Project Plywood - A Rimless Dream

Flems · 07/21/2017, 03:00 PM

So I happened to acquire a rather beaten down old tank (110g long) and it blew a panel on it's fill test.

My thoughts are I could build a new plywood bottom and back. I could salvage the remaining front and sides and have them cut down/polished etc.

Ideally I'd be left with a tank size of 60x18x16h. A three-sided rimless tank if you will.

My question is to how the glass should be bonded to the plywood bottom/backing. Can it be done as if it were all glass provided the plywood is epoxied and sealed correctly? Ideally I'd like to avoid having to brace the top.

FullBoreReefer · 07/21/2017, 03:59 PM

In my opinion I wouldn't even try to repair or build it.

Start with a fresh plywood build, or just buy a new tank. To me, this kind of stuff just isn't worth the risk.

My .02 cents

NanoReefWanabe · 07/22/2017, 09:55 PM

I would use doubled up ply.. likely 3/4" and I would rabbit a 3/8" deep seat for the glass to sit in... you would essentially end up with a "trim" on the back verticals and the bottom of the tank, as the finished rabbit/dado would have to be about 1/2" from the edge of the panel...certainly have to epoxy the snot out of the ply though...i dont see why it wouldn't work... but I also don't see it in my house

Flems · 07/23/2017, 12:54 AM

Thanks for the input guys. At this point I may build it as nano said but as a turtle or lizard tank instead. The tank search continues for now. I'll update soon enough either way 😎

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/23/2017, 06:26 AM

Having a frame to set the glass in is going to make a difference in the success of the tank. I like the idea of cutting a rabbet but since you'd be applying a thick layer of epoxy it'll be very hard to get that correct dimensionally. (if you cut the rabbet to size for the glass, it'll be too small once the epoxy is on, and it's hard to control the thickness and shape of the epoxy well enough to get an accurate dimension and shape to the rabbet). You'd probably be better off attaching a really thin face frame and then gluing the glass panel to the inside, as is typically done with a plywood tank. Assuming the glass was thick enough to be unbraced, you could leave off the top of the frame and end up with it looking like a rimless tank. If you were using glass on adjacent sides, there'd be no reason for the frame to extend up those seams either, so you'd basically just end up with a lip anywhere the glass/epoxy was going to meet.

If you do want to rabbet the plywood, you could cut it oversized into the plywood, apply the epoxy and allow it to fill the rabbet, then machine the epoxy itself to the desired dimension. You could end up with a very sleek joint this way but still have plenty of strength.

NanoReefWanabe · 07/25/2017, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

If you do want to rabbet the plywood, you could cut it oversized into the plywood, apply the epoxy and allow it to fill the rabbet, then machine the epoxy itself to the desired dimension. You could end up with a very sleek joint this way but still have plenty of strength.

This is exactly what I was thinking...

sde1500 · 07/25/2017, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

In my opinion I wouldn't even try to repair or build it.

Start with a fresh plywood build, or just buy a new tank. To me, this kind of stuff just isn't worth the risk.

My .02 cents

How is this different than what he is doing? He is just using the glass from the tank for panels in the new tank.

I say go for it. I'm really considering my next tank to be a plywood one, the challenge of building it would be fun. Final thought, I assume you will be completely disassembling the tank and redoing the silicone on the remaining glass panels?

FullBoreReefer · 07/25/2017, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sde1500

How is this different than what he is doing? He is just using the glass from the tank for panels in the new tank.

I say go for it. I'm really considering my next tank to be a plywood one, the challenge of building it would be fun. Final thought, I assume you will be completely disassembling the tank and redoing the silicone on the remaining glass panels?

By starting fresh and saving time by not taking apart a tank to salvage glass. Me personally, I'd have a fresh piece cut and ready to be picked up.

Work smart not hard...

sde1500 · 07/25/2017, 12:07 PM

He's got three of what I assume to be good panes of glass. Wouldn't be that hard to clean them up. Not that hard, and whats smarter about spending more money so you don't have to clean up some silicone?

FullBoreReefer · 07/25/2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sde1500

He's got three of what I assume to be good panes of glass. Wouldn't be that hard to clean them up. Not that hard, and whats smarter about spending more money so you don't have to clean up some silicone?

The delicate time to take apart and not break. The time to clean it. The time to take it to the glass shop. The time you drive back to the glass shop to pick it up. Time is money to me.

To each their own...

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/27/2017, 10:54 AM

Thank goodness we all have different thresholds for the time vs money tradeoff. DIY projects almost never make sense if you get too far down the road of accounting for the cost of your own time.

Flems · 07/28/2017, 02:03 AM

Unfortunately there is a scallop chip or two on the main panel and I'll be unable to have it hacked off. The glass is 1/2" so the glass gurus say I'd need around 6" for a clean break... And even that'd be a maybe.

I'll hold onto the thought for now. Best case: terrarium. Worst case: practice glass.

In the mean time, I've picked up a 55g for a sump build and I am looking at a nice 80g (40x24x19) as the display...

Not sure if it's tempered or not. I'd like to drill it, but I'll have to do the old polarized filter test first. The seller wants 200 loonies

. Not sure I'll use the stand. I could but I'll have to remove the shelf and brace it somehow. The 55g wouldn't fit anyway, but at this point I'm just accumulating a couple contingency items.

It's not rimless, but my options are limited. Glad I got that time to spare

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

07/21/2017, 03:00 PM	#1
Flems Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 181	Project Plywood - A Rimless Dream So I happened to acquire a rather beaten down old tank (110g long) and it blew a panel on it's fill test. My thoughts are I could build a new plywood bottom and back. I could salvage the remaining front and sides and have them cut down/polished etc. Ideally I'd be left with a tank size of 60x18x16h. A three-sided rimless tank if you will. My question is to how the glass should be bonded to the plywood bottom/backing. Can it be done as if it were all glass provided the plywood is epoxied and sealed correctly? Ideally I'd like to avoid having to brace the top. __________________ Reefin'... the next best thing since watchin' grass grow! Current Tank Info: Tankless

07/21/2017, 03:59 PM	#2
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	In my opinion I wouldn't even try to repair or build it. Start with a fresh plywood build, or just buy a new tank. To me, this kind of stuff just isn't worth the risk. My .02 cents __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.

07/23/2017, 12:54 AM	#4
Flems Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 181	Thanks for the input guys. At this point I may build it as nano said but as a turtle or lizard tank instead. The tank search continues for now. I'll update soon enough either way 😎 __________________ Reefin'... the next best thing since watchin' grass grow! Current Tank Info: Tankless

07/23/2017, 06:26 AM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Having a frame to set the glass in is going to make a difference in the success of the tank. I like the idea of cutting a rabbet but since you'd be applying a thick layer of epoxy it'll be very hard to get that correct dimensionally. (if you cut the rabbet to size for the glass, it'll be too small once the epoxy is on, and it's hard to control the thickness and shape of the epoxy well enough to get an accurate dimension and shape to the rabbet). You'd probably be better off attaching a really thin face frame and then gluing the glass panel to the inside, as is typically done with a plywood tank. Assuming the glass was thick enough to be unbraced, you could leave off the top of the frame and end up with it looking like a rimless tank. If you were using glass on adjacent sides, there'd be no reason for the frame to extend up those seams either, so you'd basically just end up with a lip anywhere the glass/epoxy was going to meet. If you do want to rabbet the plywood, you could cut it oversized into the plywood, apply the epoxy and allow it to fill the rabbet, then machine the epoxy itself to the desired dimension. You could end up with a very sleek joint this way but still have plenty of strength. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/25/2017, 12:07 PM	#9
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	He's got three of what I assume to be good panes of glass. Wouldn't be that hard to clean them up. Not that hard, and whats smarter about spending more money so you don't have to clean up some silicone? __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

07/22/2017, 09:55 PM	#3
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	I would use doubled up ply.. likely 3/4" and I would rabbit a 3/8" deep seat for the glass to sit in... you would essentially end up with a "trim" on the back verticals and the bottom of the tank, as the finished rabbit/dado would have to be about 1/2" from the edge of the panel...certainly have to epoxy the snot out of the ply though...i dont see why it wouldn't work... but I also don't see it in my house

07/27/2017, 10:54 AM	#11
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Thank goodness we all have different thresholds for the time vs money tradeoff. DIY projects almost never make sense if you get too far down the road of accounting for the cost of your own time. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/28/2017, 02:03 AM	#12
Flems Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 181	Unfortunately there is a scallop chip or two on the main panel and I'll be unable to have it hacked off. The glass is 1/2" so the glass gurus say I'd need around 6" for a clean break... And even that'd be a maybe. I'll hold onto the thought for now. Best case: terrarium. Worst case: practice glass. In the mean time, I've picked up a 55g for a sump build and I am looking at a nice 80g (40x24x19) as the display... Not sure if it's tempered or not. I'd like to drill it, but I'll have to do the old polarized filter test first. The seller wants 200 loonies. Not sure I'll use the stand. I could but I'll have to remove the shelf and brace it somehow. The 55g wouldn't fit anyway, but at this point I'm just accumulating a couple contingency items. It's not rimless, but my options are limited. Glad I got that time to spare Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk __________________ Reefin'... the next best thing since watchin' grass grow! Current Tank Info: Tankless Last edited by Flems; 07/28/2017 at 02:11 AM.