Particle Board Shelf

So i bought a heavy duty metal rack for my tank to set on.... the shelves are made of particle board and smells of formaldehyde. Will this smell go away over time and is it safe for my tank and ball.... or should i find some sealer to seal it with... Tank will be on the top shelf.....

Thank you for your feedback......


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sounds like the glue in the particle board has some gassing out to do. or maybe it absorbed fumes from plastic packaging. i'd put them in a dry spot outdoors until they stop emitting any odor. shouldn't take long. I wouldn't expose my snakes to it while it was fuming.

Particle board uses some pretty nasty stuff in the glue for binding. This is very poisonous to animals and yourself in large amounts. Also particle board will swell badly and fall apart if it gets wet enough. I would say seal it heavily with water based sealant after it finishes off gassing if you have to use it. Just my thoughts. Good luck!! :gj:

thanks for the feed back folks.... you guys rock... please keep them coming

IMO (and I might be juuuust a little bit biased), go to the lumber yard and buy plain pine boards the same size (or close), and throw out the particle board. Stronger, less likely to warp, and no objectionable smell.

Also, sing this to the tune of They Might Be Giants "Particle Man":

Particle board,
particle board
None of the strength
of a regular board.
Is it garbage,
or is it just trash?
Nobody knows
Particle board


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I have thought about going to home depot and getting something else

Thanks