getting psyched for DIY night!

[jhale]

I don't think the laser will work on the curved surface, and the size of the skimmers we are making won't fit in the laser chamber but I agree that would look cool. I thought using a heat gun you could bend the emblem to curve around the skimmer tube. that would look cool as well, like an embossed logo.

 

[jhale]

another version, I'll say right away this one needs work, but I was thinking the logo should have something about ny in it, so I played around with the silhouette of the statue of liberty, maybe too much...

 

[aaron]

OK so the inaugural DIY event is going to take place at my house in park slope Brooklyn. On Saturday 30th April. I guess we should start it off around 1:00pm But if Wedfr and Jhale could come a bit earlier we could set up any powertools we may need in the backyard. Does This seem do able?
Because I have very limited space for actually building stuff we will probably need to limit the number of skimers that we build on the day to about 4 or 5 so most of you will have to watch, (sorry)
I will be taking loads of detailed photo's and notes so that we can post a complete blow by blow instruction for anyone who cant make it or forgets something when they start their own project at home.
PM me if you would like to attend and i will give you details of how to get here. Parking here is not great, but nothing like manhattan

 

[wedfr]

wow you guys made it on the one day i cant make it. What time is this happening? if its early enough i can prob stop by for a while

 

[aaron]

Oh and if anyone wants to bring a frag along to the DIY afternoon, I wouldnt say no. so if you've got a spare mushroom, single zoo polyp or fist sized acan lord that needs a home...?

 

[aaron]

This is a problem, Wedfr is the one who was going to show us what to do. I can reschedule, what works better for you Saturday morning (anytime after 10:30) or Sunday the 1st if thats better (But I think there might be an issue with screaming routers on a sunday morning)
Do you think we could really work on it next week and have all the bits organised for next Saturday instead? Its really up to Jhale, If I get the files to you by sunday night could you get the flanges cut this week?
So Wedfr and Jhale, could we make it next Saturday (23rd) afternoon instead? say 1:00pm?

 

[wedfr]

i think i could make it at 10:30 and stay a while. the 23rd isnt a good day wither these next to saturdays are the worst.

Sunday the 31st is better for me but if noise is a problem i understand.

By the way What exactly are we making? A Euro Skimmer?

 

[jhale]

hmm, I can do it sunday the 31st. it might be better.

I'll be out at my shop the next two weeks on the island, I'll be back and forth though, so if you get me the files I'll be able to have them cut in time. I'll also need the acrylic

 

[wedfr]

jhale and aaron please PM your email addresses. All these DIY threads are getting too confusing to keep track of. Just wanna tal to you guys about the dates, what we are biulding, the tools available and anything else tht needs to be organized

 

[aaron]

My backyard is surrounded by houses so it all depends what we are planning to do. I think we could get away with some noise on a sunday lunchtime but if it was for a sustained amount of time we might get a visit from the police. Also of all the power tools I would say the router makes the most offensive noise and thats what we were wanting to use mostly right? That is if someone can bring one?
I guess this all just enforces what i said earlier, if we can do most of the cutting and shaping before hand and we are only making 3 or 4 skimmers on the day it should be fine.
I think what most people want, myself include, is to be given a concrete plan and set of step by step instructions that take the guess work out of skimmer making and to pick up some good acrylic working techniques. Is this right everyone?

 

[joseney21]

I was thinking,rare occasion, being that we're planning on making a good number of skimmers we could have a group buy for pumps.if we decide on the same pump for everyone we could even share a box of the bristle disc that would fit that pump for the DIY NW.what's everyone elses take on this??

here are the discs btw

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/auto_marine_aero/automotive_aftermarket/node_GSK18K88KRbe/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSLPLPKL4Xge/gvel_GS5N3GC52Hgl/command_AbcPageHandler/the me_us_aad_3_0

 

[aaron]

I was thinking about getting an oceanrunner 2700, they have them at premium aquatics for $59.00 including the needle wheel. would this be the sort of pump everyone was thinking of getting?

 

[jhale]

hey Aaron,
Jose and Spykes have some wacky mod they can do with a grinding disc and a regular mag drive pump to turn it into a super needle wheel.
I've heard good things about the ocean runners, and that is agood price, it might be less than the mag + the needle wheel parts. One of the guys who knows about the mod should be able to tell you more.

 

[spykes]

ocean runner pumps are one of the better pumps, i recommend them more then the sedras, their epoxy seal, and magnetic cover is better then sedra, which is a very good pump. sedra gives off 5.5 watts of electric into your water. i think oceanrunner eliminated alot of that with a better sheilding of their magnetic current. jose is gonna get the WP pumps which look like sedras to me from http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/8787/cid/2142
which we might do a group by with depending on how many people are making skimmers ^^

 

[wedfr]

spykes, you find that paperwork for the needlewheels yet?

I was going to use the oceanrunner 3500 and mod it with a grinding disc. I like OR pumps MUCHHH better then sedras and mags

 

[spykes]

wedfr i cant find the paper work sorry, gonna have tog o with what jose is ordering, yo wedfr the OR pumps cost alot tho compared to those WD pumps. the grinder disc isnt really that much better then the OR impellers.

 

[wedfr]

I dont like the wp or sedra pumps. I have an OR 3500 as my return pump and i think its much better quality.

Ive used the Aquamedic needlewheels, the sedra needle wheels. For $5 for a grinding wheel i wanan play aroudn with it and see how i like it.

 

[spykes]

i used all of them, i love oceanrunner the most, but too expensive for me =C im poor lately ;_; soob
wedfr should donate to spykes, you seem rich =D

 

[aaron]

Well, i was just cleaning up my fish box and I found an old Rio 2100 that I think i will be using on the skimmer until i can get the money together to buy an OR. I guess I could do the old bioball needlewheel unless i can do Jose's mod on a rio?

 

[ctxmonitor]

The bristle disc look very nice. That look like a perfect companion for a pump.. I currently have a maxijet 1200 that is working part-time on my skimmer. I seriously thinking about the oceanrunner too. But need to know how to mod and make it into a great skimming machine..

I first read about the OR in this thread. http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61899&highlight=oceanrunner