DIY plywood stand material choice?

[Townes_Van_Camp]

3/4 inch is a standard size, pine B/C grade should be ok, but oak or maple 3/4" are usually carried by Home Depot and Lowes. The oak and maple usually have more plys and therefore can be noticeably smoother and flatter than the pine. The 3/4 should provide adequate strength to support the weight, depending on the weight . don't know how your original stand was built, but I would still consider 2 x 4 or 2 x 3 corner posts to which you would attach the plywood, depending on the size of the tank.

edit: I should have said Birch, although some carry maple too. Birch holds paint and stain really well. Oak stains really well

Birch stains terribly. Bad bad bad.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I got the same as @neon_reefer, Russian baltic birch(printed on the side) in 3/4" 4x8 sheets for $49.99 a sheet. It's a local plywood supply house(all they sell is various grades and thicknesses of plywood). Would have never known it existed, but talked to a local cabinet maker, and thats where he gets all his ply from.

Thanks for all the replies guys! I went with 3/4" baltic birch for the sides, and 31/32" CDX fort he top and bottom. Since the top will have a yoga mat on it, and the bottom is within the stand, you won't see it at all. I did find another thread where they used truck bed liner on the top. I think I'll use that to coat the top and fill in the small blemishes from it being CDX ply.

OOh I do plan on just painting the entire thing black like my current stand.

Real Baltic come in 5x5. Chinese “Baltic birch” comes in 4x8 sheets

 

[Staghorn]

Birch stains terribly. Bad bad bad.

Yes unfortunately you’re gonna have a lot of blotchiness I would do a solid color or maybe a paint and glaze to achieve a wood look. But standstill work too good. If you have paint equipment you might be able to use a dye but that requires some experience.

 

[Staghorn]

Real Baltic come in 5x5. Chinese “Baltic birch” comes in 4x8 sheets

You can get the Russian stuff in 4 x 8 also.

 

[Staghorn]

My supplier Carries it

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Yes unfortunately you’re gonna have a lot of blotchiness I would do a solid color or maybe a paint and glaze to achieve a wood look. But standstill work too good. If you have paint equipment you might be able to use a dye but that requires some experience.

My uncle does custom cabinets for a living. Owns the company and has been at it for over 40 years. I’m also staring a Baltic birch stand because I like the banding in the edge. It works really well in mid-century furniture.
I talked to my uncle about it and he put me on a product called “Charles Neil pre-stain conditioner”. A bit different than other conditioners as it uses high solid adhesive as a binder. Raise the grain with water and let it dry, sand to 180, then apply the conditioner and let it dry, one more quick sanding at 180, tac cloth, stain with water based with chip brush or a rag. He said it would be good to go as long the conditioner is applied evenly.
But I’m gonna trust the man who built the make-up tables in the grand ole opry.

But you are correct ***** is terrible to stain. Even Jim (my uncle) said he won’t even spray it on unless he has that specific conditioner.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

My supplier Carries it

Hmm. I’ve only seen it in 5x5. But admittedly I haven’t really looked for birch ply very often.

 

[Staghorn]

Hmm. I’ve only seen it in 5x5. But admittedly I haven’t really looked for birch ply very often.

Yeah honestly maple is so much nicer. When I’m routing something and need a core with absolutely no holes I will buy good Baltic but otherwise maple all the way unless the clients are unwilling to pay for it.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Yeah honestly maple is so much nicer. When I’m routing something and need a core with absolutely no holes I will buy good Baltic but otherwise maple all the way unless the clients are unwilling to pay for it.

I wanted to match maple, but I wanted 0 void edges so that I could miter the faces and stain the banding on the stand I’m starting this weekend. I’m moving a bit out side of my comfort zone on this stand as I usually just skin a 2x3 or 2x4 frame for my stands and work benches. I’m trying my best to fake walnut with this one and wouldn’t have used BB except for those edges.

 

[Staghorn]

You can get some iron on edgeband to cover the edges which would make your doors and panels allot easier.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I want the edge ply in the BB to show. That was the only reason I bought it. Is there a edge banding that fakes that?

 

[homer1475]

Real Baltic come in 5x5. Chinese “Baltic birch” comes in 4x8 sheets

Says Russian birch stamped on the side, and the supply house I bought it from said it was imported from Russia also. So I don't know, I can only go by what I see and was told?

Yeah I know birch stains bad, I only got the Russian birch because I was told it was super strong. I plan on just painting the outside black, and the inside an enamel epoxy paint in white(rustoleum appliance paint). So the finish isn't a big deal.

 

[Staghorn]

Believe it or not there is actually and edgeband that looks like a perfect plywood edge. But they probably don’t have iron on so you would have to do contact cement. I have an edge bander but I’m way down south. In either case I don’t have that edge banding at my shop

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Believe it or not there is actually and edgeband that looks like a perfect plywood edge. But they probably don’t have iron on so you would have to do contact cement. I have an edge bander but I’m way down south. In either case I don’t have that edge banding at my shop

Where in the south? I’m not asking to borrow tools lol.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Believe it or not there is actually and edgeband that looks like a perfect plywood edge. But they probably don’t have iron on so you would have to do contact cement. I have an edge bander but I’m way down south. In either case I don’t have that edge banding at my shop

Yeah I hadn’t seen it like that. Only 5x5 sheets. Another poster told me that it does come in 4x 8 now.

 

[neonreef3d]

Says Russian birch stamped on the side, and the supply house I bought it from said it was imported from Russia also. So I don't know, I can only go by what I see and was told?

Yeah I know birch stains bad, I only got the Russian birch because I was told it was super strong. I plan on just painting the outside black, and the inside an enamel epoxy paint in white(rustoleum appliance paint). So the finish isn't a big deal.

there is no such thing as enamel epoxy......

I prefer you just get a truck bed paint and coat it with that, it will be water proof, and moisture proof

 

[homer1475]

DOUBLE POST

 

[homer1475]

there is no such thing as enamel epoxy......

I prefer you just get a truck bed paint and coat it with that, it will be water proof, and moisture proof

Man why is it whenever I post something, someone has to point out I'm wrong when I know I'm right? I honestly don't care what "YOU PREFER", and did not ask for that suggestion, but thank you anyways(hope that didn't come off d*ckish?, if it did I did not mean it to). I may use the bed liner on the top thats under the tank though.

Rustoleum makes an appliance epoxy paint. Ive used it before. Maybe do a little reseach before you spout off what you don't know. Also WATERPROOF and a nice hard shiny finish. Can't be beat for the inside of a stand.

Rust-Oleum Specialty 1 qt. Appliance Epoxy Gloss White Interior Enamel Paint 241168 - The Home Depot

The Rust-Oleum 32 oz. White Gloss Appliance Paint will refinish the exterior of metal appliances. Product works on refrigerators, dishwashers, cabinets and tables. This moisture-resistant enamel provides

www.homedepot.com

Same thing the "paint guy" at home depot told me when I went in looking for it, till I showed him he was wrong.

EPOXY ENAMEL PAINT

Current melamine stand has that on the inside, and after many many spills, and ATO failures over the years, the inside is completely dry and unaffected by water. Only where water ran out the door, and they have that cheap plastic banding on the melamine is where water entered and destroyed the melamine.

Way better then a truck bed liner as it's smooth and doesn't have that texture to it.

 

[neonreef3d]

Man why is it whenever I post something, someone has to point out I'm wrong when I know I'm right? I honestly don't care what "YOU PREFER", and did not ask for that suggestion, but thank you anyways(hope that didn't come off d*ckish?, if it did I did not mean it to). I may use the bed liner on the top thats under the tank though.

Rustoleum makes an appliance epoxy paint. Ive used it before. Maybe do a little reseach before you spout off what you don't know. Also WATERPROOF and a nice hard shiny finish. Can't be beat for the inside of a stand.

Rust-Oleum Specialty 1 qt. Appliance Epoxy Gloss White Interior Enamel Paint 241168 - The Home Depot

The Rust-Oleum 32 oz. White Gloss Appliance Paint will refinish the exterior of metal appliances. Product works on refrigerators, dishwashers, cabinets and tables. This moisture-resistant enamel provides

www.homedepot.com

Same thing the "paint guy" at home depot told me when I went in looking for it, till I showed him he was wrong.

EPOXY ENAMEL PAINT

Current melamine stand has that on the inside, and after many many spills, and ATO failures over the years, the inside is completely dry and unaffected by water. Only where water ran out the door, and they have that cheap plastic banding on the melamine is where water entered and destroyed the melamine.

Way better then a truck bed liner as it's smooth and doesn't have that texture

this is not an epoxy resin, Epoxy is a resin that comes in 2 parts..

Appliance Epoxy .....is the brand. Rustoleum is the manufacturer..... Its called marketing.

This product contains Zero Epoxy, it just has a similar "LOOK"..

I work with Epoxy resin everyday. its a totally different product.

 

[homer1475]

this is not an epoxy resin, Epoxy is a resin that comes in 2 parts..

Appliance Epoxy .....is the brand. Rustoleum is the manufacturer..... Its called marketing.

This product contains Zero Epoxy, it just has a similar "LOOK"..

I work with Epoxy resin everyday. its a totally different product.

I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. And well... I'm wrong, and I apologize.

After reading what you wrote, I was adamant I was right, so I went and grabbed the can to read it. Just an enamel paint designed to put on metal.

Well either way I already have it, and I'm using it. Worked great on my last stand.

Sorry if I sounded like a "you know what", but dang I was sure I was right. lol