My redone 5.5 stand photo diary

[kicbak]

I decided to finally redo my crappy tank at work. Being its only a 5.5 gallon I wanted to move everything out of the display and put it in a 2.5 gallon thats behind it. I also wanted to add the remora skimmer I used to use on my 20H.

Here are some pictures as I built the stand. As of right now I only the stand built but not sanded or finished. I also haven't drilled the tank for the overflow.

Here is a shot of the finished build. Everything is tongue and groove 3/4 red oak with 1/4 red oak ply panels.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0062.jpg

I used a plywood Tongue and groove bit from Infinity Cutting tools to make the cuts in the frame pieces.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0011.jpg

Here I dry fit the frames for the sides of the stand.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0015.jpg

Gluing up the panels
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0020.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0023.jpg

I used a Mortise and Tenon joint for the face frame
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0016.jpg

Gluing up the face frame
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0019.jpg

Side Panels post glue up
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0026.jpg

[kicbak]

continued.....

Quick dry fit
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0029.jpg

Panels with the dado and grooves for the bottom shelf and the shelves for the 2 tanks
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0034.jpg

A pretty cool side shot so you can see how everything will line up in the stand.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0035.jpg

The start of the big glue up......everything lined up well
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0036.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0037.jpg

Now that the base was finished I moved onto the lid
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0047.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0048.jpg

I'm gluing up the lid. You can see a little ridge on the bottom of the side pieces, I did this so that when the lid closes it hides the tank frame. I mis-calculated something but I can't remember what....
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0049.jpg

[kicbak]

continued....

Little doors for the front. I used to router bits to create the profile, a 3/8 cove bit then a 3/8 radius bullnose.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0050.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0054.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0055.jpg

I used some face mounting hinges. I made sure to get the NON self closing type. 2 of those on a door this small will really close hard and fast.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0056.jpg

Here I built a little stop block I can fit in to keep the lid open when I'm working on the tank.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0059.jpg
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0058.jpg

I decided to just use a nylon cord to keep the lid from flipping all the back. I figured no matter what lid catch I used the metal would quickly deteriorate, plus the cost of rope, 2 screws and 2 washers but be about 10 cents.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0057.jpg

Shot of the top before I positioned the skimmer.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0060.jpg

Here I build some blocks to hold the skimmer in place.
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0063.jpg

[kicbak]

Finished building!!!! Front on view
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0061.jpg

Angle View
http://www.kicbak.com/images/Kicbak/album/workstand/DSCN0062.jpg

[sparkiesford]

Thats awesome!! Nice work. I wish had your woodworking skills.
What all will you have in this tank?

[kicbak]

Thanks, its mainly good tools, careful measuring and lots of planning.

I'm going to have 2x32 PCs on the tank and just move over my softies that are in the existing tank. Nothing too delicate since its sitting at work and I don't spend much time messing with it.

[sparkiesford]

well tools or not. beautiful job!

[Fiziksgeek]

Looks awesome! If you took away everything from the background that give us an idea of the scale, you could have convinced me that was a much bigger tank just from the pics. People don't usually put that much workmanship into small tanks! VERY NICE!

[kicbak]

ha thats pretty funny. When I'm finished I'll have to take a picture where its hard to judge the scale.

[ecojoe]

Wow, impressive woodworking skills. The scale is somewhat deceiving, I initially thought it was bigger as well.

[anonymousadrian]

wow.. big ups for wood crafting skills!

[BlakDuc]

Awesome job! Yools do make a big difference, but the know how is what means the most.

[flyguy7150]

nice, i like....can you take a picture near something so I can see how big it is :)

[MrineLfRlz]

how about some updates on this with alot of pics :)