Hermy's New Home

 

I got this fish....he's big, and getting bigger.  So I needed to put together a new home for Hermy. 
Hermy, by the way...is short for Hermit.

In all my wisdom I decided it would be cool to make a new lid for Hermy's new aquarium. 
One that was easy to open, a sliding lid.

So I set out to make one.  Turns out making a lid for a fish tank, one that slides open...is a lot of work, who knew?!?!?!?!

I get these pictures of what I want in my head.  And usually I get nothing like the picture in my head,
but this time it came out close.

So take a look below, the steps under each picture will give the quick version of what to do. 
Should anyone want to get more info on parts of the directions, drop me an email. 
And remember boys and girls,

click on the picture to see a larger picture.
 

 

Here is the old lid, plastic, flips up.  Serves the purpose....but I just like something more creative.
 

Rather than put a bunch of little pieces together I bought one big piece of wood.
 

Then it occurred to me that the lid has to sit on something that I can mount the drawer sliders to so the lid can slide open and close.  That's where the framing around three sides of the top of the tank came about.  Where the pieces joined I puttied them and sanded the putty down to a more natural look.
 

Here is the finished frame with it stained as well.  This is my first stain project and it is easy.  Glad I went with the stained look.
 

Here I've attached on of the drawer sliders.  The lid will sit on top of it.
 

Tada! See the little lip in the front?  Put that on as an after thought.  If not there would be a gap about 1 1/2 inches where there is no frame in the front of the tank.
 

Hermy is getting big...ger, and so needs a new house.  I bought a piece of plexiglas and drew lines where I wanted the plastic to bend.  I then took the piece over tothe stove, turned the front burner up high and moved the plastic back and forth until it got soft enough to bend.  I bent the shape I needed.
 

Wala!, new home for Hermy.  The structure any way.  Still got a way to go.
 

With Hermy's first home I built a cave there as well, to see how the rocks get applied to the cave molding by clicking HERE

 
                                                 

Just other pictures of Hermy's new home.

 
 

Here the lid is now on the tank and ready for service.
 

Here's the fished project.  I decided to put a light in the lid as well.  I bore out a rectangle hole under the lid and seated the light there so you do not see the actual light.  I also polyurethane the whole thing and let it dry very well.  This gives it a clear coat and protects the wood.  I also painted the back of the tank brown to go with Hermy's surroundings. 

 
So Hermy is now in his new home and seems very happy.  He also looks much smaller with the extra room he has to move about.  Over all, I'm glad I did it.  
 

Questions or comments
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