MDF tort table

[SteveCourty]

When using a tort table made out of MDF what is used to seal the table? Is it just a pond liner or is there something you can use to coat the wood to prevent water damage?

[Shezz and Tilly]

I built my table from MDF and went kind of overboard on the waterproofing. I sealed the joints in the raw wood with silicone sealant, then sealed the raw wood itself with multiple coats (between 5 and 10) of yacht varnish. I then used waterproof PVA glue to stick kitchen lino to the sides, and silicone sealed the joints in the lino. I can't see any water getting through all that!

Ostensibly, you shouldn't use yacht varnish on a surface the tortoise can reach, in case it somehow manages to ingest some (it contains various toxic cobalt-containing species for a start..), however, the chances of this happening are slim-to-none. As you can see from above, I wasn't going to take any risks. Theoretically, polyurethane varnishes should be waterproof, but I have my doubts about long exposure to sodden substrate. Polyurethane readily "clouds" when exposed to water for extended periods of time, which to me indicates a susceptibility to water, though perhaps not for some time.

In short, there are as many ways to waterproof MDF as there are to skin a cat. The main thing is to use something non-toxic if the wood is to be "tortoise-facing".

[SteveCourty]

thats basically what I need is a tort safe varnish I was thinking of pond liner but obviously theres the fear of the tort finding it munchable

[purplepixie]

Lots of keepers use pond liner for their indoor enclosures.

[Shezz and Tilly]

Polyurethane is safe, but I am not 100% convinced of it's waterproofing abilities. Other than that, most waterproof varnishes will contain some sort of nasties.

[Mrs Mental]

I used those liners from B & Q that you can buy to stick int eh boot of your car - was £2 and has worked really well so far.

You can use yacht varnish to paint the wood with.

[annsimpson1]

I always think if you use products that are safe around a baby (human) you can't go far wrong

[Alex88]

can you post some piccys please

[Shezz and Tilly]

That's the finished item. The full build with pics is here: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shelled-turtles-tortoise/263144-building-new-tort-table-picture.html