adding a side door to a stand?

[rz1a]

anyone know if its possible to add a door to a stand thats already built and painted? i have one of those oceanic pine stands and it doesnt look like theres a way to put a sump unless you put it thorugh the top after taking down the tank

id like to have it on the side so you can put it in or pull the sump out

[ErikH]

The supports are there to support the tank, as long as you don't cut those you should be just fine as the rest off the stand is just the skin and offers little to no extra support.

[opium89]

As long as you have the wood-on-wood support. I recently did a recon on a whole bunch of stands and it's unbelieveable how much weight they support with such flimsy looking 2-3" pocket screwed frames. In all cases though, all weight is distributed to the wood itself and not on ANY fasteners. I actually read that plywood has a crush strength of 1500lbs per sqaure inch so as long as you don't mess with the integrity of the framed structure itself you will most likely be good.

[rz1a]

ahh okay. so as long as i cut the skin itll be fine. what tools do you recommend for that? a router?

[Kristy]

This is a topic we have been thinking about doing also.

We have been told you take a drill and drill 4 holes in a square you want to cut out. You would then use your saw to cut out the square. You can then buy a pre-made cabinet door and attach with hinges.

It sounds simple, but we too are worried about structural support for the tank and I am not the best carpenter in the world (Is that cut twice measure once?). Maybe someone with some experience in doing this can give some advice.

Mike (& Kristy)

[Darth-Tater]

No matter how many times I cut the board it is still to short.

Tater

[bdls]

Or beat to fit, paint to match.