Changing Tank Stand Colour, Tips Please

[minxfishy]

Just bought a second hand juwel rio tank/stand, however its in beech and Im picky so it doesnt match the furniture in the room its going into. So I was wondering if anyone knows how to change the colour to more of a dark wood. Is it possible as its lamiated mdf to my knowledge. Do they make such a thing as a varnish that will work or similar?

If anyone has done this, let me know what you used and how it turned out

Thanks.

 

[walkers101]

yeah either strip it or sand it to get a key then stain it

 

[minxfishy]

Whats a key? Does it have to be sanded, bit of a pain, isnt there something that can just be 'painted' over the top? Im so lazy I guess a trip to B & Q is in order

 

[walkers101]

Whats a key? Does it have to be sanded, bit of a pain, isnt there something that can just be 'painted' over the top? Im so lazy I guess a trip to B & Q is in order

if you paint over it will flake off in chunks later on a key is removing the laminate and giving the paint something to grip onto if you want to do a proper job it will need sanding you only have to rough it up if you wanna do a quick job just make sure the laminate has gone

 

[minxfishy]

Oh right I get it, so a quick sanding down then Messy job

 

[Wills]

Hi you can get vynil wood effect on a roll and if the stand is easy to flat pack (not sure on juwels but I think you should be able too). Then just wrap each bit in the wrap hide the edges in the cabinet and its covered

Wills

 

[tonyp5467]

fablon is what you need
google fablon if you dont know what it is

 

[minxfishy]

Wills that sounds complicated and knowing my luck, once taken down I wont be able to screw it back together Plus on the juwels you have the tank edging in the 'wood', although I guess cutting bits to fit and using glue is a good option

 

[walkers101]

fablon is what you need
google fablon if you dont know what it is

thats just cheating and too easy

 

[minxfishy]

fablon is what you need
google fablon if you dont know what it is

Interesting, bit like Wills idea, but cut to shape and stick on Now if they have the right colour/effect, that is an option, thanks

 

[tr0p1cal]

wills what is the fish in your profile pic, looks amazing!!

 

[minxfishy]

Seems Ronseal do a melamime paint, but you still need to sand 1st and they dont do the right colour, however, I could live with black.

@ Tr0p1cal, in case Wills doesnt come back to the thread, its a female nicaraguan cichlid

 

[tr0p1cal]

ah thanks alot minx

I guess u could also use a flooring vinyl tile and stick that onto what u have, i own a flooring company and theres many wood effects u could get. There individual but would give an effect of a real wood. Theres also the sheet vinyl much less forgiving if u cut it wrong and doesnt look as good, its cheaper tho.

 

[minxfishy]

Thanks Think its gonna be a sanding and varnish job, cheaper and more forgiving of mistakes, I hope

 

[Wills]

Thanks Tropical Yeah its my female Nicaraguan, shes just had her first Birthday a few weeks ago

Glad you got sorted Minxy! The Juwel tanks are the best dimensions but none of the colours IMO are that good so I have always dismissed them - I find the beech very orangy

Wills