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reefer
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 10:44 AM
since i had upgrade my tank from a 75 to 125, my currentl light fixture is undersized. so i decide i would build a canopy to replace the fixture and salvage as much as possible from the old lights, which is the ballasts and possilbly the pc ballast as well.

this will be the fist woodworking project i have done since high school! so, with that in mind, i decided i would use pine since oak is a bit more expensive, and heavier.

using 1"x 2" pine boards and my friend's woodshop, i framed together all 4 side. i used a router with 1/4" bit to make the grooves, and table saw with dado blades to make the joints so that everything fit nice and snug on the front and back frame.
the side frame were joined using a halflap joint. these will be joined to the front and back frame using biscuts, and 2 center supports to be added as well.
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed7.sized.jpg


with the framed glued together, i connected everything up using clamps to get an idea of how everything with be laid out.
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed2.jpg

i cut the front and side panels from 1"x 10" , and the back banels from 1"x 6".
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed8.jpg

the lid is made from 4~1"x 6" pine boards, 1 board was ripped to 3" to fix that starnge math problem these wood suppliers use. the lid was glued together using biscuts, and will have 4 more boards attached to the underside to attach the reflectors to. the front center panel will more than likely be replaced with a shadow box for a display.
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed6.jpg

the back panels have been cut out on a jigsaw, and sanded round to fit 3~ 4.75" 120v muffin fans.
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed9.jpg
http://www.maast.org/albums/reefer/framed10.jpg

hopefully i can finish up the project this week, and stain it next week.
:cool:

samiam_orami
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 11:13 AM
Nice work ! ! !
It's great that you have access to a woodshop ...

I had to do all my work on my front porch w/
only a 10" miter saw and power drill at my disposal . . .

I'm jealous ;-)

dan
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 02:56 PM
looking real good. it's nice when you have all the tools. how long is that? from the pics it looks 10 feet long.

prof
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 03:13 PM
125g tank, should be 6 feet.

reefer
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 05:44 PM
its 74" long, 20" wide, and 11.5" tall without the lid attached.
thanks everyone, and yes, knowning somebody who has all the right equipment makes the project easier to build, but still difficult transfering design into reality.
8)

reefer
Mon, 19th Apr 2004, 07:01 PM
halflap joint
http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/howto/joints/halflap/13.jpg

biscuit joints
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/graphics/biscuit1.jpg
hth!
8)