DIY cabinet with Horizontal woodgrain ?

[Doctorgori]

I’m planning on refacing my 6ft long stand for a 210. Has anyone seen or created a stand with the woodgrain running horizontal ? How does it look? Pics? Opinions please
the reason is I want the grain to match and my tank is 6ft but plywood board is 4 x 8 with the grain running long wise

 

[JoshH]

@Scratch08 has his tank stand setup the same way....

 

[lost66]

I have a stand with horizontal wood grain. Tank is 8feet long. unfortunately I cut it in the half and added stripe of pine in the middle because I forgot I can hide missing 2-4 inches of plywood in the corners. Vertical orientation in my opinion will look bad if you don't paint it. If you prefer wood like me then pick a nice good quality plywood and do it horizontally.

 

[Reefer of Oz]

As a cabinet builder by trade, I say go for it. We do plenty of horizontal door/drawer front units. It has become a popular contemporary design element. It can look real sharp with grain matched doors. If you are using plywood stock for door panels, I would suggest some edge band to hide the laminations on the edges.

 

[robs.mark]

Not a reef stand, but to give you a representation, my kitchen cabinet have horizontal grain. They are made from hoop pine.

 

[Doctorgori]

Not a reef stand, but to give you a representation, my kitchen cabinet have horizontal grain. They are made from hoop pine.

Now thats the look: nice clean and contemporary, I might now go wtih so called “sanded whitewood” or sumthin like that .... problem is I need solid pieces for corners & top & bottom. maple. Oak and popular Are the only solid hardwoods offered

 

[Doctorgori]

@Scratch08 has his tank stand setup the same way....

You got door or is the sump always visible? ... I was thinking of adding a glass door but figured too complex for my Craftsman tool set

I have a stand with horizontal wood grain. Tank is 8feet long. unfortunately I cut it in the half and added stripe of pine in the middle because I forgot I can hide missing 2-4 inches of plywood in the corners. Vertical orientation in my opinion will look bad if you don't paint it. If you prefer wood like me then pick a nice good quality plywood and do it horizontally.

Yeah thats a issue when they make actual aquariums 1/4” to 1/2” longer than standard dimensional lumber

 

[Vette67]

Mine is mixed. I made it myself, and since mine is 6 feet long, I didn't have a choice in how the wood grain would go. But the doors were pre-fabricated, unfinished Home Depot cheapies, nothing special. Honestly, I don't even notice the wood grain direction. But here's what it looks like with vertical grained doors and horizontal grained cabinet.

 

[JoshH]

You got door or is the sump always visible? ... I was thinking of adding a glass door but figured too complex for my Craftsman tool set

It might not be as complex as you think depending on what tools you have. And that's @Scratch08's tank, I think I've got him to agree to clear glass but I don't think they are built yet.

 

[lost66]

Personally I think its much easier and cheaper to make it horizontally. In my case 8ft long and given height I would spend almost double to make it vertically.

 

[robs.mark]

Now thats the look: nice clean and contemporary, I might now go wtih so called “sanded whitewood” or sumthin like that .... problem is I need solid pieces for corners & top & bottom. maple. Oak and popular Are the only solid hardwoods offered

Maple - I love it but we’re unable to find it in Australia. I’m in the process of building a contemporary (or my interpretation of) stand. The timber on mine is vertical though as i wanted to maximise what I could out of two sheets.

 

[Doctorgori]

Mine is mixed. I made it myself, and since mine is 6 feet long, I didn't have a choice in how the wood grain would go. But the doors were pre-fabricated, unfinished Home Depot cheapies, nothing special. Honestly, I don't even notice the wood grain direction. But here's what it looks like with vertical grained doors and horizontal grained cabinet.

Yeah, Like you said; it really doesn’t stick out like I expected. I wonder if the choice of stain & wood matters

 

[Doctorgori]

Maple - I love it but we’re unable to find it in Australia. I’m in the process of building a contemporary (or my interpretation of) stand. The timber on mine is vertical though as i wanted to maximise what I could out of two sheets.

Yeah, Again, I’m leaning clean/contemporary also; I’m takingnote of how they deal with the coners/umfised side of plywood sheets. From the look of it they got solid white corners fro trim...Hmmmm

 

[Doctorgori]

Personally I think its much easier and cheaper to make it horizontally. In my case 8ft long and given height I would spend almost double to make it vertically.

...YUP! I, thats the nail on the head. I‘m trying to do this with a single 4x8 hardwood-plywood sheet if I can....thats hood (front panel) and stand

 

[Doctorgori]

It might not be as complex as you think depending on what tools you have. And that's @Scratch08's tank, I think I've got him to agree to clear glass but I don't think they are built yet.

Funny timing: I’m watching that very thing on youtube: Building Cabinet doors w/glass

 

[Vette67]

Yeah, Again, I’m leaning clean/contemporary also; I’m takingnote of how they deal with the coners/umfised side of plywood sheets. From the look of it they got solid white corners fro trim...Hmmmm

I found some 3/4" corner trim that I put on the ends of mine to cover the unfinished plywood ends. I don't think it looks too bad. It was prefab trim from Home Depot. And it was available in oak, so it all matches.

 

[Scratch08]

You got door or is the sump always visible? ... I was thinking of adding a glass door but figured too complex for my Craftsman tool set

You'd be surprised at what you can do with limited tools and/or space...the whole cabinet and canopy were built using only a Skil saw, a small router, an orbital sander, a drill and various clamps. Oh yeah, and a Kregg pocket hole kit. I will be putting doors on it soon, but have not started building them yet.

 

[Scratch08]

It might not be as complex as you think depending on what tools you have. And that's @Scratch08's tank, I think I've got him to agree to clear glass but I don't think they are built yet.

No decision yet on clear glass doors or not

 

[billwill]

Darn! I didn't even think of going horizontal grain on my stand I'm in process of building! I used 5x5 Birch plywood on a 5' stand, so could have gone either way. I like the look of horizontal now that I see it.

 

[Doctorgori]

Maple - I love it but we’re unable to find it in Australia. I’m in the process of building a contemporary (or my interpretation of) stand. The timber on mine is vertical though as i wanted to maximise what I could out of two sheets.

Heck; I didn’t even think about wood availability .... nearest maples to you are probably in China. BTW is there even a timber industry down under?

I found some 3/4" corner trim that I put on the ends of mine to cover the unfinished plywood ends. I don't think it looks too bad. It was prefab trim from Home Depot. And it was available in oak, so it all matches.

I went with the tape stuff... hopefully it won’t de-laminate in a few years

You'd be surprised at what you can do with limited tools and/or space...the whole cabinet and canopy were built using only a Skil saw, a small router, an orbital sander, a drill and various clamps. Oh yeah, and a Kregg pocket hole kit. I will be putting doors on it soon, but have not started building them yet.

I got the basics, even got a Kregg rig, router, et...

Darn! I didn't even think of going horizontal grain on my stand I'm in process of building! I used 5x5 Birch plywood on a 5' stand, so could have gone either way. I like the look of horizontal now that I see it.

I’m sold after the pics everyone posted