Aquarium stand made from extruded aluminum
- Thread starter crash29ca
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crash29ca
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Looking at putting a side electrical cabinet like the ones on Crystal Dynamic stands.
I'm a cabinetmaker and have built stands from wood and aluminum extrusion. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and both can be pricey. In my opinion, the extrusion stand can be more versatile and adapatable. Wood or other decorative "skins" can easily be mounted and changed someday if you prefer a different look. The aluminum has a corrosion resistant anodized coating. There are countless brackets, hinges and accessories, and the stand itself, can be moved in pieces to be moved and reassembled. With that said, it will cost more than a custom wood stand, but you will have more options regarding the final outcome.
I built a stand from 2×4's. Used some old pieces from an old stand to cover it (saving me the cost of plywood to finish it off) total cost including screws cost me about $40. If I did it from scratch (meaning not using the old wood and instead buying a sheet of plywood), how much does a sheet of plywood cost $20-30? And then stain. I followed step by step from the "king of diy" videos on youtube, stand came out great and very sturdy.
I made one for my 60g frag tank and it wasn’t really that expensive considering. Yeah if u have someone make it for you it will be. But you can find bulk stuff on eBay or aluminum lengths that have marks or scratches on them for cheap. I’ll post pics in a sec of mine.
Swingline77
Active Member
There's some stuff on Craigslist in your city that you might be able to modify to fit your needs.
This is $50; 65"L 25"W 34"H hardwood top
You could panel the sides with the wood
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/fuo/d/rochester-work-bench-50/6793254191.html
I wonder if you could clean this up and put the wood paneling on it. This is only $60.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/d/marine-city-5-steel-work-bench/6789697000.html
In the photos you posted, you have a stack of extra flooring. You might be able to use that.
All sorts of options. I searched "work bench"
This is $50; 65"L 25"W 34"H hardwood top
You could panel the sides with the wood
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/fuo/d/rochester-work-bench-50/6793254191.html
I wonder if you could clean this up and put the wood paneling on it. This is only $60.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/d/marine-city-5-steel-work-bench/6789697000.html
In the photos you posted, you have a stack of extra flooring. You might be able to use that.
All sorts of options. I searched "work bench"
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crash29ca
Active Member
Thanks for those great ideas. I will start looking around and see what I can come up with. Unfortunately the stacked flooring is all put down throughout my house now. Did all the floors in the whole house just after those pics were taken.
I’ve been mocking out a fully skinned Al build here based on 8020 25.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinosaur-to-phoenix-a-new-22g-long-mini-build.534114/
None of this exists in real life yet.
Converted to Saltwater
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I had something similar to this. What I did was take an old truck box cut the bottom and sides out then I sand blasted and painted it. Once done I tack welded it to the legs. And the tread plate gave me good footing for the inevitable wet floor sometimes. Just a thought. Aluminium can look really nice when its blasted or if you have a random orbital sander...
Mine is entirely hidden by wood, but the wood isn't structural.
Converted to Saltwater
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The metal sure looks solid. It'll hold up. That's for certain.
Converted to Saltwater
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A was talking about am aluminum alloy.
How’d you get your panels secure in the standHere is my 80/20 stand
The raw aluminum is actually clear coated and the black is an anodized finish so you don’t really need to prime and paint it
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