Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How long should i wait to put my reptiles in a cage that i have sealed with a water based polyurethane? Does the w. b polyurethane off gas? It has been 2 weeks, is it safe? Thanks

It will depend on what brand you are using. Weather permitting, put it outside exposed to as much direct sunlight as possible. It helps evaporate fumes and helps completely cure. Also try to see if you can smell any fumes.

Robert

>>How long should i wait to put my reptiles in a cage that i have sealed with a water based polyurethane? Does the w. b polyurethane off gas? It has been 2 weeks, is it safe? Thanks

>>How long should i wait to put my reptiles in a cage that i have sealed with a water based polyurethane?

Chris would be the best to answer this question first of all. I never really waited but it took me 2 weeks to finish the cage anyways so no harm no foul.

Does the w. b polyurethane off gas?

Not the same as Oil based, usually to my knowledge waterbased has offgased by the time it cures. Which is a about 8hrs.

It has been 2 weeks, is it safe? Thanks

I would say yes. Although these are my opinions and I may be wrong on a few things. I use waterbased and place the animal in the enclosure about 2wks later, like I said.
My 2 Cents
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Would I have to use a primer first like zinser? I got some of that milk paint but I'm not sure it would hold up to many washes.

Thanks,
Bob.

>>Would I have to use a primer first like zinser? I got some of that milk paint but I'm not sure it would hold up to many washes.

I haven't tried it yet but that Krylon Spray paint for plastic is supposed to be good. I would imagine since it can be used for plastic furniture that it would hold up well to washing abuse but I can't say for sure.
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Do you think it would cure and be safe to use on hide boxes?

>>Do you think it would cure and be safe to use on hide boxes?

I would but then I jump head first a lot. Unless someone else has already tried and failed I would at least do a test. Maybe spray a tub and wash it in the dish washer a lot, beat it up a little see what happens if nothin happens I would use it. Now obviously if you treat it with conditions it will never see in an enclosure enviroment and it survives then I am sure it will do fine. Let it cure per directions first however.

One other thing post you findings this could be an interesting experiment I know I was going to try it in the new year for a new set up I am working on. Your research would be interesting to me.
Good Luck
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Thanks I will. The Krylon site suggests it's good for kids toys so maybe thats a good indicater.I tried the milk paint last nite and it has a flat finish like wall paint. I don't think thats going to work inside a cage.

Bob.

>>How long should i wait to put my reptiles in a cage that i have sealed with a water based polyurethane?

Probably only about a week. Don't expose it to sunlight, though, as some WB poly products are very sensitive to UV light.

>>Does the w. b polyurethane off gas? It has been 2 weeks, is it safe?

It does offgass, but very, very little compared to oil-based. I'm sure the cage is safe, but stick your head in there and smell it. If you detect any odor you're uncomfortable with, don't use it just yet.

I found the WBPOLYU to be not the best for areas that get misted alot or wet alot. I ended up painting over it. WBPOLYU seals the wood nicely so the paint went on nicely - primer then topcoat, all water-based gloss paint for the floor. This worked better than the WBPOLYU alone.

So, for the floor and part of the way up the walls, adding paint helps.

Oil-based poly urethane is alot more durable. Alot. As long as you have the 2 months for offgassing.

I saw at Home Depot (BTW, I was surprised as Home Depot usually sucks for finding anything that is non-generic) an epoxy finish for bar-tops and table-tops that looked very nice and is completely non-toxic once cured. And the cure time is short. I wish I had seen that sooner.

Mark,

That bar top finish at Home Depot is basically the same as the Envirotex Lite I have used. A great product. However, it does need to be applied very thick which makes it very expensive. The absolute thinnest it can be applied still makes for an expensive finish. Also, it is not idea for species that scratch and/or need extreme localized heat.

Regardless, it's great for certain species. A friend of mine has used it in a saturated Uroplatus cage for a few years. Another poster on this forum has used it in a boa cage for 9 years.

I have found another product that should be available where you live. Kelly-Moore makes a waterborne epoxy called Envira-Poxy which sounds about ideal. I plan to try it on my next project. It is more scratch resistant, heat resistant, and only needs to be applied in 1.5 mil coats. The total cost will be much cheaper than bar top epoxy.

But back to the bar top epoxy, you can still use it over your painted surface if you want to go ahead and increase the durability of your cage interior.

Thanks for the additional info, Chris.
Mark

Chris, i have a product called Glaze Coat, a 2 part epoxy, will it stand up to heat bulbs? I use 60 watt heat bulbs to heat my enclosures. Thanks Clark

Yes, unless you have the epoxy really close to the bulbs. Don't use it on the top of the cage. You really don't need it there anyways.