Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

reeve105a · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:38 am Post subject: PVA or Varnish

I've made a fake rock background for a Day Geckos viv. I've made a few fake rocks/backgrounds before but they were for Leopard Geckos so it's a dry environment. But the Day Geckos viv will be humid so I want to protect the background from the humidity. Should I seal the background with varnish or should I use a Waterproof PVA sealer that's Specially formulated for exterior and wet conditions Question

I'm worried about using varnish as I don't know how it will react with the PVA glue that's already on the background and any exposed polystyrene.(I've added links to the products I'm considering using)

What d'ya think.. Smile

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MJ · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject:

If you have used the PVA in your covering mix then there's no need to seal it.
_________________
Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

Bohan · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject:

Hi, I think pva is better for a dry set up. Use an expensive polyurethane varnish for finishing a viv for temperate to tropical species.
Pva goes white and softens a bit when sprayed, even after weeks of drying (this is an exterior pva) Very Happy

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http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

MJ · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject:

I've used PVA for years and on probably 100+ vivariums with out any whitening. If using peat or eco earth a varnish would be a right PITA..

I've used epoxy resin on rock work and such and it works very well but will always use a PVA mixture on tropical peat or ecoearth background as that's what has worked for me.
_________________
Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

Bohan · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject:

Thats good to hear, I must have bought some low quality exteriour grade pva? as it goes white, its not soft i just checked. It goes back to transparent pretty quickly in that heat.
But im not happy with it now...
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

MJ · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject:

For the application of growing plants the "soft" texture is awesome but I don't that that an awful lot..

Using it neat might make it a little harder to work with which is why I always do it 1:1:1 Cool

_________________
Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

Bohan · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject:

Ah i see, you used it as a medium to grow live plants/mosses up walls etc
I can imagine it does look good, like a chunk of jungle cut out and fitted Laughing

In my case it was mixed with cement, 1.1.1 and painted onto polystyrene, then the final coats were neat, still very easy to apply.
Still think i bought crud pva though?
I feel like putting my monitors into a old tank, stripping out fake plants and sealing it again with some thing totally water proof (epoxy? expensive and fiddly, worth it in the long run) polyurethane varnish might be more realistic
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

MJ · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject:

1:1:1 of cement PVA and what? my 1:1:1 is PVA water and peat/ecco earth mix.

See any white?

_________________
Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

Bohan · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject:

1.1.1= pva,water,cement.
Your dead right, nice vivs too Smile

I'll show you what i mean. give me a while.
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

Bohan · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject:

I think its because i have a neat pva coat over the top. Other wise i cant explain it Laughing

Heres my example:

before

After

It stays intact (solid) so im not as worried. But it looks unattractive?
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.