Do I have to Finish off rack?

[Tsanford]

I built a 10 tall rack from some nice cabinet grade oak plywood. I then put on some thompsons deck stain to add some nice color.

My question is would it be safe to use it like this (after off-gassing), or is it required that I apply some polyurethane?

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[JoshSloane]

Deck stain is pretty water resistant. You could do polyurethane, but depending on which kind you use, it can take almost a month to fully off gas. Because the stained wood will not be really acting as the top for each tub, I think you would be fine using it as is. Depends on how humid you keep your tubs.

[JoshSloane]

Was it Thompsons waterseal?

[Jabberwocky Dragons]

If your humidity ever gets high enough that condensation forms (such as snake knocking over the water bowl after you already raised the humidity) then you'll probably want it sealed, at least the underside parts that form the ceilings above the open tubs.

Sealing is common when building enclosures that animals live directly in and you won't have any problems with it if you air properly when finished applying.

[JoshSloane]

I really don't think you need to. A premium water resistant deck stain is meant to stand up to constant moisture. Think days of rain and hail outside. IMO a full seal is only necessary for vivs where a damp substrate will remain in contact with the wood continually. Even if your humidity spikes with a spilled water dish you would be likely cleaning it up within at least a matter of hours. Decks remain wet on and off for weeks and months.

[Tsanford]

Yeah I have a display cage off-gasing now.

But the rack got a thick coat of stain 7 days ago and had been sitting in my 100+ degree garage. After looking at how much work it would be to apply multiple coats of polyurethane + sanding, it does not look like fun haha.

So if you think it would hold up, and decks do all the time, then I'm going to leave it how it is.

Would it be ready to use now, or you think it needs to off-gas too?

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[Tsanford]

Was it Thompsons waterseal?

And yes it was.

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[PitOnTheProwl]

Yeah I have a display cage off-gasing now.

But the rack got a thick coat of stain 7 days ago and had been sitting in my 100+ degree garage. After looking at how much work it would be to apply multiple coats of polyurethane + sanding, it does not look like fun haha.

So if you think it would hold up, and decks do all the time, then I'm going to leave it how it is.

Would it be ready to use now, or you think it needs to off-gas too?

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I would only do the bottoms of the shelves but yes I would seal them.
Easier now than later.
Also use a water base poly, dries quicker

[JoshSloane]

I used that exact product on a deck I built a few years back. Every winter it has feet of snow directly on it for months at a time. Each spring the wood looks fresh and new, no warping or anything. To me if it can hold up to that punishment it would do fine with 60% humidity and the occasional condensation. Just my two cents though.

[PitOnTheProwl]

And how well would it hold up getting cleaned on a regular basis?
Snow sitting is one thing but scrubbing snake poo and cleaning is another.

That being said, Thompsons also has to be reapplied here in Texas every couple years. heat breaks it down.