Painting Help. Sweet Mercy Please Help. (FTL)

[MattM3]

Hi Guys,

I have a brand new store bought canopy I was doing a few modifications to, and I stupidly got paint in some of the open spaces and some scratches on the display area. I was not careful enough taping. Looking at the canopy I figured it was just a stain, and was going to be an easy fix to just sand down and re-stain. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The paint on this is neither latex or a stain, but instead some sort of sprayed on stain/varnish and lacquer mix. It comes off like an enamel, but isn't a latex.

I have been suggested to find a professional painting store that can refinish this professionally for me, because I have no chance of getting it to look to what it once was. Six to ten phone calls later in the yellow pages, I can't seem to find anybody that will do a small project like this.

If anyone has any suggestions of who I should call in the Fort Lauderdale area, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Before the Chaos

My attempt at painting with Acrylic Latex. Does not match the stand or rest of the canopy. Grain becomes hidden with just a thin layer even after sanding. One coat only.

More damage

 

[AquamanE]

Is this just a canopy you are worried about?

 

[mrx66699]

shoot DRThompson (Dave) a pm he is very good with stains and wood work.....he should be able to give you some advice ....

 

[DRThompson]

Sent a pm. You should call store where you bought it. Many stands are made locally. They might give you the phone number of the builder.

It looks like a semi-solid decking stain. Lowes carries Cabot brand. Hopefully you can find a match, looks like a black stain. Could also be a sprayed on tint. I Might be able to help but I don't have a sprayer so repair won't be perfect.

 

[MattM3]

Thanks guys. All good advice. I really didn't think about the deck stain that is a great idea. I will try to give the LFS store that it was purchased from a phone call. This build isn't actually for me, but for my brother. I used to have a 100 gallon, but I sold it because I was moving pretty much every year. That hasn't stopped me from treating this build as if it was my own. I don't think he truly understands how much work I've put into at, and my frustration with this canopy. I never would have imagine it would have been this complicated.

By the way Mr. X I went to middle school with the dolphins cheer leader on the far left.

 

[DgenR8]

Are you certain that thing isn't just press board with a picture of wood grain stuck to it?

 

[MattM3]

Yes. The wood patterns are evident in the parts where I removed the paint.

 

[mpfeiffer1]

I am going to give you a hint, no one looks at the color canopy nor cabinet. Especially if you have fish and corals that pop... I would get it close but not stress about it. Also the trend is to remove the canopy and hang lights form the ceiling. This also give more access to the animals for cleaning, remodeling, and even viewing. HOpe that helps.

 

[thedragon]

Could be an epoxy paint, If its a mass produced stand company's use it cause it requires a lot less coats and is very durable.

 

[MattM3]

I called the supplier as advised by Dr. Thompson, and it turns out it was a sprayed on black gloss lacquer. It was a great idea to call the suppler, except I don't have a professional sprayed, and it is a huge pain just to find someone that supplies lacquer. There is only one Sherwin Williams in my county that supplies it. No home depot does.