Nowell's Reef Savvy Pastel Peninsula/Black Widow factory

[Nowell]

Early FTS:

Aquascape:

CNS/gut:

Wood/year of my life:

First, ill-fated sump:

Automatic feeder:


The tank is a 78.5 gallon (actual approx. 69g) Reef Savvy peninsula, 3.5'x2'x1.5' with 1/2" low iron glass, Phantom bottom and Ghost overflow. It was worth the cheddar. It was worth the time. It's sculpture. I read about Felix speaking directly with his customers, and was shocked to find myself enjoying several long conversations during the process. He's good people.

 

[Nowell]

Stand is nearly complete. Here are some of the five panel, Shaker style poplar doors. I'll be fluting the corner trim this week.

 

[Mebeknob]

Stand is nearly complete. Here are some of the five panel, Shaker style poplar doors. I'll be fluting the corner trim this week.

No fluting!!! Ahhhh!!

Just playing. It’s nice to see some proper woodworking skills done here. I’m tired of the 2x4 stands.
What will your stand look like?

 

[hatfielj]

Beautiful tank deserves a beautiful stand. Can't wait to see this one!

 

[Nowell]

No fluting!!! Ahhhh!!

Just playing. It’s nice to see some proper woodworking skills done here. I’m tired of the 2x4 stands.
What will your stand look like?

What--I can't combine Shaker doors with a little Roman fluting? That's like saying you couldn't put a candy basslet with a gem tang. Live a little. Here's a taste. I'm stop fluting like a **** up in here:

 

[Nowell]

This is the 3/4" boxed frame before doors and trim. 3/4" ply top and bottom. Also added an arch over the mid section after this pic was taken. Static load compression failure point calculated out to 4224 lbs. I totally made that up. Not a single metal fastener was used save the euro hinges. It's all biscuit joinery. Square within 1/32" on all six sides.

Here you can see the laminated arch through the plumbing pass through on the back of the stand. The pass through will be sealed with a sheet of cut neoprene.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

This looks like a very nice build ; can’t wait.. ! [emoji12]

 

[Mebeknob]

What--I can't combine Shaker doors with a little Roman fluting? That's like saying you couldn't put a candy basslet with a gem tang. Live a little. Here's a taste. I'm stop fluting like a **** up in here:

Hey nice Paulk workbench and festool clamps! You know your stuff! Your woodworking skills look spot on. You do cabinetry for a living?
I mean no one here is to stop you.... but the tang police are gonna call you out! Haha I’m like the fashion police?!
Fluting will look nice and it looks like you’re avoiding the rosettes.
Personally I like the look of tapered legs with an arched bottom rail. The fluting can sometimes give too much of a straight/vertical look? If that makes any sense? Plus I like to have just a couple of inches to get under the stand... helps the tank not to feel so bulky to me.

 

[Nowell]

The eclectic style reminds me of Peter's architecture from Ayn Rand's Fountainhead. It will be my little joke when friends are over and say "wow--you made this?" Thankfully I only know one architect.

The Paulkesque workbench was my first woodworking project. This stand the second (serious man crush on Paulk, BTW).

YouTube, Google, lots of practice wood from Home Despot and a borrowed Hitachi miter saw from my father-in-law. I've constructed jigs such as a cross cut sled for my portable Dewalt table saw (for tenons with stop block), a base for my router for fluting, and eurohinge cup locating jig for my drill press. I don't have a planer, so I've taken many trips to several Home Depot's to find less warped boards that I can work with. That has probably been the largest frustration. The six, five panel mortise and tenon doors took me four months. Featherboard really was the breakthrough there for cutting mortises within a few thousandths.

 

[Mebeknob]

The eclectic style reminds me of Peter's architecture from Ayn Rand's Fountainhead. It will be my little joke when friends are over and say "wow--you made this?" Thankfully I only know one architect.

The Paulkesque workbench was my first woodworking project. This stand the second (serious man crush on Paulk, BTW).

YouTube, Google, lots of practice wood from Home Despot and a borrowed Hitachi miter saw from my father-in-law. I've constructed jigs such as a cross cut sled for my portable Dewalt table saw (for tenons with stop block), a base for my router for fluting, and eurohinge cup locating jig for my drill press. I don't have a planer, so I've taken many trips to several Home Depot's to find less warped boards that I can work with. That has probably been the largest frustration. The six, five panel mortise and tenon doors took me four months. Featherboard really was the breakthrough there for cutting mortises within a few thousandths.

Hahaha good call on fountain. Just don’t give in to what others say like Peter does... have a backbone like Roark!

Even more impressive with minimal tools. Getting a good table saw and a planer were game changers for me.
My next tool will be the Festool Domino and their palm sander

 

[Nowell]

Ready to prime.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

That stand looks absolutely beautiful [emoji1303][emoji847]

 

[Nowell]

Miller time!

 

[Fin]

Beautiful stand for an awesome tank. I am ashamed to admit that my grandfather was an excellent carpenter by trade and none of his skill ever rubbed off on me.

Felix is awesome, isn't he? I messaged him once to ask a simple question and instead of going back and forth on Messenger, he called me at 9pm to help me out. I am so glad I got my tank from him.

 

[JoshH]

I think we need more pics of the tank.... Aside from that cruel tease in the first post! Beautiful work on the stand though, following along

 

[Smprc]

Love that you took time with stand to match the RS tank. I mean absolutely no offense to others, but if you are gonna get a RS tank, the stand just has to match the quality of tank...Kuddos! Following along as I am right in the middle of my 180 peninsula. Lurking on Peninsula threads to make sure I don't miss anything. Example...fans!!!!

 

[A_game43]

Nowell that is one great looking tank stand, very well done. Great to follow along with your build steps above. I gotta say it really makes me wanna do a lot better wood work in the future, man awesome job. Can't wait for the rest of the build!!!

 

[dbraun15]

Jealous of your woodworking skills and beautiful tank! Looking forward to see this develop more!

 

[minus9]

Nice work! You had me at shallow.

 

[Nowell]

Happy New Year!