Will this hold a NUVO 15?

[phishy]

I’m gonna ask my dad to make me something like this, will it hold a 15 NUVO and what supports would i have to add to it to allow it to hold?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Edit. Just saw you want your dad to build it. It will be perfectly fine if he uses 3/4 ply wood. 1/2 inch would also hold it but joints between 1/2 ply aren't as strong as with 3/4.

No supports required. Good glue joints on a square cabinet are all that is required to support that size of tank.

 

[phishy]

Most likely so. but if it's particle board I wouldn't trust it. If it's MDF I wouldn't trust it either. Both of those materials are prone to water damage and prone to joint blow out from water damage or light lateral impact.

Put short: a small investment in materials can and will buy you priceless peace of mind and confidence if you don't trust a stand for any reason. Don't use it.

Its made from melamine will that be fine? I can grab a clear coat spray paint, and spray it so that it wont soak up water.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Its made from melamine will that be fine? I can grab a clear coat spray paint, and spray it so that it wont soak up water.

Melamine is particle board and there have been commercially made melamine/particle stands. I just don't trust them.

But again, if he is building, just build with 3/4 cabinet ply (birch, maple, oak, blonde wood or whatever they call that stuff at home Depot) then slap some paint on it. You will be good to go.

For what it's worth, "Baltic Birch" is fantastic for paint or varnish. If you want t, check out the first few posts in my build thread to see what a plywood stand looks like and how it's constructed.

 

[phishy]

z

Melamine is particle board and there have been commercially made melamine/particle stands. I just don't trust them.

But again, if he is building, just build with 3/4 cabinet ply (birch, maple, oak, blonde wood or whatever they call that stuff at home Depot) then slap some paint on it. You will be good to go.

For what it's worth, "Baltic Birch" is fantastic for paint or varnish. If you want t, check out the first few posts in my build thread to see what a plywood stand looks like and how it's constructed.

isnt melamine more rigid than plywood?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

No. The laminated surface is probably more resistant to dents and dings. But in no way is it more rigid or structurally superior to plywood.

Contact a cabinet supply in your area and you can buy plywood with pre applied white melamine from them if you want that look.

 

[phishy]

No. The laminated surface is probably more resistant to dents and dings. But in no way is it more rigid or structurally superior to plywood.

Contact a cabinet supply in your area and you can buy plywood with pre applied white melamine from them if you want that look.

Do i need to coat the plywood in anything? or is a layer of spray paint enough

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Do i need to coat the plywood in anything? or is a layer of spray paint enough

Primer is helpful. It will seal the wood better than spray paint. Oil based paint sprayed or rolled on would be better though. Even water based cabinet and trim paint would be better. That said, primer and spray paint will do just fine.

 

[phishy]

Primer is helpful. It will seal the wood better than spray paint. Oil based paint sprayed or rolled on would be better though. Even water based cabinet and trim paint would be better. That said, primer and spray paint will do just fine.

I just asked him could we do plywood instead, but hes insistent on the melamine board since it looks better than painted plywood. I told him abt water damage but he said thats why they coated it. what are some things i can do to make sure my tank doesnt break the stand?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I just asked him could we do plywood instead, but hes insistent on the melamine board since it looks better than painted plywood. I told him abt water damage but he said thats why they coated it. what are some things i can do to make sure my tank doesnt break the stand?

It's your dad. I'm not gonna join the battle and I don't want to get you and he stirred.

Let explain why he's not correct on this.

1. Melamine won't glue like plywood. Because of that you will be relying mostly on the strength of your fasteners (screws/nails). Fasteners aren't as strong as glue.

2. Only the surface is sealed against water intrusion. All seams, joints, screw holes etc will not be sealed.

3. On the left is what happens to melamine when it gets wet. And that's just the start. The next step is swelling and delamination underneath the laminate.

4. Melamine sheets are applied on top of compressed and glued wood particles. This particles are sponges. Any cut edge, chip, hole, whatever will allow water penetration and begin the deterioration of you cabinet.

5. "Melamine cabinets are good to go" has never been uttered by a single cabinet builder. The cheapest, least durable cabinets you can buy are made of that stuff.

6. You can buy hardwood plywood with the melamine top layer at a cabinet shop. It doesn't have to be painted. It will be strong, long lasting, and you will never have to paint it. It comes in around $180-$250 a sheet.

7. I wish you luck.