Wood floor?!

[cherriepie]

I am fixing to relocate my ball and redtail out of their aquarium tanks and into a modified display case. The case happens to have an untreated wood floor. I do not want the wood to soak up urates and would like to treat it with some sort of sealer. Are regular sealers like Thompson's safe for the snakes? If not, are there any alternatives that would achieve the same waterproofing effect?

[LdyDrgn]

There are a couple of options: You could use a few coats of polycrylic (not polyurethane). The fumes aren't as strong and it takes less time to cure. OR you can get a bit of shower surround material to cover the bottom and a couple of inches up the sides and seal it in with 100% silicon or aquarium sealant.

[telefrag]

I would go for a formica/shower liner type material, and glue, or bond it to the floor with silicone (100%) rather than treating a wood floor.

Wood for snake cages is generally a bad idea, but if you use some type flooring over it. That would help.

[Ed_r]

Maybe stating the obvious here but you ARE putting the snakes in 2 different cages right?

For my wood floors i generally put down some lenoleum flooring, then seal it. I just dont do only wood floor.

[Tom]

Hi

I seal all my wood cages with a clear, high build epoxy finish.
Here are some pictures so you can see what it looks like.





Take care
Tom

[Ed_r]

Tom can you get that at Home Depot/Menards/lowes? How long to cure? how long do fumes last?

[Tom]

Hi Ed,

I buy the Envirotex at Menards. ETI says to let it cure for 72 hours, however I let it cure for 2 weeks before use the cage for any reptiles. I also turn on my heat mat a few days before I use the cage and check to see if the cage smells at all. If it does I just let it sit a few more days before using it. Here is a link for ETI.
http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/envtex/envlite.htm

Here is how I stain and seal all my cages.

I stain the whole cage inside and outside with 2 to 3 coats then seal the whole cage inside and outside with the Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane 3 to 4 coats of this. After the Urethane has dried, I coat the inside bottom of the cage with Envirotex. (The clear, high build epoxy finish). ETI says that their product has not been designed for this application, and they do not know if it would work well. I imagine that is to avoid any liability issues. I have been using Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane and Envirotex for over 7 years and I am very happy with the results. It holds up well, looks good, and makes cages very easy to clean.

I mix up the epoxy and then pour it onto the surface.
(Mix the epoxy just like the directions say to, or it may not set up right.)
Then I tip the cage from side to side to help spread the epoxy evenly over the surface. I let it set for a few minute after this. Then I wave a propane torch over the surface to pop all the air bubbles.

If you would like Ed, just bring your cages over someday and I can help you apply the Envirotex if you want.
Just e-mail me if you want to set something up.

Here is a link of the Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane.
It also comes in a spray can.
http://www.minwax.com/products/protective/helmsman.cfm

Take care,
Tom

[faze]

i use the minwax polyacrylic personally i've used both brush on and the spray style...but i prefer to use the brush on