Stand and Canopy material

newsalt · 02-03-2004, 07:43 AM

I was at Lowes looking at different wood for which to build my stand and canopy from. I noticed they had Aspen. It was so nice, it had no knots, so smooth and straight. It looked as if I could make a real proffesional looking stand from it. Anyone ever use aspen for you stand and/or canopy? Any bad things about it?

Thanks

wooddood · 02-03-2004, 07:53 AM

they had aspen at lowes?im in lowes all time and have never seen it their.i'll check it out though.im a contractor but have no experiance with aspen you may want to pm pro builder maybe he has.

Scooterman · 02-03-2004, 08:03 AM

Aspin at Lowes? LOL never seen it here either! I think the grain is like a higher grade than pine. Never really worked with it though, I bet it would make for a nice peace!

Pro_builder · 02-03-2004, 08:24 AM

Aspen is a lot like Birch but, has a really nice grain look to it.
It would be a really good wood to use for a stand. It will stain or paint really well.
If you are going to stain and varnish this stand then make sure hat you test the stain on a scrape piece first. Aspen seems to take stain a little more than pine does, so it will make the stain appear darker.
If you paint the stand, then you will be ok too. It will paint really easy. The grains won't raise as much as pine.
It is also a soft wood so easy to cut shape and sand.

Wooddood,
It is comparable to Poplar as far as painting, and stains a lot like pine (as far as the grain) but much easier to work with.

HTH

wooddood · 02-03-2004, 08:53 AM

i was going to recomend poplar troy as i have used it many times.a soft wood and easy to work with too.but it too will take stain darker then pine as you said with the aspen.karma to ya troy.

strat · 02-03-2004, 09:54 AM

speaking of wood, i just finished a hardwood floor (2000 sq ft) and i have a bunch of leftover cherry, all the stuff that looked to white compared to the rich regular stuff.. i was wondering if i sanded the prefinish off and then stained it a darker color (charcoal or mahagonay or ??) would it take it pretty uniformly??? thanks guys

strat

Pro_builder · 02-03-2004, 10:04 AM

That will depend, is it solid cherry?
If so, then you will have to make sure that you get all the varnish off. This will give you as uniform of a finish as you can get.
Now if you stain the wood a darker color, you will have a better chance, but remember the wood has already absorbed a lot of stain, so it won't turn out the same color as what the stain would if used on a new peice of wood.
Hope this makes sense.

strat · 02-03-2004, 10:27 AM

yes it is solid cherry, stained a natural color... im trying to think of ways to save bux, and thought that would make a nice finish on the stand and hood, its the 3 and a quarter wide tongue and groove... im just wondering how much sanding itll take to get it to bare wood again... guess its worth a try.. i did a maple inlay/border on the floor that was stained charcoal and it looks amazing, so maybe ill try that color, thanks for the help pro..

strat

strat · 02-03-2004, 10:28 AM

btw, the floor isnt in my house

, otherwise im usre i wouldnt have to worry about a little reef stand (costwise) haha.. but i did the work...strat

Pro_builder · 02-03-2004, 10:41 AM

Strat,
I would build the stand and canopy, then sand the whole thing once it is put together. This will give you a more uniform look to everything.
I would start out with 80 grit and then go to 120 then 220 grit. Also use a DA or RO sander, this will be a lot faster than a vibrating sander.
Keep us informed on how it turns out.

strat · 02-03-2004, 10:18 PM

thanks again pro, btw, whats a da and ro sander?? i have a belt sander and round palm sander.... good idea on the sanding, i will do that. thanks

strat

Pro_builder · 02-03-2004, 10:24 PM

RO= Random Orbital Sander
DA= Dual Action Sander
Sorry, just used to using construction terms for everything.
The DA is the fastest way to sand anything, except a Belt sander.

strat · 02-03-2004, 11:21 PM

my palm sander is a random orbital sander, ill use that, thanks alot pro, nice quick replies too, appreciate it

strat

karma

Pro_builder · 02-03-2004, 11:34 PM

Strat, No Problem that is what I am here for.

Scooterman · 02-04-2004, 08:54 AM

It is nice to see so many wood workers here!
I Love making stuff from wood, Christmas I got a Ridgid Radial Arm saw, I really didn't get to use it much but have dreams LOL!

02-03-2004, 07:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 574 View Gallery Karma Komment	Stand and Canopy material I was at Lowes looking at different wood for which to build my stand and canopy from. I noticed they had Aspen. It was so nice, it had no knots, so smooth and straight. It looked as if I could make a real proffesional looking stand from it. Anyone ever use aspen for you stand and/or canopy? Any bad things about it? Thanks __________________ Equipment 120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump Setup August 2006

02-03-2004, 07:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	they had aspen at lowes?im in lowes all time and have never seen it their.i'll check it out though.im a contractor but have no experiance with aspen you may want to pm pro builder maybe he has. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

02-03-2004, 08:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	Aspin at Lowes? LOL never seen it here either! I think the grain is like a higher grade than pine. Never really worked with it though, I bet it would make for a nice peace! __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

02-03-2004, 08:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Aspen is a lot like Birch but, has a really nice grain look to it. It would be a really good wood to use for a stand. It will stain or paint really well. If you are going to stain and varnish this stand then make sure hat you test the stain on a scrape piece first. Aspen seems to take stain a little more than pine does, so it will make the stain appear darker. If you paint the stand, then you will be ok too. It will paint really easy. The grains won't raise as much as pine. It is also a soft wood so easy to cut shape and sand. Wooddood, It is comparable to Poplar as far as painting, and stains a lot like pine (as far as the grain) but much easier to work with. HTH __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-03-2004, 08:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	i was going to recomend poplar troy as i have used it many times.a soft wood and easy to work with too.but it too will take stain darker then pine as you said with the aspen.karma to ya troy. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

02-03-2004, 09:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
strat Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 293 View Gallery Karma Komment	speaking of wood, i just finished a hardwood floor (2000 sq ft) and i have a bunch of leftover cherry, all the stuff that looked to white compared to the rich regular stuff.. i was wondering if i sanded the prefinish off and then stained it a darker color (charcoal or mahagonay or ??) would it take it pretty uniformly??? thanks guys strat __________________ its a fish's life..... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner2.gif

02-03-2004, 10:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	That will depend, is it solid cherry? If so, then you will have to make sure that you get all the varnish off. This will give you as uniform of a finish as you can get. Now if you stain the wood a darker color, you will have a better chance, but remember the wood has already absorbed a lot of stain, so it won't turn out the same color as what the stain would if used on a new peice of wood. Hope this makes sense. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-03-2004, 10:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
strat Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 293 View Gallery Karma Komment	yes it is solid cherry, stained a natural color... im trying to think of ways to save bux, and thought that would make a nice finish on the stand and hood, its the 3 and a quarter wide tongue and groove... im just wondering how much sanding itll take to get it to bare wood again... guess its worth a try.. i did a maple inlay/border on the floor that was stained charcoal and it looks amazing, so maybe ill try that color, thanks for the help pro.. strat __________________ its a fish's life..... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner2.gif

02-03-2004, 10:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
strat Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 293 View Gallery Karma Komment	btw, the floor isnt in my house , otherwise im usre i wouldnt have to worry about a little reef stand (costwise) haha.. but i did the work...strat __________________ its a fish's life..... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner2.gif

02-03-2004, 10:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Strat, I would build the stand and canopy, then sand the whole thing once it is put together. This will give you a more uniform look to everything. I would start out with 80 grit and then go to 120 then 220 grit. Also use a DA or RO sander, this will be a lot faster than a vibrating sander. Keep us informed on how it turns out. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-03-2004, 10:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
strat Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 293 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks again pro, btw, whats a da and ro sander?? i have a belt sander and round palm sander.... good idea on the sanding, i will do that. thanks strat __________________ its a fish's life..... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner2.gif

02-03-2004, 10:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	RO= Random Orbital Sander DA= Dual Action Sander Sorry, just used to using construction terms for everything. The DA is the fastest way to sand anything, except a Belt sander. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-03-2004, 11:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
strat Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 293 View Gallery Karma Komment	my palm sander is a random orbital sander, ill use that, thanks alot pro, nice quick replies too, appreciate it strat karma __________________ its a fish's life..... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner2.gif

02-03-2004, 11:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Strat, No Problem that is what I am here for. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-04-2004, 08:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	It is nice to see so many wood workers here! I Love making stuff from wood, Christmas I got a Ridgid Radial Arm saw, I really didn't get to use it much but have dreams LOL! __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan) Last edited by Scooterman : 02-04-2004 at 08:58 AM.

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