re building a canopy

ECFENCING · 10-07-2005, 10:18 PM

Does anyone out there have an plans to build a canopy? Was thinking about building one this weekend but I'm not a Bob Villa or Norm Abrams.

Don't own a circular saw. Will a regular hand saw/cut pieces from home depot and l brackets do? Guess I should also get a miter box.

**jhale** · 10-07-2005, 10:32 PM

have home depot cut the pieces for you, get some pressure sensitive edge banding, or the iron on kind. it will make the plywood look nice.
get some wood glue, tight bond II or elmers is fine, some small nails, a nail set, wood filler.
cover the edges you will see with the edge banding, follow the directions it's easy.
then glue and nail the hood together, use a few nails they will be acting as clamps while the glue drys. wait a day then use the wood filler for the nails holes, stain or paint, that's it.

ECFENCING · 10-07-2005, 10:47 PM

jonathan

Thanks. I'll post pics when I'm done.

ulmo · 10-13-2005, 10:51 PM

Jonathan,

Sorry to hijack this thread Ecfencing. I have a few questions about a canopy as well. I need to build one because I'm getting MH soon. What kind of paint for the interior of the canopy. Thanks in advance!

Peter

ECFENCING · 10-13-2005, 11:53 PM

Peter

No problem. Actually building the canopy was easier than I thought it would be since I never actually worked with wood before. As far as painting the inside I think you may want to first prime the wood with Kilz or some other primer and then apply some sort of sealer. I think there's a good thread on RC about this. I'll have to find it and post the link.

ulmo · 10-14-2005, 12:19 AM

Thanks for the help Ecfencing! I don't have any power tools so I'm going to try my best with this one. Did you have any problems with Home Depot cutting the sizes you wanted?

Peter

ECFENCING · 10-14-2005, 12:50 AM

I went to Lowes instead which was closer to my home. They cut one piece a little shorter than the height I needed so I took it back and they matched the pieces. if I were you go to HD with a tape measure. I used 1/2" thick birch plywood which J Hale recommended. It's pretty strong and the canopy is solid. On the back side don't close it up all the way. I left a little room for wires to go out the back.

Definately use the edging which you iron which gives it a nice finished look.
I was only able to find 3/4" edging so I had to trim with a utility knife. You could also use pine which I think gives it more of a furniture look than the "coffin" look the plywood has.

ECFENCING · 10-14-2005, 12:52 AM

I'll post the thread on finishing the canopy from RC once I'm able to search again. I guess I'll become a premium member which allows search privileges during peak demand times.

ulmo · 10-14-2005, 08:39 PM

Ecfencing,

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm going to paint the canopy white so I guess plywood should be okay. Well, I'll see this weekend when I shop around at the depot. Thanks again for all the help. I tried the RC search engine as well last night and had no luck.

Peter

ECFENCING · 10-15-2005, 12:47 AM

Peter:

Here's a thread on building a 75 stand and canopy. The other one is on finishing a stand and canopy.

Also want to say thanks to Jonathan Hale for answering my emails and giving me some helpful advice along the way.

Good luck with it. I'm no expert but if you have any questions LMK.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=681493
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=686005

10-07-2005, 10:18 PM	#1
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	re building a canopy Does anyone out there have an plans to build a canopy? Was thinking about building one this weekend but I'm not a Bob Villa or Norm Abrams. Don't own a circular saw. Will a regular hand saw/cut pieces from home depot and l brackets do? Guess I should also get a miter box.

10-07-2005, 10:32 PM	#2
jhale paper bags are fun! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: G.V NYC Posts: 15,160 Reefer Ratings: (43) Friends: (32)	have home depot cut the pieces for you, get some pressure sensitive edge banding, or the iron on kind. it will make the plywood look nice. get some wood glue, tight bond II or elmers is fine, some small nails, a nail set, wood filler. cover the edges you will see with the edge banding, follow the directions it's easy. then glue and nail the hood together, use a few nails they will be acting as clamps while the glue drys. wait a day then use the wood filler for the nails holes, stain or paint, that's it. __________________ FS: Aquamedic dosing pump, MH250 ballast, wavemaker

10-13-2005, 11:53 PM	#5
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	Peter No problem. Actually building the canopy was easier than I thought it would be since I never actually worked with wood before. As far as painting the inside I think you may want to first prime the wood with Kilz or some other primer and then apply some sort of sealer. I think there's a good thread on RC about this. I'll have to find it and post the link. Last edited by ECFENCING; 10-13-2005 at 11:56 PM.

10-14-2005, 12:52 AM	#8
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I'll post the thread on finishing the canopy from RC once I'm able to search again. I guess I'll become a premium member which allows search privileges during peak demand times. Last edited by ECFENCING; 10-14-2005 at 12:55 AM.

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10-07-2005, 10:47 PM	#3
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	jonathan Thanks. I'll post pics when I'm done.

10-13-2005, 10:51 PM	#4
ulmo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bergen, NJ Posts: 404 Reefer Ratings: (16) Friends: (1)	Jonathan, Sorry to hijack this thread Ecfencing. I have a few questions about a canopy as well. I need to build one because I'm getting MH soon. What kind of paint for the interior of the canopy. Thanks in advance! Peter

10-14-2005, 12:19 AM	#6
ulmo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bergen, NJ Posts: 404 Reefer Ratings: (16) Friends: (1)	Thanks for the help Ecfencing! I don't have any power tools so I'm going to try my best with this one. Did you have any problems with Home Depot cutting the sizes you wanted? Peter

10-14-2005, 12:50 AM	#7
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I went to Lowes instead which was closer to my home. They cut one piece a little shorter than the height I needed so I took it back and they matched the pieces. if I were you go to HD with a tape measure. I used 1/2" thick birch plywood which J Hale recommended. It's pretty strong and the canopy is solid. On the back side don't close it up all the way. I left a little room for wires to go out the back. Definately use the edging which you iron which gives it a nice finished look. I was only able to find 3/4" edging so I had to trim with a utility knife. You could also use pine which I think gives it more of a furniture look than the "coffin" look the plywood has.

10-14-2005, 08:39 PM	#9
ulmo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bergen, NJ Posts: 404 Reefer Ratings: (16) Friends: (1)	Ecfencing, Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm going to paint the canopy white so I guess plywood should be okay. Well, I'll see this weekend when I shop around at the depot. Thanks again for all the help. I tried the RC search engine as well last night and had no luck. Peter

10-15-2005, 12:47 AM	#10
ECFENCING Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 983 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	Peter: Here's a thread on building a 75 stand and canopy. The other one is on finishing a stand and canopy. Also want to say thanks to Jonathan Hale for answering my emails and giving me some helpful advice along the way. Good luck with it. I'm no expert but if you have any questions LMK. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=681493 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=686005