Varnish

[Rabbit]

What Varnish do you guys recommend/is safe for home made hoods and cabinets? http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[tigermad]

Any polyeurethene based varnish. Yacht varnish is supposed to be quite hardy.

I used polyeurethene on the inside of my new marine tank cabinet.

[ADAM]

Good question Rabbit,
I was just going to wax mine (cabinet that is) to match the other furniture. http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Rabbit]

Adam, re waxing

would that be safe, adequate on inside of hood or in sump area though?.. The reason for varnish is primarily protction for the wood. Heat and water/vapour could easily screw things http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[ADAM]

Rabbit,
That was going to be my next question as well, can anyone shed some more light on this one for us?

[Nathan]

not sure about waxing, don't think it'd protect the wood from spalshes and evaporation enough.

I'm planning on using an epoxy paint for the inside of my cabinet and maybe enamel paint on the outside - but I guess that's no good if you want to see the wood.

I have used Ronseal clear satin varnish on another aquarium stand and it seems good so far.

Off course this question also depends on what type of wood you have used.

My cabinet is made from pine and 18mm marine ply, pine is far more porous than the ply, so just waxing pine will not stop moisture causing long term damage to the pine, and combined with heat it will in time warp

I have used yacht varnish for the inside of the cabinet, were the sump is, and also in the area housing the lights.

The outside of the cabinet, has been finished with a good quality wood stain, and wax finish.

All info courtesy of my uncle, who is a carpenter. So being a white collar worker myself, I take his word for it http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

HTH Paul

[ADAM]

Will just painting the inside stop warping?

[Ian Rudge]

I thought Yacht varnish had a barnacle inhibitor of some kind.

Not exactly the best substance for a marine tank if it does

[Nathan]

Ian - is real yacht varnish designed to be submerged? The stuff I've see/bought says it can't be used in areas which will be submerged so suspect it may somethign sligtly different.

I'm just coating the inside of my cabinet and need some opinioins. I've put on a coat of wickes yacht varnish, and will be putting on a few more, but wondered if I could put a coat of white paint in between.

I've tried it on a test piece of wood - varnis/paint/varnish - and it seems to be holding fine, but could there be any long term problems?

The paint I've used is dulux kitchen-bathroom emulsion - had a pot laying around.

cheers http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif



Last edited by Nathan at April 22 2002,17:08

[john27]

Hi,
Regarding white paint, i used a paint called Zinsser moisture resistant bathroom paint. Its been on over a year on the inside of my hood. There is no sign of peeling blemishes at all. My last hood had about 3 coats of gloss, undercoat, primer lasted about 4 month then started flaking.I would definatly recommend it. It is from trade decorating centres.
John.

[Nathan]

Cheers. Do you think there's anything special about that make or will any 'moisture resistant bathroom paint' do?

[john27]

Hi Nathan,
Yhe Zinsser paint is a specialist paint. A decorator told me to try it, It gives like a egg-shell finish. I think most moisture resistant paint is like emulsion.
John.