Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I want to finish the edges of my melamine racks. I don't want to use edge banding because eventually the tubs hook on it and pull it off. Pluss the way my heat acble is routered in it would be very anoying to apply. I want to paint the edges but I am concerned that the paint will soak into the particle boards and deform it before it drys. Any comments/ideas?

The exposed edge of melamine can soak up paint pretty quickly but you don't need to worry about moisture issues from the paint affecting it. Do put down a sealer/primer first before painting.

One tip that I heard of that sounds very promising is to use Bondo or any other polyester body filler over the exposed edge of melamine. This is frequently done with MDF but evidently it also works with melamine. If you have not worked with Bondo be sure to only mix up what you need and shape it a bit before it cures. There is also a window of opportunity where it is sandable without reaching full hardness. The longer it cures the harder it gets and the harder it is to sand.
-----
Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>So I want to finish the edges of my melamine racks. I don't want to use edge banding because eventually the tubs hook on it and pull it off. Pluss the way my heat acble is routered in it would be very anoying to apply. I want to paint the edges but I am concerned that the paint will soak into the particle boards and deform it before it drys. Any comments/ideas?
>>
>>

Go get molding and just tack it in place, I think I nice oak trim piece would make that rack POP!!!

Cheers
-----
Jeremy Payne
Owner
JB Reptile
www.jbreptile.com **Coming Soon**

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Motley Het Anery **In aquisition**
1.0 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.0 Ghost RTB **coming soon**
1.0 Hypomelenistic RTB
1.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child

can you post a pic of the stack next to it? Did you build that or was it a converted premade? thanks....Jon
-----
1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

Nope I made it from scratch.

It took me a long time and I was really proud of it. It was my first project using a biscuit jointer. There are no nails or screws showing anywhere.

However it does have a few flaws and I am actually about to bust it apart this weekend. It is unbelievably heavy. It does fit through an average door but only if it is straight. (I am moving and it can't make the corner into my new snake room)

Here it is many years ago when I built it in high school. Each shelf measures 5 feet by 16 inches and has belly heat and fluorescent lights. Please ignore the slop.

those are nice looking racks. love the snake enclosure.