Rack Material?

Hi,
I am going to be building a rack to hold 6 32 qt sterilite sweater boxes. My question is this. I am wanting to build it from MDF. Using this material, can I still use back heat. Do I need to use another material to attach the flexwatt to? Any Help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

MDF, Makes great rack material.. I build the rack out of it and just use the 1/8" MDF for the back..

You can attach the Flexwatt directly to the MDF provided you seal the MDF (which you should do anyway). You can use either a paint sealer or shelf paper (or something similar).

Just FYI...MDF is made with formaldehyde that the heat from the Flex will release into the cage unless sealed first. Not to mention any water spills will ruin the MDF if not sealed

Hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

You can attach the Flexwatt directly to the MDF provided you seal the MDF (which you should do anyway). You can use either a paint sealer or shelf paper (or something similar).

Just FYI...MDF is made with formaldehyde that the heat from the Flex will release into the cage unless sealed first. Not to mention any water spills will ruin the MDF if not sealed

Hope this helps.

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I hate sealers. They can be toxic..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

I hate sealers. They can be toxic..

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Only if you don't allow them to dry and ventilate correctly.

Not sealing it in someway can be worse (the dust and vapors from MDF have been shown to cause cancer)...but like I said you could always use shelf paper or just paint it and get the benefit.

Up to you. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Only if you don't allow them to dry and ventilate correctly.

Not sealing it in someway can be worse (the dust and vapors from MDF have been shown to cause cancer)...but like I said you could always use shelf paper or just paint it and get the benefit.

Up to you. :)

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What doesnt cause cancer? Has it been proven to cause cancer in ball pythons? Sealers make me very nervous. And the paper thing just seems like alot of work to me..

What sealer do you use? And by ventilate do you mean after it cures or while curing? I had planned to paint it, but was unsure of what paint was not non-toxic to balls. I apprecaite the quick replies.

I would recommend a water based sealer over an oil based one. But either is really fine. But you should let it cure a long time. ON my custom vivs, I let all the pieces cure for 6 weeks before using them. Never any problems; so long as you let the sealer cure long enough, it's not going to be toxic to the snake.