In order to get away from the "flat" look of a cabinet, the Top Plate (plywood under the aquarium) and the Base Plate (plywood at the bottom of the cabinet) were extended out one inch at the front and sides. This also simplified trim installation as the vertical and horizontal trim pieces do not meet, eliminating the need for multiple mitered cuts.
Concealed hinges and no door pulls were used to give the cabinet a clean, uncluttered look.
Before you make your first cut on the plywood, study the grain patterns carefully. Your cabinet will look much more professional if the grain of the wood "matches".
Sanding the surfaces of each piece before installation is much easier than waiting until the cabinet is complete.
This DIY Aquarium cabinet is not difficult or complicated to build. While an experienced cabinetmaker with all of the latest power tools could probably knock out this aquarium cabinet in a couple of hours, the rest of us will (and should) take a bit longer.
Small errors in measuring and cutting the material will greatly increase the time required to complete this project. It takes much longer to sand a bad saw cut back to accuracy than it does to measure and cut it accurately in the first place (the voice of experience, here ;-).
- Use the proper saw blade to achieve smooth, even cuts.
- "Measure twice and cut once". The best advice my high school wood shop teacher ever gave me.
- Use a guide strip whenever possible when cutting with a circular saw for straight, smooth, accurate cuts.
- Use scrap wood to test cuts.
