Timber For Hood? Now With Pics!

[alexlark]

Help needed!

Am I right to use laminated plyboard for the hood of the tank (the flat piece on the top)??

I shall be making most of the frame out of 5" x 1" PSE. I just need to know about the very top that will be hinged. In focus they have large plyboards that look a bit like lots of 2"x 1" glued together (if you know what i mean!) I am planning on using this timber and sealing the inside with yaucht varnish. Then staining the outside with a wood stain.

So, will plyboard be ok?

Many thanks!

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT USE THIS - BEST CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TIMBER MERCHANT - I AM SURE THAT YOU CAN GET WATERPROOF GRADE MDF - THIS IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SINK UNITS - IT IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE AND WILL LAST SO MUCH LONGER AND PROBALLY LOOK A LOT NICER TO.

REGARDS

DAVE

 

[Lateral Line]

Plywood is commonly used for jobs like that. Indeed, marine ply can and frquently is used instead of glass as the walls and backs of larger tanks.

MDF on the other hand, is very difficult to keep good if there is the slightest chance of getting wet.

Strawberry748:

Typing in all capitals is regarded as shouting in forums. You are likely to annoy people by doing so.

 

[Torrean]

mdf? pse? huh

 

[Lateral Line]

MDF = Medium Density Fibreboard.

It is a man made material. Quite fine grained wood fibre mixed with glue and pressed under heat. It takes machining with a router for example, much better then say hardboard, but the fine dust is a real pain, gets everywhere, and you'll need a mask. Lighter then an equivalent piece of plywood. It has a funny smell which hangs around for ages.

Has it's uses, but has the strength of a digestive biscuit if it gets wet.

I'd love to claim credit for the "digestive biscuit" comment, but I can't. It was CFC that used that term when we were discussing MDF a few years back, it just seems so appropriate.

 

[Torrean]

oh yeah particle board. I'm familiar with it. It's the stuff "they" make aquarium stands out of hahaha. Yeah it's total crap when wet

 

[alexlark]

PSE - Planed Square Edge , as opposed to SAWN - very rough.

If I were to go down the marine ply route where could I purchase this from, is it much more expensive than plyboard and would I be able to get a nice finish by staining?

To: LATERAL LINE - Failing this, as plyboard is more freely available, would it be OK to do as I said and give the inside of the hood plenty of coats of yauct varnish? (I'm thinking that this would be ok as I will be using sliding glass covers to help stop condensation in the hood) Would you agree?

Thanks to all!

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

OMG -you need to read the post propally guys - speak to your timber merchant - you can buy water proof MDF nowadays and it will the do the job fine. If you want extra insurance then you can always use a yatch varnish on it aswell for additional Protection. Plywood will eventually bow - especially if you put a powerfull lamp near it .

There are much better products on the market than plywood.

"A digestive biscuit will break up when placed in your tea - a water proof digestive bisciut wont"

P.s
Note to lateral Line

sorry I am partially sighted so it is easier to write in caps so i can read it easier - not reading someones post and digesting the information they had mentioned is also likely to offend

 

[Lateral Line]

Failing this, as plyboard is more freely available, would it be OK to do as I said and give the inside of the hood plenty of coats of yauct varnish?

Yes, I've used ordinary ply well coated for most of my hoods for the last 30 years.

OMG -you need to read the post propally guys

Accusing people of not reading your post properly can also be considered offensive.

I did read your post, and maintain that MDF under whatever guise is not suitable for that kind of job. My experience with "waterproof" MDF is that at best it can be considered better then the ordinary.

What you are offering is opinion, get used to the fact that not everyone will share yours. It is up to the OP to decide what s/he wants to do.

A properly constructed plywood hood will not bow/bend. If yours are, then your design is lacking.

 

[NoRp]

so to summerize what is the cheapeast easiest wood to use with hoods?

plywood
or mdf
or coated mdf
or none of the above
im about to undertake a largish scale project and i was thinking of using mdf
how ever this thread has confused me quite a bit!!!

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

For Someone who is Monitoring a forum for like minded enthusiasts you are awfully confrontational and agressive - where in my post does it say that this is the materail that he should use - I am suggesting that he contacts a local timber stockist who will probally be better suited to offering him the advice that he needs. All I said is that the materials now have waterproof properties "off the shelf" without having to apply them yourself.

Seeing as you have not given the gentlemen in question a definative answer on what he should use then I suggest that in the first instance my suggestion is probally best suited to his needs.

Two days on and the guy is still confused - ring someone who can advise you better that anyone has done on this forum - call a timber specialist if you have any doubt that your design will not be up to the job required from it.

p.s - where does it also say that I ever made a plywood hood too.

 

[BigIan]

As people above say talk to a few timber yeards as they will know what they can get hold of best and what is avalable.

However my experience of water proof MDF is that its more splash proof, if its constantly ket warm and wet then it will warp. ply would be my material of choice, varnish it up nicely and it should last you for a good 10 years,.
you can also get various metal angle beads that simply fit around the edge of the ply to give it a nice profesional fish to the wood and also hide those nasty 2 tone ply ends....

hope this helps, if you need any more advice without an argument pm me or e-mail me at [email protected]

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

hi ya - spoke to my local timber merchant and he suggest using waterproof Mdf or veneered mdf (this can be fiddly if ya gotta do it yourself) or any type of fibre board.

this might help too

http/www.lifeforceonline.co.uk/aquarium_hoods.html

http/www.mattcook.co.uk/TheMattCookWebTh...s/woodwork.html

although I still maintain that you try your local stockist as he may be available to source a varity of special materials used by local companies that you have never heard off.

you can also try a plastic forming company if you have a bespoke tank that will not fit a standard hood - howver this Can be costly unless you can get them to help you out for the fun of it.

Hope ya find what ya looking for - Good luck

Another option will be to speak to a local cabinet maker and try and glean some information from them - cost nothing to ask...

 

[Lateral Line]

STRAWBERRY748:

The OP asked if he could use plywood, I have answered in the affirmative in several of my posts, therefore suggesting I have not given an answer is simply wrong - I have offered my confirmation of his original supposition, and backed it by saying I have used similar material for the past 30 years.

I have considerable experience with plywood, and with MDF, and for work around a tank, would never use MDF. That is my opinion, you are free to differ, that is what forums are all about, soliciting opinion.

Plywood will eventually bow

I had assumed you were talking from experience when you said that. Since you had not elaborated, there was little else I could do.

you are awfully confrontational and agressive

Where?

water proof MDF is that its more splash proof, if its constantly ket warm and wet then it will warp.

My experience also.

 

[alexlark]

Many thanks for all your advice and comments. & good links! especially the woodwork one!

Before I go to my local timber yard and hav a brouse, have a look at this pic. I bought this board for a shelf and they also sell longer lengths. Whould this be suitable at all? (Varnishing etc. as before)

Thanks