Fish tank cabinet

**TEEJAY** · 24th June 2008, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by dai sensei

The stand should look great TJ. Look forward to more photos.

That is one heck of a lump of off-cut, was it dry?

Not sure about domino joints, redgums keeps moving, but with burl not sure in which direction. Especially across the floor board ends, you want to allow them to move, or the burl will crack as it has limited tensile strength. But are you talking about a single domino in the middle?

Hi Neil,

Yep it's dry. The big slabs were dry too as of a year ago - so they are fine to start working with later this year.

I am thinking domino top and bottom but of course I will oversize slot the hole vertically as the domino allows three different slot lengths (snug, big and very big) this will take care of any transverse movement in the panels. If I oversize the slot in both post and frame should accept +-15mm of movement

I can put the dominos into the post then just mark up on the panels and whizz away - just need to be careful - but hey if I stuff it just re-do a bit higher or lower - it will all be covered and I will deny any cover up

I find with the domino it is more important to ensure alignment perpendicular to the face it is very unforgiving in this respect - tight tolerances. Also if the domino hole is a bit away from where I want it then the corner post will not sit nicely against the board panels. Easiest way is a screw straight through the post but I am not going there - and as you rightly mention the movement would not accept this unless I fix to middle third only.

I will try and finish this project next weekend and post some more then.

**clare** · 24th June 2008, 07:09 PM

THIS is going to be the most amazing fish tank stand EVER!!!!

**TEEJAY** · 30th June 2008, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by clare

THIS is going to be the most amazing fish tank stand EVER!!!!

Wow - don't know it will be that great - something simple yet elegant showing the timber nicely will do - thanks.

**TEEJAY** · 30th June 2008, 07:49 PM

I got back into the shed over the weekend with renewed enthusiasm. I was ready to lay waste and burn some electrons and make a lot of nooise - then SWMBO advised me that little chappie had just fallen asleep - poor boy was up all night with a 24hour bug with all the perks

LITERALLY YUCK. So with router ready to whizz I decided to resort to darkside quiet as a mouse approach to keep the peace and be at one with the timber

To continue in the same vein I finished the timber with a scraper rather than the orbital sander.

**TEEJAY** · 30th June 2008, 07:53 PM

Using the reddest timber I could find from Studley's packs I was impressed with the character in the timber. I left the imperfections as an enhancement of the finish.

**TEEJAY** · 30th June 2008, 07:58 PM

The tank before is a bit of an ordinary bodgey stand that was well past replacement time - strangely I never paid too much attention to it - but with thie photo it is a wonder I didn't notice it and cringe before now

SWMBO and I are happy with the new stand - next it to encase the top light in a similar fashion with burl endcaps and planks between. This will be a little while away as other more imediate jobs await - hope you like my efforts so far

**Ozkaban** · 1st July 2008, 10:55 AM

That is sensational.

I have just ordered a mixed hw pack from studley myself, and I was looking at your photos of the completed tank stand. At my first glance of the first photo, I thought it was the finished stand

and thought what the heck have I ordered!!! Feeling better now!

Truly amazing looking tank stand. Well done!

cheers,
Dave

**BozInOz** · 1st July 2008, 02:07 PM

Looks great. I've got some redgum at the moment, beutiful stuff.

**TEEJAY** · 2nd July 2008, 06:30 PM

Bad Woodworker as you probably read - the finish to the burl is burnishing oil. I did finish the boards with a brush on turps based polyurethane.

Thanks ARTME

dai sensai, ozkaban and bozinoz - once I get a few other projects in order around the house - then I will bring out the serious big and wonderful burl slabs and hopefully make a dressing table that does it justice. Later on I will make the burl slab dining table out of the biggest burl slab - have to ensure little chap is past dragging knives and forks across existing table before I even consider that project.

BozInOz ensure you post your creation ideally as a WIP - what have you in mind?

**BozInOz** · 2nd July 2008, 10:48 PM

Well since you asked....

Hastings Woodworking Guide is having thier woodshow in Port Macquarie on the weekend of the 26th of Nov. I've got a few projects in the pipe line for that.

This one is a redgum coffee table. I've used the design before but used only rubbed joints... (lets leave that alone)... this time I'm using northern silver ash splines.. I've got the top pieces cut (around 96 from memory) and am in the process of gluing it together. I'm a little worried about expansion but it's coming together really nicely. Should be nice.

**TEEJAY** · 3rd August 2008, 05:32 PM

Well I have now finished the light cover so if anyone is interested in the making of the cover it's here in this thread

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f40/fishtank-light-cover-redgum-burl-wip-76107

**BrettC** · 4th August 2008, 10:25 PM

Teejay,

Beautiful Redgum

For what it's worth I reckon it would look even better if you were to do some stiles and rails and frame the tank to blend the whole piece in. Just my opinion, looks great.

**artme** · 7th August 2008, 08:37 PM

Wonderful result my friend!

Thread: Fish tank cabinet - redgum burl and other gum WIP

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