Wood Sealer

[BrandonB21]

Hi guys,

I am going to be starting construction on a chameleon cage in about 2 weeks(once i am done school). I just have a quick question for you guys?

What should i use to waterproof/protect the wood that i am going to be building the cage out of, so they wood doesn’t get wrecked or moldy from the mister?

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[PressurePro]

Look up a product called Pond Armor or Pond Shield. It is commonly used to construct wood aquariums, and way easier to apply than fiberglass. You'll probably need to get it shipped to you. I plan on getting some soon.

 

[BrandonB21]

Does this product dry clear?

 

[KarmenCham]

I was just going to use an aquarium sealant, can't remember the name as out doing shopping but will add later if I remember this thread

 

[pigglett79]

I just used satin finish or semi gloss paint, and on the bottom where it will definitely come in to contact with lots of water I coated the wood with spar urethane.

 

[camimom]

If you plan to stain the wood, you can use a regular polyurethane. just let the cage dry out for at least a week before letting anyone live in it.

 

[GrimsbyPatchwork]

I used wood varnish which is very water proof

Step one : seal all the corners with silicone using a silicone gun as to cover any gaps

Step 2 : Paint all the wooden enclosure with wood Varnish. Leave to dry for 24 hours then sand it down with a very fine sandpaper just to remove any bubbles

step 3 : Paint again with a second coat of varnish and make sure you give a good coating at the bottom of the cage where all the water ends up.

This is what I did with my cage and has worked very well . It also gives it a neat, polished look.

Here is what my custom cage looks like :



If you notice I nailed mesh into the bottom wooden frame and screwed in stands which cost very little from a hardware store to have a drainage system. Just place a tray at the bottom to catch the water..

This is just how I did it ...there are other methods one can use however I found this the easiest ..Good-luck !

 

[GrimsbyPatchwork]

PS ...do not put your cham in the enclosure straight away

Leave it at least 3 - 4 days so that the fumes from the varnish can dissipate

 

[PressurePro]

Pond Armor comes in clear and in various colors. It is one of the few that are designed to actually be fish/animal safe. It also holds up to uv.

 

[PressurePro]

Check out some of the builds on monsterfishkeepers.com to see how well it holds up. Just try not to pick up another hobby

 

[BrandonB21]

Thanks for the help guys. I was thinking about staining the wood and then sealing it, so it sounds like polyurethane might be my best option. Any suggestions as to where i can buy it?

And don’t worry i won’t be putting any chams in the cage, until it sits for some time once sealed.

 

[windex]

Any hardware or paint store will carry polyurethane. I'm currently building an enclosure, there are some pics on the "New Enclosure" thread. I didnt stain the wood, although I thought about staining is dark walnut since the trim and doors are stained that way. I sanded the whole cage with 120 grit, then coated it with the varnish. let dry overnight and rubbed it lightly with 220 grit, applied second coat, let dry for 10 hours, sanded with 220 again, and applied the third and final coat.. I used satin Varathane professional, and I am very pleased with the results

 

[BrandonB21]

Cage looks really good windex,
thanks for the info

 

[windex]

No problem! You can varathane over stain as well.. I've done this with the wooden doors in the house, does not affect the stain at all.. If the enclosure is made out of a soft wood like pine or poplar then you will want to use a wood conditioner on the wood first, it will give the stain a more uniform look.. You can get it at the store too, its clear and very thin..

 

[BrandonB21]

Thank again windex, i will look into both options.

 

[windex]

That's what these forums are for! I would go for at least 3 coats of varnish over your stain, will look nicer and protect the wood as well.. remember to sand between coats to remove any imperfections.. with they way my enclosure is set up I also skimmed the wood on the inside with clear silicon for added protection, there is not a lot of exposed wood on the inside so it was not a big deal.. also varnish it after it is completed, might be a little more work to mask off stuff but the varnish will seep into the seams and seal it that much better.. the little extra time you put into it now will save you a tonne of time in 3 years if the wood starts rotting..

 

[BrandonB21]

Awesome, thanks for all the info

 

[alazymexican]

I just used satin finish or semi gloss paint, and on the bottom where it will definitely come in to contact with lots of water I coated the wood with spar urethane.

Do you think if I use sanding sealer and let it dry for 2 weeks it will be safe for my cham?

 

[larrodinero]

I used wood varnish which is very water proof

Step one : seal all the corners with silicone using a silicone gun as to cover any gaps

Step 2 : Paint all the wooden enclosure with wood Varnish. Leave to dry for 24 hours then sand it down with a very fine sandpaper just to remove any bubbles

step 3 : Paint again with a second coat of varnish and make sure you give a good coating at the bottom of the cage where all the water ends up.

This is what I did with my cage and has worked very well . It also gives it a neat, polished look.

Here is what my custom cage looks like :



If you notice I nailed mesh into the bottom wooden frame and screwed in stands which cost very little from a hardware store to have a drainage system. Just place a tray at the bottom to catch the water..

This is just how I did it ...there are other methods one can use however I found this the easiest ..Good-luck !

Silicone is a non paintable sealant, and is very vaporous! I would use a polyurethane caulk! I am a glazier/ caulker of 25 years and have seen the negative effects of sicone! It can have bad chemical reactions with stains as well!
Besides, poly is a much better seal if used properly!
No harm, just saying I would not use it in with my chameleons!

 

[larrodinero]

You can also make a water proof base for your cage, line the bottom with FRP ( fiberglass reinforced plastic ) board with a 4" strip around the bottom walls and caulk with white polyurethane! Make a pitch in the bottom to go to a drain! I did mine like this and my cage drains awesome! To help keep mold and mildew out! I just put a 5 gallon bucket under the drain and empty it once a week!
I also cut holes in the bottom for my planters to set in with a shelf underneath to hold its weight, then caulked around it too! This way the potters are hidden!