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mark_w Key Member
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 440 Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: Waterproofing plywood |
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Hi,
I am starting to plan building a new humid tropical tank. Anyone have experience with waterproofing plywood?
I've done this before using multiple coats of varnish, followed by silicone in the corners/joints, but its a pain doing this.
I know you can get various pond paints etc. Anyone used these or similar?
Thx,
Mark. |
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arthur cooke Contributing Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 71 Location: London,uk
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Mark, I've always used moisture resistant MDF and paint with an exterior paint. the rough kind that you use on render etc. I use silicon to seal the corners. Always found it makes a nice solid viv.
cheers arthur |
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MJ Site Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 5738 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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I'd recommend using an epoxy but if you think varnish is a roayl PITA then you're gonna hate epoxy _________________ Paul
For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad |
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mark_w Key Member
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 440 Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Thx for the replies:
Arthur,
Does this work for very high humidity?
I was considering undercoating, then painting with waterproof gloss, topped with a coat of yacht varnish. Whether this is better than three straight coats of varnish I don't know. Plus, with a large viv this takes ages...
MJ,
What brand/type of epoxy do you use? Do you have to mix it? More hassle than the above?
Cheers,
Mark. |
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MJ Site Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 5738 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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I'll have to look and see what I use mate can't think of the brand name its a 2 part epoxy resin.. it's more work than varnish and or paint and varnish, but a much better result IMO. _________________ Paul
For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad |
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timbo I'm new here...
Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 18
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I built my own vivs for etbs and gtp's - I simply bought coloured aquarium background and coated the inside faces of the wood before putting it together and then sealed the corners with silicone - completely successful
I have also used a fiberglass resin to paint the inside which is great but I dont like the way it looks |
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arthur cooke Contributing Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 71 Location: London,uk
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, I used it with several vivs and found it ok, but in my wettest viv I lined the bottom with butyl and put a drain in. I saw a really good Idea for a viv, either here or on captive bred, where a viv was built on top of a bath, brilliant idea.
The paint I used was quite a strong exterior paint and water never seemed to get through it, it is always the base that's the hardest to proof.
Tiles work, using a waterproof tile grout, the type they use in swimming pools. also pond paint. It takes several coats tho.
cheers arthur |
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MJ Site Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 5738 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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arthur cooke wrote: | Hi, I used it with several vivs and found it ok, but in my wettest viv I lined the bottom with butyl and put a drain in. I saw a really good Idea for a viv, either here or on captive bred, where a viv was built on top of a bath, brilliant idea.
The paint I used was quite a strong exterior paint and water never seemed to get through it, it is always the base that's the hardest to proof.
Tiles work, using a waterproof tile grout, the type they use in swimming pools. also pond paint. It takes several coats tho.
cheers arthur |
Arthur mate has it been a long day? _________________ Paul
For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad |
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arthur cooke Contributing Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 71 Location: London,uk
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: |
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cheers arthur |
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mark_w Key Member
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 440 Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Arthur.
I guess I have to stop thinking about it and build it before I need to worry about waterproofing it anyways!!!
Cheers,
Mark. |
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