chralex
Senior Member
Did your little adventure star kurt russel at all?
Achilles Tang DIY 300 curved Tank Build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Achilles Tang
- Start date
OP
OP
LOL No But I imagine my wife would have been a little easier on him.
Screwtape
Senior Member
OP
OP
Updates
Well the metal frame is welded up and under the stand. Here is a picture of the stand undergoing extreme securitization from some of my fellow reefers. I said everyone act like a fish as I took the pictures. Some took it more seriously than others.
The room is almost complete with the exception of outlets and a door. I began building the tank this weekend. I wound up getting the pane formed for $180 from a guy who has been forming acrylic for 29 years. He wasn’t really even interested in talking to me last year when I began pricing the project but this year whether it was my new found acrylic wisdom or the economy I don’t know. But he gave me a tour of the shop; I got to go into the oven. I was like a kid in the candy store, had a smile the rest of the day. Got the pane back this past Friday. It fit my mold like a glove I don’t even think there is a 1/16” of deflection. Let just say I’m happy. Here is a picture of me after we got it into the basement, tooling it down to finished size and edges.
I laminated 3/16” blue to my ¾” end panels this provided color and a means for creating overflows and the four Tunze wave boxes. Here is a picture of the panels 90% machined and the start of the overflow boxes. (Li if you’re out there you were right I decided to mount the overflows first)
I wanted to check the distortion effect of the pane here is my daughter helping with that. It appears to have little to no distortion. To give you a feel for size the table is 110” long.
I absolutely love my new Weld ON 42 system.(However there aren’t many new tools I don’t love) Here is a picture of a joint I just glued they dry crystal clear and bubble free. It is truly a beautiful thing. The glue is however not so cheap.
I’ll post some more pictures later in the week as the tank becomes three dimensional :biggrin:
Well the metal frame is welded up and under the stand. Here is a picture of the stand undergoing extreme securitization from some of my fellow reefers. I said everyone act like a fish as I took the pictures. Some took it more seriously than others.
The room is almost complete with the exception of outlets and a door. I began building the tank this weekend. I wound up getting the pane formed for $180 from a guy who has been forming acrylic for 29 years. He wasn’t really even interested in talking to me last year when I began pricing the project but this year whether it was my new found acrylic wisdom or the economy I don’t know. But he gave me a tour of the shop; I got to go into the oven. I was like a kid in the candy store, had a smile the rest of the day. Got the pane back this past Friday. It fit my mold like a glove I don’t even think there is a 1/16” of deflection. Let just say I’m happy. Here is a picture of me after we got it into the basement, tooling it down to finished size and edges.
I laminated 3/16” blue to my ¾” end panels this provided color and a means for creating overflows and the four Tunze wave boxes. Here is a picture of the panels 90% machined and the start of the overflow boxes. (Li if you’re out there you were right I decided to mount the overflows first)
I wanted to check the distortion effect of the pane here is my daughter helping with that. It appears to have little to no distortion. To give you a feel for size the table is 110” long.
I absolutely love my new Weld ON 42 system.(However there aren’t many new tools I don’t love) Here is a picture of a joint I just glued they dry crystal clear and bubble free. It is truly a beautiful thing. The glue is however not so cheap.
I’ll post some more pictures later in the week as the tank becomes three dimensional :biggrin:
Last edited:
Rachelle V
Senior Member
Wow! We were just there on Saturday and you've already done so much more work! I think you'll be done in time for the birthday party at this rate :greenguy:
TriggerFreak
Senior Member
that thing is sweet!! can hardly wait to see water in it!!
drewspuppet
Senior Member
yea! this thing is awesome I am glad you are making good progress and posting pics..
Screwtape
Senior Member
That's great that you were able to get such a good result from an outside party on the panel bending. For such a key piece I would have been very nervous, but I'm glad that worked out for you.
I've never heard of Weld ON 42, that gun looks like something out of Star Trek, just don't try to use it on your daughter when she won't go to sleep! Something else to research for me I guess.
Looking forward to more progress, looks awesome to me though!
I've never heard of Weld ON 42, that gun looks like something out of Star Trek, just don't try to use it on your daughter when she won't go to sleep! Something else to research for me I guess.
Looking forward to more progress, looks awesome to me though!
nate_mcnasty
Senior Member
i see you got your live sock from SWE 
brendondreher
Senior Member
This is awsome! I cant believe I just saw this thread.
So when is there going to be a meeting at your house?
So when is there going to be a meeting at your house?
74oldsguy
Senior Member
Looking great. I can't wait for you to be done and host a meeting.
veloboy
Senior Member
Wow, this is a great project- and build. Thanks so much for sharing this!
I enjoyed the mad scientist chronicle, I thought I was the only one getting a rise outta my wife! She would have enjoyed that one! I'm following along!
I enjoyed the mad scientist chronicle, I thought I was the only one getting a rise outta my wife! She would have enjoyed that one! I'm following along!
OP
OP
Mid Week Progress Pics
Here are a few progress pictures from the week. The weld on 42 is a sneaky little adhesive. No matter how hard I work to damn off the locations I’m working on it finds a way to get out! Good news I guess is I have a few practice areas in the overflow boxes to sand out before moving to the finished the outside edges.
Over all I’m very happy with the 42. I had glued a test piece last week before starting. Last night I took a hammer to it. It more than handled some light hits. Then I gave it a little more of an aggressive one. Finally I hauled off and hit it like I was driving a 16 penny nail home. Surprisingly it broke the acrylic and while the joint did separate it was 80% acrylic that broke the 42 held its ground.
Here are a few progress pictures from the week. The weld on 42 is a sneaky little adhesive. No matter how hard I work to damn off the locations I’m working on it finds a way to get out! Good news I guess is I have a few practice areas in the overflow boxes to sand out before moving to the finished the outside edges.
Over all I’m very happy with the 42. I had glued a test piece last week before starting. Last night I took a hammer to it. It more than handled some light hits. Then I gave it a little more of an aggressive one. Finally I hauled off and hit it like I was driving a 16 penny nail home. Surprisingly it broke the acrylic and while the joint did separate it was 80% acrylic that broke the 42 held its ground.
nate_mcnasty
Senior Member
i wish i had your skills ! it looks awesome
My team says:
:eek2::fritz::eek2::jump3::ac11::trophy-gold::icon_rock:
:eek2::fritz::eek2::jump3::ac11::trophy-gold::icon_rock:
sexy sexy
OP
OP
Thanks for the kind words. I’m having a lot of fun building it.
Screwtape
Senior Member
Pretty sweet, I'm still having fun living vicariously through it.