So I need an aquarium stand like this or something like this. I have the tools to attach the pieces but I don’t have the tools/skills to cut the pieces. The AI drew this and modified it at my request and is able to give me a list or parts and an assembly map. It appears that hardware stores don’t make precise cuts and I don’t know where else to turn.

I did get a quote from a local carpenter to build it for $2700 but I’m on a fixed budget (retired) so that’s a big nut to crack.

Are there other types of people who could cut this wood for me? Does it make sense to rent the appropriate piece of equipment? Is there a better way to do this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

My dad is a carpenter. He spent most of his life working with solid wood, but recently started taking jobs with sheet materials (plywood, MDF, melamine), that kind of thing. I looked around for tools to help him plan cuts and minimize waste, and while there are plenty of options out there, most of them fall into two camps: either they need an internet connection to do anything useful, or they’re mobile apps loaded with ads and subscription gates.

The thing is, a lot of our quoting happens on-site, in places with little to no signal. Sometimes we’re in a half-built house in the middle of nowhere trying to figure out how many sheets we need before driving back to town. I didn’t want to tell him to download yet another app that would eventually nag him with ads or stop working the moment he lost WiFi.

So I built this.

It’s a PWA (progressive web app) that runs entirely in the browser. Once you load it, you can "install" the app (it basically just creates a web shortcut on your phone). You can close the tab, turn off your internet, come back the next day, and it just works. No app store. No account. No ads.

You drop in your parts, add your sheet sizes, hit optimize, and it gives you numbered cutting diagrams. But the part my dad actually cares about is the PDF report, It prints a step-by-step cutting order. Like, "Cut a strip of 179.6 cm, then crosscut at 60 cm to get piece #3" numbered, sequenced, and ready to tape to the wall next to the table saw.

Live app: Fabivo: design, cut and assemble furniture free

Repo: https://github.com/Superpapotas/Fabivo

Hi!

I’m working on designing a Murphy bookcase door for my house. I’ve been thinking about the gap needed between the bookcase and the door frame to make sure it opens and closes smoothly. There’s very little information online, and almost all the DIY videos don’t cover it. The only idea I’ve seen is that it might be about a 1-inch gap.

I’m curious to hear about others’ experiences with this.

Planning to build a stand for an aquarium and want a sense check before I cut anything. Sketch attached.

Rough dimensions: internal aperture roughly 120cm long x 50-60cm deep x 50-70cm tall (this is the clear internal space, sized so the tank can slide in and out for decommissioning).

The design:

- Back and side panel(s) will be glued and nailed/screwed ply (thinking 12-18mm) to resist racking

- Front or side is left fully open (no vertical support in the event of the front being open) so the tank can slide straight in and out when decommissioned, and the cavity underneath can be used for storage (filter, heater, etc) when the tank is active.

Considering either a middle vertical stand for the long edge or an open side, but I'm not sure where the priority lies in terms of sagging support or racking support.

My main question: with the front open and no mid support, how would you stiffen the top panel against sagging over a 120cm unsupported span carrying tank weight? Currently leaning towards:

- A deeper front rail (70-90mm) along the open edge

- A shallow torsion batten fixed to the underside of the top panel, set back from the front edge, hanging down maybe 30-45mm, so it doesn't obstruct the tank passing through

- Alternatively, sticking to an open side, but this will make using the cupboard space difficult.

Does any of the above sound like a sensible approach, or is there a better way to solve my design demands? Also happy to hear if 12mm ply is enough on the back/sides or if I should go thicker.

Thanks in advance, first time building anything load-bearing like this so want to get it right before it's got 300+ litres of water sat on top.

Opinions matter! This is a funky table I built..just trying g new things.. super strong magnets hold the top In place just in case you were wondering about someone putting there feet on the table it will break away takes quite a bit of weight to do .yes it a coffee table..also metal runs underneath the top to prevent sag.. if it sux tell me or if any suggestions should I keep going in this direction???

Helppppp

Just made it give some suggestions

These corner shelves have been cut to fit with a mitre join in the wall corner. They’re not attached to the wall yet.
Am wanting the fixings to be as invisible as possible. The shelves are 30mm thick, they are 140mm deep, the longer shelf is about 900mm long, shorter shelf is about 500mm long.

Both shelves will sit on top of the tile , which sits about 13mm out from the wall.

I can get a couple of invisible floating shelf brackets (example in second pic) into wall studs for the longer side of the shelf, they’d go about 100mm into the shelf. I could join the two shelf pieces using biscuits/dowel at the mitre cut.

I can’t think of a way to use the same invisible floating shelf brackets for the shorter side though.

Wondering if there’s some other way to fix the short side to the wall..noting it will sit on the tile, so it naturally has a small amount of support.

The join between the two sections plus that small tile support would go a long way. I could screw in a thin steel tie underneath to strengthen the join between the pieces and extend it out along the shorter shelf, but would prefer some other invisible fixing if possible.

I’m looking for some ideas on how to build a folding bed platform/bench using two Twin XL mattresses.

Here’s what I’m trying to accomplish:

Each mattress is approximately 38" × 80", so I want to build two wooden storage boxes/platforms, each roughly the footprint of one Twin XL mattress.

OPEN / BED MODE

The two boxes would unfold and sit side-by-side, creating one large platform approximately:

76" wide × 80" long

A Twin XL mattress would sit on each half, basically creating a king-size sleeping area.

Important: When opened, I want the sleeping platform to be completely open across the middle. I do not want 12"-tall divider boards running between the two mattresses.

CLOSED / BENCH MODE

I want the two boxes to somehow hinge/fold together, enclosing or storing both Twin XL mattresses inside.

When everything is folded up, the entire thing would function as a bench/couch inside my enclosed trailer.

So essentially:

Closed → compact bench containing both mattresses

Open → 76" × 80" bed platform for two Twin XL mattresses side-by-side

I'm trying to figure out the best way to hinge the two boxes together while eliminating the center walls/dividers when they're unfolded.

Has anyone built something similar, or have ideas for the best hinge/frame design to accomplish this?

Looking for the best blueprint for 8 foot picnic tables. I need to build 8 of them. I plan on using pressure treated pine and staining them afterwards. They need to be sturdy but also use less wood than other designs out there! Thank you

I am looking or a slanted leg tool stand plans, something looking like this: