Need Help with refinishing wood stand

[Dace]

I bought a tank from a friend who never came around to setting it up. I think its a oceanic 140 gal with the cherry stand.. My question is? Everything in my livingroom furniture wise is espresso, is there any easy way to change the stain color on the cabinet and how can i go about it.. Should i do a light sanding and re-stain. How many coats should i give it. Whats the best product to use since we are using it around water. .Would it need a coat of polyurethane after the stain to seal it. How many coats should i use..

I will appreciate all the input i can get..
Thanks,

David

 

[Awibrandy]

Hi Dave, "so nice to have you back where you belong"!

Yes you can re-stain it, and it will not be as difficult as you imagine since you are going darker. There a couple of ways that you can go with that I know of. Sanding it down to as close as you can get to the natural wood as possible. Gently of course.
Using a stain remover, and then sand is the other way. This is the way I've always gone with.
Product wise I can't help with what is best. I've always used minwax products. I would put a couple of coats of a Marine finish on it.

 

[smoq]

Yes Dave, re-staining is possible. Sand the stand with 150-220 paper, buy yourself a gel stain (it penetrates wood even thru coat of poly and then use polyshades at same color as stain for finish coat.

 

[Dace]

thanks for both your comments.. I'm a true noobie to this.. Please, Brand names will help alot..

 

[rebelson]

Minwax is the maker of Polyshades and gel stains.

 

[al0ha]

if u can possibly bring the stand down to chinatown, i have an orbital sander and can sand it down for you, then u have clean wood to work with. afterwards, u stain it with an espresso colored stain or use wood paint but with that, the beautiful grains of the wood would not show. let me know!

 

[ReefnQueens]

I'd use 180 grit sandpaper to remove old poly and stain then use 200 grit to get it smoother, use a wood conditioner to avoid staining spots, stain as many coats till desired color try to wait a day for extra coats if possible satin or semi gloss I'd do 2 or 3 coats and gloss or high gloss I like 3 or 4 coats that's just my opinion cuz I like a thick clean shine .......before staining make sure all wood dust is cleaned off and after 2nd or 3 rd coat of poly give a light sand with 220 or 00 to get out all the bubbles or wood chips u thought u got out and then apply last coat then put the tank on top of the stand and just add water lol

 

[Dace]

Thanks again everyone

 

[d5332]

I just stained a stand from black to cherry. it's not hard at all as long as the stand is standard and not with fancy molding.

 

[Dace]

I could not find poly shades in the color that I needed.
So I bought the stain and the polyurethane separately

 

[Dace]

Here is the stand before it gets sanded.

 

[smoq]

If you could spend an extra $50, get a palm sander, it'll sand the poly smoothly. I have to say I'm not a fan of orbital sanders, they tend to leave scratches on the wood. Oh, here's what I'm talking about: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00134477O/?tag=reefs04-20

 

[ReefnQueens]

If you could spend an extra $50, get a palm sander, it'll sand the poly smoothly. I have to say I'm not a fan of orbital sanders, they tend to leave scratches on the wood. Oh, here's what I'm talking about: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00134477O/?tag=reefs04-20

220 grit on a orbital sander will not scratch

 

[Dace]

I want thank aloha (Andrew) For doing a great job and sanding down the stand for me. I hope i can repay the favor for you someday..

 

[Dace]

Stand after sanding job.

 

[Dace]

It's coming along.

 

[rbtwo4]

nice job wow

 

[fishman1069]

Looks great!

 

[Dace]

Thanks. Its still getting two more coats then polyurethane. I can't take the credit though. A friend of mine is doing the staining

 

[mbg75]

Paint the inside white if your gonna run a sump..makes it much brighter and easier to see in there.

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