Aquarium Stands or Cabinets

[Lowell Lemon]

\

Again I apologize for the color of the picture. I am not a photographer and have limited camera equipment. My photos with my tablet are better but I am having trouble uploading the files to this thread. This tank is an experimental hybrid in my shop under going static load testing on the seams. The measurements are 36" x 18" x 18". The waterline is designed to be about 1.5" from the top edge. The back panel is Thyme solid surface by DuPont(R) bonded to .472" acrylic face, bottom, and end panels. If successful this may be a new line of tanks I would fabricate and offer for sale. The back panel looks very much like a section of live rock in color...so adding rock in front of it would kind of blend in the entire scene. Just another of my crazy ideas. This will become another saltwater build if the test is successful. So far about three weeks at full water load and no seam problems. The sticker you see on the face of the aquarium is my brand from over 20 years of acrylic aquarium fabrication and distribution in 5 northwestern states. I no longer distribute to the retail stores at this time.

 

[tj w]

So i guess this advertising thread for your custom stands??

 

[WilRams]

Would this be something a stand is skinned with or completely made of this material kind of like plywood/mdf stands are built?

Would one expect countertop type prices per sqft for materials cost alone?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

So i guess this advertising thread for your custom stands??

This is not an advertising thread for products I have for sale. This is just a thread to see if anyone likes the idea and to share some things I have made for myself. Since the DIY person can not buy from most of the solid surface manufactures. There is an alternative to those who would like to buy product and make their own. www.SolidSurface.com has several product lines that are overstock or out of production colors. They are not bound by the distribution agreements and can sell the raw sheet...I am not sure they can sell the adhesives which require a special mixing gun and tips. In all fairness to the advertisers on R2R I would not advertise for sale until I sponsored the site just like they do. It is only fair. I also have been researching other products and methods.

 

[Jlobes]

So i guess this advertising thread for your custom stands??

doesnt seem like advertising to me, not yet at least. just an informative thread about alternative and possibly better materials for stand design and construction.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Would this be something a stand is skinned with or completely made of this material kind of like plywood/mdf stands are built?

Would one expect countertop type prices per sqft for materials cost alone?

It can be used to skin a stand but honestly with proper design the entire cabinet can be made from the product with out any mechanical fasteners necessary except for the hinges and related. I am sure the square foot prices would be a good place to start for an assembled stand. I think Lowe's and Home Depot sell fabricated counter tops by the square foot. I would caution you that a cabinet consumes lots of square feet of material. So that said a local solid surface fabricator could provide you the service if you provided the designs or they may feel comfortable taking on the process.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Have any of you on the east coast looked at King Starboard. It is used for boat interiors and finishes. I think it is a Polyethelene Plastic in various colors. Think it is available in 3/4" thickness so it would work with the Blume style hinges. Made for outdoor marine use so it is very tough. Could be screwed together or glued with the correct adhesives. I am just about finished with another stand out of a new product that holds screws very well (in fact it was forumlated just for that purpose). Has a black anthricite textured surface. Pictures to follow soon in a day or two.