Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just finished building a wood cage for some of my colubrids. Imagine a bookshelf type cage with plexi glass doors that hinge down from the front, with slide bolt to keep them closed. The wood is 1/2 inch ply. I usually use Kleer Koat (2 part epoxy) to seal all my cages but I am an idiot and left 2 gallons of it at my fathers house last time I was home. So here is the question...

1) How much water proofing do I really need to keep the cage in decent shape if I am just using it for my kingsnakes. I have never built a wood cage and not used an epoxy sealant, so I don't know how it would deteriorate if I just used some regular wood finish.

2)What is a good brand of non toxic sealer, epoxy or other, that I would be able to find easily, and quickly. (preferably at home depot) The reason I don't just order more kleer koat is that I have a narrow window of time to finish this cage before my roomates return and I don't want to stink them out of the house!

thanks

1) How much water proofing do I really need to keep the cage in decent shape if I am just using it for my kingsnakes.

If you can find some scrap vinyl flooring, Sintra, or some other plastic material for the floor you'll probably need very little protection for the walls. Even the floors don't need much for the species you keep.

2)What is a good brand of non toxic sealer, epoxy or other, that I would be able to find easily, and quickly.

Well non-toxic is sort of a vague term, but I'll do my best. A good replacement for Kleer Koat is Envirotex Lite. It is a nearly identical product that I have bought at craft stores, Menards, and ACE Hardware.

Other choices are Minwax Polycrylic or Varathane Diamond Polyurethane (not the floor or spar finish for 1/2" ply).

If you have woodworking speciality stores both General Finishes, Oxford, and Fure make high quality one-part urethanes that have very low VOC's.