Aquarium stand refinishing help

captmicha

captmicha

Le tired.
Dec 6, 2006
2,052
0
36
39
Maryland, USA
I have an aquarium stand that I'm working on. It's particle board, I think, with a baked on coating of enamel. The enamel is chipped and ugly and it's black. I want it off. I want to get down to the wood and I'm having a really hard time getting the enamel off!

I tried a stripping compound but it doesn't cut through the enamel. So I have three different sanders. I have one for a car, it's round and will probably make gashes in the wood and sand unevenly. I have a belt sander and it's powerful enough but it sands unevenly, makes gashes in the wood and the belt repeatedly slips off. Then I have a random orbital sander and even with 40 grit paper (the coarsest I can find), it's taking FOREVER to get the stupid enamel off. It'll take all year with this sander!

By the way, the stripping compound I used was Stripeaze. I also tried acetone and paint thinner. None made a dent.

I need ideas please!

And why do I want to get the enamel off, in case you were planning on asking? Because the paint, even with primer, doesn't adhere to it very well. I want the paint to last and not chip off.
 
Generally laminated particle board is a 1 time life use disposable item, the original lamination providing the best fish and protraction you can have. Removing that original lamination only degrades what is already there. I regrettably have a 48" long black fishiness particle board cabinet that came with my 60 tall tank and all I do is wipe it down once a quarter and cover up any chips with a black Sharpie. I would never-every try and refinish a particle boar stand unless it was 80% solid wood with only maybe one non-visible particle board side like the top or back that could also be replaced with plywood. If you cant stand to look at it and don't want to touch it up, do to the particle board what the Woodchucks do to wood, if a Woodchuck could chuck-wood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjGwusHrOtk&feature=related
 
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It would be easier to purchase a new stand or new wood to make a stand then filling, sanding, and priming what you have.

An acrylic primer will bond to the laminate, but it will take a couple of weeks to really stick. Been there, done that. Wouldn't do it again. I'd purchase MDF and seal and paint that.
 
If you really want to make it look better and change the color of a laminated particle board stand with chips, go buy your favorite color wall paper or counter-top self adhesive paper and do a makeover. Or just buy some automotive fiberglass body filler to fill in the chips and a few cans of Krylon spray paint in your favorite color like international orange for example and that should do the trick.
 
Sanding and refinishing a particle board stand is akin to polishing a turd. Buy a couple of 2 x 4 s and build something worth putting some effort into.
 
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