will be slits routed out in the top for heat to escape from. As we all know, heat rises, so this is how I am planning the air flow at this time.

Oh yes, it is a :Cry: shame that those guards will not be seen unless you open the canopy. But did I mention... this is the Class Act set up. :rofl: I will be having the canopy open anytime someone comes by so they can see they nice guards and lighting system.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[TJL]

Definitely a Class Act Build Alex, can't wait to see it in person. You don't happen to have a couple extra (not 'A'lex grade) fan grills layin around that I could/would use on my canopy build do you ?????

Cheer, Todd

 

[user 2204]

Definitely a Class Act Build Alex, can't wait to see it in person. You don't happen to have a couple extra (not 'A'lex grade) fan grills layin around that I could/would use on my canopy build do you ?????

Cheer, Todd

Hi Todd,

Actually wouldn't you know it, I do have a few extra fan guards/grills. I think I have at least two that were subpar for this build. I also have the four that are test guards/grills that I may let go as soon as I decide on the color scheme. I currently have 2 unfinished, one ebonized jet black, one high gloss white and two espresso (dark mahogany/india ink) finished like the stand.

I may also offer a few pristine ones for sale sometime. I will offer both unfinished and possibly finished.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[TJL]

OK I'll take two unfinished or ??? See ya in about 10 minutes..... or sometime soon

Cheers, Todd

 

[user 2204]

OK I'll take two unfinished or ??? See ya in about 10 minutes..... or sometime soon

Cheers, Todd

:lol: Sounds good Todd. I'll send you a pm so we can arrange pick up time.

Mahalo,
Alex

 

[Frankie]

Looking good Alex!

You may want to recess that piano hinge so the canopy sits flush when closed. That will put less stress on the hinge over time.

Other then that, great job!

Frankie

 

[user 2204]

Looking good Alex!

You may want to recess that piano hinge so the canopy sits flush when closed. That will put less stress on the hinge over time.

Other then that, great job!

Frankie

THx Frankie. Actually I did mortise the piano hinge on both sides of the canopy. If I remember correctly it was about 2.56mm on each side for an overall of close to 5mm +/-. I may not have a detailed photo of that yet. I'll snap a quick shot today when I am in the shop.

Canopy does sit nice and flush when closed now, but there will be a lot more to come within the next few days for the trim/fiberglass filler work. Then you shouldn't even see where the canopy seam is located.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[mfinn]

Very nice stuff.
I really like your canopy design.
It really opens up the whole front of the tank when it's open.

I made a few the same way.
The only problem I've had was calculating the distance from my ceilings to the top of the canopy when you open it.
Stand height + tank heigth + double canopy height. In my case the last one had 1" to spare.
But then my house is a typical 80's low ceiling.

 

[user 2204]

Very nice stuff.
I really like your canopy design.
It really opens up the whole front of the tank when it's open.

I made a few the same way.
The only problem I've had was calculating the distance from my ceilings to the top of the canopy when you open it.
Stand height + tank heigth + double canopy height. In my case the last one had 1" to spare.
But then my house is a typical 80's low ceiling.

THx MFinn. Yeah, I came close to not calculating in the overall height when the canopy would be opened. I'm glad that I caught myself because it could've been to tall. :lol: In the end it was all a okay. I do like the full open front on the design of this canopy. Should give me a lot of room to maneuver around in the tank.

 

[user 2204]

Shop Shot for August 11th 2011.

Not much happening in the shop today. I did find one of my helpers sleeping on the job this evening. :rofl:

Cheers,
Alex