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DIY 90cm aquarium cabinet ADA style

amer d

Seedling
Joined
11 Mar 2018
Messages
2
Location
malaysia
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
39254346390_83ec80ab98_z.jpg


1st step get a sheet of 18mm plywood (4ft x 8 ft)
40354439424_6ebe516fc4_n.jpg


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.
26192455067_bb0aa787f6_z.jpg


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..

39254348590_b6bfa40a9b_z.jpg

40354435614_585643ae1d_z.jpg



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.
26192438237_69c9b8941e_z.jpg


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.
26192462627_9829c31b74_z.jpg



Next, I cover all holes and uneven plywood surface with wood filler and let it dry for about 2 - 3 hours before sanding work.
40354570024_75ef57803c_z.jpg



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.
26192448287_6a73b9fe64_z.jpg



Then I screw both side panel to bottom part. Like in the picture below I put 3 screw for each side.
26192441367_4e7803deb9_z.jpg



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.
26192470947_fff036e7b3_z.jpg



Step how to make screw head hole. Dont make it too deep..
39254550920_21df1b3213_z.jpg


Then I install the central part.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/25uU5gQ]41021141702_41b21b065c_z.jpg


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]27192143648_c0fa5ae981_z.jpg


I put some screws on each side left right up and bottom using 16mm screw
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24cGtGK]40170141975_d9f4688583_z.jpg


This is how it looks after you put the back cover.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUxnbZ]26192491497_463d517d10_z.jpg


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]40354617874_c55413b7fa_z.jpg


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]26192503287_14ddfddbd9_z.jpg


After sanding...
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZVXu]40354611134_e0daf37628_z.jpg


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]27192163128_eb5fd9d928_z.jpg


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]41021198152_e129447300_z.jpg


After paint work, I installed the door to the cabinet.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZJZY]40354574274_d5c6ecd675_z.jpg
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HqVGVs]27192701988_83720470aa_z.jpg


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]40170767485_a96c6b5949_z.jpg
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24u3EFm]40355145074_c18d7ecc34_z.jpg



Final product. Really satisfied with the final product although this is my first wood project.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24tZ5bW]40354443714_cb5cfe490c_z.jpg
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUwrTB]26192312197_51285938ea_z.jpg


Feel free to comment and ask question. Thanks!
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Very impressive result! Nice paint job looks really slick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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
 
amere d
Step how to make screw head hole. Dont make it too deep..
39254550920_21df1b3213_z.jpg


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:wave::wave:
 
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:wave::wave:


i love these cheeky little tips. gold!
 
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?
 

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

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