cleaning an sealing

[rex322]

ok i got the tank. its 4x2.5x2.5. the wood isnt sealed. so i need to know wut u use to clean it before i seal it, and then what 2 use 2 seal it. and how long does it have to aire out?

[Stormyva]

I would use Polycrylic... and you would have to do a bare minimum of two coats otherwise you chance the wood abosorbing moisture. Three coats or more would be best. To be safe at least 3 or 4 days to fully cure... a week would be even better.

[Smulkin]

http://www.minwax.com/products/prote...lic-direct.cfm

Have you used this stuff before in an enclosure? What's an adequate time for it to off-gas?


(EDIT: realizing it's water based - the mfr website says future contact with water brings no danger of it dissolving out so cleaning should be no trick - have gotten a lot of second-hand endorsement just wondering if you've used it yourself)

[Stormyva]

I have used it a couple of times... it's pretty easy to work with. I cant really say how long it took to off gas. It looks like you found out it is water based so it doesnt smell as bad as it's oil based cousin. I let the cage I built air out for about 2 weeks but mainly because I got lazy and took a while to get back on the project again.

[Smulkin]

Gracias, stormy - sounds like that would be more than an adequate amt of time. Never run into this stuff myself - thanks for the heads up.