They just don’t make them as good as they used to. This stand has moved with us and I believe we got it sometime in the early 1990’s. It’s sad looking…

We had this old wooden aquarium stand that had seen better days. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I hated to give it away since it was made from solid wood and was in good shape otherwise. I thought I at least revive it. I considered giving it a good cleaning. I wanted to see how much of the stain I sand away.

Lots of sanding later and the stand was looking a lot better. I began to think maybe I can turn this into a storage cabinet for tent camp. It needed some type of back. So, I found a thin piece of wood that would fit. Then I nailed it into place.

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After the back was attached, I added several coats of Polyurethane Wood Finish (poly). This sealed in the natural color of the wood. It also protected the wood. The original finish was never sealed so that was probably a major reason the finish looked so bad.

Additionally, the poly finish will help keep the surface cleanliness. It should also help prevent mildew or moisture absorption. These are my thoughts. We will have to see how well it holds up in the hot, humid south. It will be outdoors, in a canvas wall tent.

After I finished with it, I thought about adding a shelf. It will offer more storage. I had this idea of turning it into a small hutch. Then I spotted a shelf on marketplace that had just the right look and measurements. If I put this piece in the tent, the height can’t be over 5 feet tall. I want it placed next to the sidewalls.

I wasn’t sure if I can sand off the finish. After a lot of time, I managed to sand down most of the finish. It doesn’t quite match the lower piece. I tried to get it as close as I before sealing it with poly as well. The cabinet was also missing a top. I picked up a piece of wood at the local hardware store. I sanded it and stained it. I tried to match the rest of the pieces as closely as I before sealing it with poly.

Attaching the top to the base was tricky for me. I didn’t want to just screw it down through the top of the cabinet. I found some small steel corner braces at the store and thought I’d give those a try. The screws were short enough and looks to be holding it tight. I also added a couple of braces on the back of the unit. They keep it from sliding off the back. They also prevent it from tipping over.

Since the back didn’t match after staining I decided to paint it blue to lighten up the interior. I also added braces/cleats inside so I can add a shelf midways…for more storage.

A porcelain drawer pull was added for a door handle, plus a magnetic catch to keep the cabinet closed.

Finished cabinet.

I know the wood stain of each piece is a tad different. However, I now have a functional piece of furniture. I think it came out pretty good for my first try. As soon as I get it set up at camp I’ll update this post.

I’m excited to see how well it might work for storing some camping supplies. It also eliminates one of the storage totes we’re now using. In the mean time take a peek at our camp!