best way to paint a stand/canopy?

[Googlymoogly]

So I bought a used 220 tank and stand. The stand and canopy are solid oak. But the old lady of course wants to paint it all white before I set it up.

What is the best way to paint a stand white. I'm worried about it looking like crap. I prefer the natural wood look myself but she seems to want to paint everything that is wood in our house... Like the kitchen cabinets blue... The coffee table... and now the new fish tank.

I'm trying to get her away with the idea of painting it but I dont know if I will win that battle. So what is the best way to do it? Rent some kind of sprayer? Brushing the whole stand i think would look terrible.

 

[Lsufan]

Spraying would definitely look the best but it is also easy to mess it up if u don’t have experience spraying. If u decide to go this route I would find something else to practice on before u get started. Then when u start start on the back of the stand to make sure it is coming out ok. Then spray the inside & the face last. I always spray the face last anyway.

U do have to be careful painting a wood like oak. A lot of times the wood grain in the oak will still show through the paint. It isn’t like painting poplar or birch, which is mainly what I use when I build paint grade cabinets. They do make a product for that that u put on before the paint that is supposed to hide the wood grain but I have never used it so I’m not to familiar with it. At the very least I would prime it with a good oil based primer before u spray it with paint. After the primer is dry then I would spray it with a good latex paint. Even spraying u will probably have to put multiple coats to hide the wood grain & depending on the specific wood they may still show through the paint.

 

[Smokey Stover]

I used the Pickled White Wash Stain and several coats of Poly. Knots,Grain, flaws all show, They're supposed to. Looks old and weathered. It was too hard to keep gloss black perfect.

 

[ramseynb]

I would not use a latex based paint. I would use oil based paint and primer. Spraying would make it smoother looking if you can do it right. I just used a sponge roller and brush on mine and put several thick coats on. It has an orange peel effect but I can live with it.

 

[oldhead]

I used these and the finish was smooth.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/6-in-x-...i-Roller-Cover-5-Pack-HD-MR-200-5-6/202097453

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

IF the wife is THAT FUSSY I would have it sprayed by someone.
Body shop comes to mind, or a pro painter maybe.

 

[Googlymoogly]

Success! No need to paint it now... After learning about how much work it will be to try and make it just right she said she's fine with it staying oak. Then her girlfriend came over and said she would keep it the way it is also. Thank the lord!

 

[Googlymoogly]

But now the even bigger issue... How to get the canopy to be a little taller and not look like crap. The canopy is only 8 inches tall and most lighting you want about 12 inches or so off the water.

Any idea how people take care of that issue? I want a canopy I like the look of it. I was thinking either have to have someone make a new one thats taller...

Or have someone make like a 6 inch extension that sits on the tank then the canopy sit on that extension. But I'd think the colors would have to match pretty close to make it harder to notice it being an extension.

Anyone know of any other ideas?

 

[Indymann99]

Need pictures. :reading:

 

[Lsufan]

I’m not saying it can’t be done, but I think it will be difficult to make the canopy taller with it not looking like a afterthought. It’s a little easier to do it on a stand rather then a canopy. If u want it taller I would just build a new one.

Like Indy said, it’s hard to say for sure without seeing some pics

 

[ucdcrew]

I just did this. I also had to replace a bunch of the wood due to water damage (it was particle board, its now solid 2x4 with a plywood skin). I sanded it using and random orbital sander, put on a coat of Kilz oil based primer, then 2 coats of a Sherwin Williams High Gloss exterior paint I found at Lowes. I sanded between each coat and used a woven roller. I used a good brush for the areas I couldn't get to with a roller. The builders left some cabinet hardware sitting around in my house (new construction) so I used that to match my kitchen cabinets.

I'm also struggling with the canopy question. I think I've decided to just build a new one instead of trying to jury rig the one I have - that I'd have to sand, kilz, repaint, add wood to, etc.