Looking for ideas on doing a screen top for bowfront

[BarbH]

I have a bowfront tank that eventually I want to make a screen top for. The biggest issue that I have is figuring out how to acheive bending the frame to fit the front of the tank. My access to tools are fairly limited pretty much all I have are some basic hand tools. Has anyone made a screen top for a bowfront, if so how did you go about bending the frame for the screen? Also any ideas about places that I could check into that may able to bend the frame for me? Thanks.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hmm that could be tough but I am sure there is a way!

 

[_sludgefactory]

I used egg crate for my top but i want to make a new with the clear mesh screen. I was going to just try to bend the frames with my knee. I have a corner tank so it's going to be a real pain.



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[BarbH]

Thing I wonder about is keeping the area in which the spline goes into from kinking, I know that there has to be a way to make it work.

 

[BarbH]

:bump: looking to see if anyone might have some ideas of how to go about doing this

 

[blackx-runner]

I think you would run into problems trying to bend the regular screen frame for your curve. You would probably have to look at other materials that would take the bend better and find a way to attach the screen to them. Another option might be to make a rectangle screen then use something like a piece of acrylic cut to fill in the curve area. If you polish the edges and add a little hande it might be a pretty fuctional addition over a full screen.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

This is DIY cover for my refugium, allowing the fans to coolit. comes in white and is part of a lightfixture, probably HD will have it cutt with a snips.

 

[swannyson7]

If you cut small kerfs in screen framing, you could probably bend it to the shape of your tank. Just cut a portion of the way through on the inside of the curve and as you bend the frame it will close up the cuts without distorting the frame.

 

[Dowtish]

I have not finished mine, but this is the idea....

You make the screen as if you dont have the bow. so you measure and make your screen the right length front to back and from brace to brace etc. then you use acrylic for the rest. I currently have not had the acrylic cut to shape, but the idea is to have it fit in the bow resting on the bracing and then drill a few small holes and zip tie it to the mesh screen. The you can take a large headed screw and drill down a handle. Then the zip ties act as hinges and the screw is your handle to lift it up. I hope that makes sense.

here is what I got so far.

 

[Aquaph8]

I know pro screen makers can make screens for windows with bows but Ive never seen a DIY kit for it. Maybe someone at a window place can make you one.

 

[BarbH]

I have not finished mine, but this is the idea....

You make the screen as if you dont have the bow. so you measure and make your screen the right length front to back and from brace to brace etc. then you use acrylic for the rest. I currently have not had the acrylic cut to shape, but the idea is to have it fit in the bow resting on the bracing and then drill a few small holes and zip tie it to the mesh screen. The you can take a large headed screw and drill down a handle. Then the zip ties act as hinges and the screw is your handle to lift it up. I hope that makes sense.

here is what I got so far.

I am wondering if I could figure a way to make the front portion of the glass canopy that I have already work with that. Will have to see what I might be able to come up with.

 

[BarbH]

If you cut small kerfs in screen framing, you could probably bend it to the shape of your tank. Just cut a portion of the way through on the inside of the curve and as you bend the frame it will close up the cuts without distorting the frame.

Thanks thinking might pick up some framing and give this a try first to see if I can get it to work. I have a hacksaw which should work right, will probably need to pick up some new blades

 

[MBG75]

Here is mine from a 54 corner I no longer have. Screen glued between 2 pieces of plexiglas.

 

[_sludgefactory]

Can we get some info on the build for that topper?



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[BarbH]

Here is mine from a 54 corner I no longer have. Screen glued between 2 pieces of plexiglas.

What did you use to cut the plexi glass, especially interested in how you cut it for the curve?

Currently I am working with some ideas for cutting the window frame with kerfs as suggested by swannyson to see if I can get that to work. Once I get things figured out and if I get it to work I will do a thread here. Biggest issue having right now is that the hacksaw doesn't make what I feel to be a wide enough cut to allow much bend, so trying to figure out what else I can use that will achieve what I am looking for. Fortunately I have all summer to work on this and the frame is pretty cheap so experimenting is not to taxing on the pocket

 

[swannyson7]

If you cut the kerfs closer together it will allow for more bend. FWIW, if you have access to a cutoff wheel or a dremel with a diamond wheel, that will work much faster and allow you to cut wider kerfs.

 

[BarbH]

If you cut the kerfs closer together it will allow for more bend. FWIW, if you have access to a cutoff wheel or a dremel with a diamond wheel, that will work much faster and allow you to cut wider kerfs.

Thanks, don't have a dremel although might look at possibly getting one of the less expensive setups. Do have a jigsaw that I was thinking about trying, not sure how that will work :squigglemouth: Actually it is the only power tool that I have, lol not even a drill in the house, but than apartment living doesn't require you to have to do home repairs so haven't had much need for many tools other than some basic hand tools that I have collected over the years :bigsmile:

 

[swannyson7]

Thanks, don't have a dremel although might look at possibly getting one of the less expensive setups. Do have a jigsaw that I was thinking about trying, not sure how that will work :squigglemouth: Actually it is the only power tool that I have, lol not even a drill in the house, but than apartment living doesn't require you to have to do home repairs so haven't had much need for many tools other than some basic hand tools that I have collected over the years :bigsmile:

I would advise against the jigsaw because it will most likely just break your blade and you could get hurt with flying debris as it tears through the aluminum. If you look at Harbor Freight, they sell a cheap-o rotary tool for just over $10.
80 Piece Rotary Tool Kit

 

[BarbH]

I would advise against the jigsaw because it will most likely just break your blade and you could get hurt with flying debris as it tears through the aluminum. If you look at Harbor Freight, they sell a cheap-o rotary tool for just over $10.
80 Piece Rotary Tool Kit

Thanks will have to check that out, don't really need anything fancy