View RSS Feed

Blennymower

My Canopy Build

Rate this Entry
I sold my T5s and decided to go back to MHs. I didn't want a fixture, so I would need a canopy. I decided to make my own to save some money. Although in the end I probably spent just as much as if I would have had bought a canopy, I feel the project contributed to a skill I would like to further develop, carpentry. Not to mention the sense of accomplishment that you get from completing the project.

While you look at the pictures remember, this is my first ever carpentry project. It's not perfect, there are things I learned and there areas where I could have done better.

I got the plans from this website:

http://www.timbob.com/Aquarium/canopy_build.htm

Some of the tools I used, later on I bought 4 more smaller clamps and later on returned the larger ones.


The front frame



Side frames



Here I'm gluing the side panels, later on I added screws to reinforce.



Here it is all together with a top frame glued and screwed in for rigidity.



Here I am skinning the canopy and trying it on the tank to make sure it's all flush.



All skinned



And the door(s) It was a PITA to make the doors. Ideally If I had a router I would have made slots in the middle of the door frames to slide in the door panel. But I don't have a router and was not going to buy one.



Since I ain't no carpenter, I had to use a lot of filler to do away with some of the small gaps between the moldings. Overall I think it came out pretty good for a first timer.

Here I'm staining and coating with polyurethane.









One of the mistakes I made was not accurately identifying the colors, as you can see I added a lighter stain. It doesn't bother me, I just wanted something to house my lights. Doesn't look too bad right?

Submit "My Canopy Build" to Digg Submit "My Canopy Build" to del.icio.us Submit "My Canopy Build" to StumbleUpon Submit "My Canopy Build" to Google

Updated 04-30-2010 at 11:40 PM by melev

Categories
DIY projects

Comments

  1. melev's Avatar
    Based on Pictures #6 & #7, I'd have to say that I appreciate that is was "made in America." hehe

    It looks really good, especially for your first project. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Did you add holes for cooling fans, or did you have something else in mind?
  2. Blennymower's Avatar
    I didn't want to put holes on the side for fans because knowing what a poor planner I am, I feared I would make holes only to regret making them elsewhere and then having to live with the mistake since redoing the canopy is not an option. I decided if I need fans I would place them somehow inside the canopy which has an open back. I have yet to add fans though.
  3. austin93's Avatar
    Looks good. You will be happy you switched to mh. I did the same thing a few months ago and have been very happy.
  4. Hat39406's Avatar
    Awesome job, doesn't it feel even better when ya do it yourself?