DIY 90cm aquarium cabinet ADA style

[amer d]

Hello Everyone,

I recently bought 90cm tank and decided to DIY the cabinet for my new tank. I would like to share some pictures and the steps how I made it. Overall the project took me around two weeks to complete and I worked for around 2 hours per day for this project.

So here the tools I used for this project.

- 1 sheet of 18mm Plywood ( 4ft x 8ft )

- 1 sheet of thin plywood for back cover.

- Jigsaw

- Cordless Screwdriver

- Wood filler

- 120 grit Sand paper

- 32mm & 16mm Wood screw

- 1 liter undercoat paint

- 1 litre high gloss wood paint

- Door hinges

- Brush and roller for paint work.


Final Product


1st step get a sheet of 18mm plywood (4ft x 8 ft)


This is how I plan to cut the plywood for each part. If you cut it properly according to the picture below, 1 sheet of plywood is sufficient to make 1 complete cabinet.


This is the measurement for each part.

Front - 900mm x 150mm
Bottom - 900mm x 432mm
Top - 900mm x 432mm
Door 1 - 590mm x 448mm
Door 2 - 590mm x 448mm
Side 1 - 432mm x 714mm
Side 2 - 432mm x 714mm
Central - 400mm x 714 mm

All the parts..





Since I dont have power tool to cut the plywood straight, I sent the plywood to local wood workshop to do the cutting work. All I need to do is just give the measurement to them.


After all the part has been cut, I cut both side 1 and side 2 like the picture below using a jigsaw. If you dont have a jigsaw, u can ask the wood workshop to cut it for u or u can cut it manually by using handsaw.



Next, I cover all holes and uneven plywood surface with wood filler and let it dry for about 2 - 3 hours before sanding work.



Then I sand all the surfaces using 120 grit sand paper. I repeated the process to put the wood filler and sanding till I get the result that I wanted. After sanding, u can feel the surface become really smooth.



Then I screw both side panel to bottom part. Like in the picture below I put 3 screw for each side.



Then I install the top part. For the parts that are visible, I made a small hole for screw head before I put the screw.



Step how to make screw head hole. Dont make it too deep..



Then I install the central part.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/25uU5gQ]


After that, I put the back cover using thin plywood. U will notice that before u put the back cover, the cabinet is not stable if you try to move it left and right but after u put the back cover, it will become stable.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HqSQWU]


I put some screws on each side left right up and bottom using 16mm screw
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24cGtGK]


This is how it looks after you put the back cover.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUxnbZ]


Then I install the front part. As usual, i made a hole for screw head before I put the screw.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZXXG]


After installing all the parts, I cover all the space between each part and the screw holes using wood filler then I sand it.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUxqGg]


After sanding...
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZVXu]


Then I paint the cabinet with wood undercoat. I put two layers of undercoat and let it dry for 8hours. After paint the 1st layer, I sand it before paint new layer then sand it again after finish put the 2nd layer.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HqSWJL]


Once dried, I paint the the cabinet using high gloss paint. For this one i use a paint brush. I put two layer of paint but I did not sand it since it already shining and smooth after I paint it
[url=https://flic.kr/p/25uUn47]


After paint work, I installed the door to the cabinet.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZJZY]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HqVGVs]


Then I put push opener at the door so that the door can be easily open. The door opener I get from IKEA.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24cKFDp]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24u3EFm]



Final product. Really satisfied with the final product although this is my first wood project.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZ5bW]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUwrTB]


Feel free to comment and ask question. Thanks![/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url]

 

[Ryan Thang To]

Hi
Oh wow. Nice job man. Great little project

Cheers

 

[doylecolmdoyle]

Looks good nice work!

 

[Goose157]

Wow that looks excellent!.......thanks for showing this.....

 

[Sick1166]

Thanks,I am going to build a stand for my new 60
Looks great

 

[TBRO]

Very impressive result! Nice paint job looks really slick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[notmysign]

I am copying this build 🙂

PS. this should be moved to finished builds

 

[Andy Taylor]

Thank you for the step by step guide. A great looking unit.

 

[Costa]

Very good, thanks for the step by step!

 

[Jayefc1]

I just want to say thank you for sharing this it gives us people that arnt carpenters who have never built any thing with wood the inspiration to at least try and with you sharing this built the know how too
Thank you
Jay

 

[notmysign]

So 2 week's later and I'm almost finished, I am waiting on hinges 🙂 tanks for all info!

 

[notmysign]

for the hole I'm going to 3Dprint grommets

 

[Keith GH]

amere d

Step how to make screw head hole. Dont make it too deep..

This would be one of the best DIY I have seen for many years. I think I am fully qualified in saying that reason being I am a retired Cabinet Maker I also taught Cabinet Making Apprentices and secondary students for a total of 46 years.

Here is a little tip when drilling a deep hole to the same depth its fool proof and perfect every time. Drill a hole through a round piece of timber. When drilling place the piece of wood over the drill and up to the chuck so the drill bit is exposed to the depth you require.

That is something I learnt over 60 years ago (that is not a typo)

Keith

 

[Lofoaquascape]

Hi @amer did you install any feet under the cabinet ?

 

[Chris Tinker]

purely fantastic. love the colour choice too.

do you have a cost factor?

 

[Chris Tinker]

Here is a little tip when drilling a deep hole to the same depth its fool proof and perfect every time. Drill a hole through a round piece of timber. When drilling place the piece of wood over the drill and up to the chuck so the drill bit is exposed to the depth you require.

That is something I learnt over 60 years ago (that is not a typo)

Keith

i love these cheeky little tips. gold!

 

[Keith GH]

Chris
When I was in the trade all the Cabinet Makers had several of these. I have probably forgotten more than I can remember these days.

Keith

 

[k3ch0ng]

Wow, this has inspired me to try building my own cabinet to hold a 120x53cm tank.

Heres my design.

Just wondering if the 35mm screws are adequate enough to hold it in place?

 

[notmysign]

Just wondering if the 35mm screws are adequate enough to hold it in place?

I think I used 45mm

 

[k3ch0ng]

Almost there... Just wondering, I only have 4 feet things on each corner, do I need another 2 in the middle?