Gloss white lacquer advice needed

[RogerF]

Hi,
Hope you can help me. I built the interior that you see in the pics below. It's made out of MDF and a painter sprayed it with Dunn-Edwards gloss latex. I know what you're thinking. Not durable enough for commercial use, especially on horizontal surfaces. The glass tops were undesirable but necessary.
Fast forward two years and an SUV ploughs through the front window. I have to repair the table and the client has asked me to touch up the worn paint elsewhere while I'm at it.
I am not a master painter. I am pretty good at the usual furniture finishes and wielded my 4 stage HVLP with Target Coatings with some success. I need a durable, water-based matching gloss white finish.(Lacquer?) I have a non-bleeder gun with #4 air cap. Where do I begin? Your knowledge and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Roger

 

[woodshopdemos]

First off, the original work is fabulous. As to the fix:
1)  contract it out to a very pro painter;

2) willhave to be done in the store so masking off area is important;

3)  if you areas are small, find some one with airbruash;

4)  or use touch up paint and brush (automotive)

5)  did I mention contracting out to a very pro painter.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Toger,
We have some finishing experts here who I am sure can help you.

I just wanted to say that the project looks really amazing.  Feels like something from a Stanley Kubrick movie!

Thanks for posting,
Matthew

 

[RogerF]

Thanks John and Mathew for the compliments and thanks Mathew for the work you do on this site. The L.A. branch of The American Institute of Architecture gave it Best Restaurant Design 2007. The firm was MAKE Architecture.
I don't think I  stressed how dumb I am about this kind of finish. I may decide to  sub it out but I would love to know the most basic stuff about tinting lacquer. I've seen threads about this and read about Titanium oxide but the writers actually knew what they were talking about. So please don't think for a minute that you're insulting my intelligence if you explain this as if I am a ten year old.

 

[Kevin Johnson]

BTW, awesome work.  I would think that one of the best places to get spray finishing advice would be a finishing forum like the one at Jeff Jewitt's site or at Target Coatings.  Not putting anything down at this site, but that is all they talk about and that is where I go for spray finishing questions.

 

[bustedbolt]

topcoat is only as tough as the undercoat. even glasurit will chip on mdf.
heck look at a laminate chinese restaurant

you can't make it stronger especially with laquer being so thin, if it even bonds to the latex.
a good architectural latex is called california brand larcoloid.
but not for a restaurant.
heck look at a laminate chinese restaurant- they are all busted to hell- its a tough enviroment no doubt.
I would stay out of this, sounds like too much sanding for no guarantees.
definately check out the jewitt finishing forum!

 

[cdconey]

Check with General Finishes.  They Bought Enduro from Compliant Spray Systems, and have a WB Poly you could use as a topcoat.