Anyone diy a slide out control panel

[Steamreefer]

Hey all, been looking at red seas slide out control panels and for what it is the price is pretty crazy.

I'm wondering if anyone has, or knows about making one with drawer slides you can get at the hardware store. I've never worked with drawer slides so the only issue would be whether they can be mounted in a way you have 2 on a the same flat surface.

Since my sump takes up 98% of the room in my cabinet I had this idea.

Tank is in a corner of a room, so I was thinking of putting a slide out control panel on the side wall thats blocked by the tank.

Anyone tried drawer slides yet?

 

[Fish Fan]

I've never done exactly this, but I do like woodworking, and I have worked with drawer slides in the past. I don't see why you coudn't use some slides to make a sliding door panel. Was there a specific concern you had here? The only thing is getting two drawer slides lined up, but there's tricks for that.

 

[robwcormack]

I've never done exactly this, but I do like woodworking, and I have worked with drawer slides in the past. I don't see why you coudn't use some slides to make a sliding door panel. Was there a specific concern you had here? The only thing is getting two drawer slides lined up, but there's tricks for that.

I'm interested in trying to do this as well. Mind sharing the tricks for getting those lined up?

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm interested in trying to do this as well. Mind sharing the tricks for getting those lined up?

There's shop made jigs that help, but Kreg Tools has a set you can buy that works well:


It took me a minute to find it, but here's an old video from The Wood Whisperer, at about 10:17 in he shows you how to install draw slides:
https://thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/episode-19-assembly-table-stand/
And when I was looking for the above, I found this from Wood Magazine:


There's more than one way to go about it for sure. It's just a matter of making sure everything lines up.

Let me know if you need further help! Good luck!

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I didn’t do a control panel but did do a slide out shelf for my ATO container and kalk stirrer.

 

[Fish Fan]

I didn’t do a control panel but did do a slide out shelf for my ATO container and kalk stirrer.

You beat me to it lol!

Here's my most recent build including a slide out shelf for the ATO reservoir. The same thing could be done, but oriented vertically, and you'd have a panel for your controllers, etc.