On Thursday I walked into my local aquarium store.  Had not been there in about 6 months.  I have been a customer for about 20 years.  I haven't been that involved lately because I have several saltwater aquariums and it is an expensive hobby.  Business has been done and the turtle - me - has pulled his head into his shell.

This place is better than scuba diving in the Caribbean.  You can not spend less than 30 minutes in this store.  I was standing at the counter listening to a conversation between the owner and a customer when the owner looks over at me and asks if I am busy.  Putting pride aside I tell him business sucks.  He tells me that he is slammed with business and that he needs 9 cabinets. aquarium stands, and built-ins now.

Well, after after 10 years and 4 or 5 serious discussions, finally I get a chance.  Some of this will be out of my comfort range and I will be forced to finally look for shop space.  I hope that you guys will be here to offer advice when I ask.  I am busting my  this weekend to build the trial stand out in my driveway.  I used my Domino more this afternoon than I have in the last 18 months I owned it.  I love it.

Ironically I went to go pick up materials today and stopped by to show a stain sample.  I knew he was meeting with a veterinarian about putting a large tank in their office.  The vet turned out to be Dr. Gene who is the one that we have taken our pets to for almost 25 years.  He did instantly ask about MacGyver.  

This is one of his tanks.  1200 gallons.  10 feet long x 4 feet front to back x 4 feet 6 inches tall.  Plus the stand.  He is doing a 1700 gallon tank in a house in PA soon.



Sorry for the crappy image.  I had to hurry and use a cell phone.  They don't allow photos.  They have had numerous people take pictures and then boastingly claim ownership on the internet.  But for reference, the clam in the lower left had corner weighed over 150 lbs 2 years ago when he moved in.  The large fish to the left is 14 inches long.

Guys,  cross you fingers for me.

Peter

Glad to hear this, Peter. My experience is the same as Tinker's, hope yours goes stronger and stronger.

Great news Peter!
I have always believed that we all get some luck in our life, but those who succeed are the ones who are ready to go when the luck comes!
These days, one of the best strategies is to find a niche, not to compete with all those yahoos out there, but to find a small corner where you are the go to guy.
Wishing you the best - just hope you don't get too busy to moderate !

Congratulations, Peter!

I guess that, since you've had salt water tanks, you know what it takes to build a good aquarium stand, but my mind is boggling.  1,200 gallons?  1,700 gallons?!  At eight pounds per gallon, that'd be 9,600 and 13,600 pounds respectively.  I guess this shows my ignorance, but when you build the stands for big tanks like that, does the job include reinforcing the floors in those places?

Regards,

John

Excellent news, Peter!  Good luck with that and as the others said, post back for ideas if you need any (unlikely, but what the heck )

Those are amazingly huge tanks.  10,000+ lbs? You might want to use 2 8mm Dominos instead of just 1 5mm on the joints  j/k

I recon a new Domino XL is required for this!   


Pictures Pete! 


JMB

JMB is dead wrong! This job requires the super secret Domino XXXL that uses the new 100mm dominos!

I didn't want to ignore this thread.  The designs for the structural part of the stands have been engineered.  I am out of the product liability problem.

I have no idea where this will go.  Or if it will be profitable.

I got a lead on work space today and am on the waiting list.  Not my perfect size, but better than working outside and wasting the time putting away tools and getting them out.  10 ft X 30 ft (don't like the 10 ft size) with heat and air conditioning and power - 200 a month  .  High ceiling height - could do a loft / mezzanine.  I am not ready to commit to a larger space yet, so we will see what happens.

Thank you to everyone for the wishes and comments.  They mean a lot! 

Peter

OK.  I could write a book about why you should hire a cabinet pro to do these kinds of things now.  I am not going to document the steps and mis-steps I have encountered, but I honestly believe that a black cloud has descended upon me.

So the first question that I have to ask regards cabinet hinges - Blum in particular.

I went to a local cabinet goods supplier and got hinges.  I then went to the Blum website and downloaded their Excel spreadsheet program to determine the distance from the edge of the door that I need to drill the hole.  The dimensions there are to the edge of the hole.  I don't have any of the jigs and right now they are not on the horizon.

So the question is:  If the distance to the edge of the hole is 5 MM and the hole is 35 MM, and the centerline of the hole is 22.5 mm should I mark the centerline of the hole at:

a.  22 mm
b.  23 mm
c.  choose either one and move on - that is why they are adjustable?

But this also raises a general question about dimensions with hardware.  Do you go to the min or the max when the results are in between.

Thanks for any advice!

Peter

Peter

If you're using the LR32, there are 1/10 mm vernier markings on the gauges. Makes it easy enough to get your 22.5mm offset.

HTH,
Bill

I just wanted to take a minute to update all those who offered ideas and encouragement, and also document the wins and losses for anyone who wishes to do something similar in the future

I mentioned that I had a lead on shop space and I did rent it.  Unfortunately that space just didn't work for me and I had to give it up.  BUT, 20 feet away I moved into a larger space - 15 X 30 with electric (1 20 amp 120 Volt circuit) and heat and air conditioning.  My cost -$250 per month.  The 15 feet of width makes all the difference.  Additionally, the electric panel for the whole block of spaces is just on the other side of my wall if I decide to add circuits, and the primary retrun duct for the spaces is in my unit so I will be the warmest and the coolest.  The cost difference between the spaces was minimal.

The influx of work turned out to be, well, disappointing.  I made the first stand out in my driveway and delivered the bottom portion.  I wasn't happy with the top portion and decided to rebuild it.  It was delivered, I got paid and then the waiting started.  Until about a week ago I was in a flux.  I was checking for future work and the pipeline had gone dry.  Why?  It turned out that a local cabinet shop had gotten the work because of customer pressure.  They did turn out some good pieces.  The pipeline was stopped until the backlog could be taken care of.  Now it is time to show or shut up on my end.

I have spent the time since I rented space enjoying what so many of you have - indoor space.  It has allowed me to think in different ways and start to understand better the ideas that you guys have presented.  I took the time to start building a two stack sysport.  I built a router table and installed a lift recommended by many of you guys.  I reused parts of a router fence and repurposed it for my needs.  I built a cut table using 2/3 of a sheet of plywood.  I experimented and sometimes sat and pondered.  I built portable extensions for my MFT/3 and also a micro extension for my Kapex.  I got Qwas dogs and rails dogs and one of Ron Wenner's Domiplates.  

I am currently finishing my second stand, and the quality and ease of construction can't compare to the first one I did.  Why?  The major reason is the experiences that you guys have shared here to help educate others.  Having a roof over the head helps also, but that is secondary.

Just wanted to bring the thread up to date and also say thanks to anyone who has shared ideas, thoughts, and experiences here.

Peter

Really? amazing.
So they gave you the work but then took it away 'cause customer(s) wanted the cabinet shop to do it?
Jeeze the politics of getting and keeping a customer.

I am not sure I understand. Was the first one a test and the customer is giving you another chance?


It didn't happen if there's no pictures

Tim

Nicely done project, Peter.  I'm sure aquarium shop dude will send you more business.  Then you can rebrand your FOG attire for the Fish Owners Group. 

Ron,

I have to admit that one of the things I learned out of this project involved your wonderful, should be bought by every domino user, Domiplate.

When I was attaching the face frames to the sides using the Domiplate I wasn't getting flush edges.  I admit that in this project there are 2 tiny veneer sand to so thin that it might be visible to see the underlying layers.

In my mind I tried to blame your plate, but the plate is a reference.  As is turned out my contractors table saw had slipped and the edges were not perpendicular.  When using the plate, if you are having alignment issues, check your stock to make sure that faces are parallel and edges are perpendicular.  That will effect the alignment in 90 degree joining operations.

Ron,  your accessory rocks and made this so much easier.  Today I transported my 1940's 4" jointer (unused since before 2003) to my shop.  Now it is going to be even more clearly my issue.

Peter

Peter;
I wasn't aware that the aquarium shop had their own or would even have their own cabinet shop. Makes sense though.


Ya, cause basically they screwed up and you got the business.


Get a lipping planer. It'll take years off your life.


Looks good Peter. I hope the owner puts a nice finish on it.


Good to hear. Hopefully some day we will meet and you can tell me how to actually build a cabinet to hold that much water.


I think this answers my question...how does one build a cabinet strong enough to support 751.5lbs (90 gallons of water)

Tim,