Applying urethane to particle board tank stand

[Harry Muscle]

I'm gonna be buying a tank stand (for 55G) made out of particle board
covered in that fake wood looking veneer. There is also some MDF on
this stand (ie: in the back, etc.). I would like to protect this stand the
best I can, since I know that these materials aren't exactly water friendly.
So I thought of urethaning the whole thing once it's put together. Has
anyone ever tried something like this? Any other suggestions on how to
protect such a stand from accidental water damage.

Thanks,
Harry




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[Iain Miller]

"Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
...
> I'm gonna be buying a tank stand (for 55G) made out of particle board
> covered in that fake wood looking veneer. There is also some MDF
on
> this stand (ie: in the back, etc.). I would like to protect this stand
the
> best I can, since I know that these materials aren't exactly water
friendly.
> So I thought of urethaning the whole thing once it's put together. Has
> anyone ever tried something like this? Any other suggestions on how to
> protect such a stand from accidental water damage.
>

Can't see why you shouldn't - maybe test an unobtrusive part first.

Assuming the stand has a small virticle piece (maybe an inch or two) alomg
the front another good tip is that once the tank is full apply a very thin
bead of clear silicone between this and the tank - stops drips of water
running down the front of the tank getting in behind it/under the tank. Use
masking tape if necessary to make it neat. If you do it right you won't see
it.

I.

[T]

"Iain Miller" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I'm gonna be buying a tank stand (for 55G) made out of particle board
> > covered in that fake wood looking veneer. There is also some
MDF
> on
> > this stand (ie: in the back, etc.). I would like to protect this stand
> the
> > best I can, since I know that these materials aren't exactly water
> friendly.
> > So I thought of urethaning the whole thing once it's put together. Has
> > anyone ever tried something like this? Any other suggestions on how to
> > protect such a stand from accidental water damage.
> >
>
> Can't see why you shouldn't - maybe test an unobtrusive part first.
>
> Assuming the stand has a small virticle piece (maybe an inch or two) alomg
> the front another good tip is that once the tank is full apply a very thin
> bead of clear silicone between this and the tank - stops drips of water
> running down the front of the tank getting in behind it/under the tank.
Use
> masking tape if necessary to make it neat. If you do it right you won't
see
> it.
>
> I.
>
>

If your good at woodworking make one... Urethane is alright, but probably
not the best product... Have you tried to find something for marine
applications, such as the finishing products used on the yachts?? I use
urethane for my wood working projects ( fine furniture ). On particle board
(MDF for the Americans) I can't see how well it would protect it, and may
have a tendency to swell the fibers more than you might expect.. Is the
area very noticable? Or is it out of sight?? You might want to sand the
edges even finer and consider using paint to cover the exposed areas...

Tim..

[Roger Sleet]

In article >, (Harry
Muscle) wrote:

> I'm gonna be buying a tank stand (for 55G) made out of particle board
> covered in that fake wood looking veneer. There is also some
> MDF on
> this stand (ie: in the back, etc.). I would like to protect this stand
> the
> best I can, since I know that these materials aren't exactly water
> friendly.
> So I thought of urethaning the whole thing once it's put together. Has
> anyone ever tried something like this? Any other suggestions on how to
> protect such a stand from accidental water damage.

Works very well indeed, my stand (plans on the web site) was made exactly
that way and it is now about 15 years old and going strong. It is
beginning to get tatty, and has been relegated to the fish room, where it
regularly gets water squirted over it.

Get an exterior grade urethane varnish. Run it into every crack you can
see then paint at least 3 coats.

Roger Sleet
Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com

[Harry Muscle]

"T" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
> "Iain Miller" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I'm gonna be buying a tank stand (for 55G) made out of particle board
> > > covered in that fake wood looking veneer. There is also some
> MDF
> > on
> > > this stand (ie: in the back, etc.). I would like to protect this
stand
> > the
> > > best I can, since I know that these materials aren't exactly water
> > friendly.
> > > So I thought of urethaning the whole thing once it's put together.
Has
> > > anyone ever tried something like this? Any other suggestions on how
to
> > > protect such a stand from accidental water damage.
> > >
> >
> > Can't see why you shouldn't - maybe test an unobtrusive part first.
> >
> > Assuming the stand has a small virticle piece (maybe an inch or two)
alomg
> > the front another good tip is that once the tank is full apply a very
thin
> > bead of clear silicone between this and the tank - stops drips of water
> > running down the front of the tank getting in behind it/under the tank.
> Use
> > masking tape if necessary to make it neat. If you do it right you won't
> see
> > it.
> >
> > I.
> >
> >
>
> If your good at woodworking make one... Urethane is alright, but probably
> not the best product... Have you tried to find something for marine
> applications, such as the finishing products used on the yachts?? I use
> urethane for my wood working projects ( fine furniture ). On particle
board
> (MDF for the Americans) I can't see how well it would protect it, and may
> have a tendency to swell the fibers more than you might expect.. Is the
> area very noticable? Or is it out of sight?? You might want to sand the
> edges even finer and consider using paint to cover the areas...
>
> Tim..
>
>

I was hoping to protect not only the particle board and MDF (at the
back of the stand), but actually the entire stand, since that fake veneer
stuff doesn't stand up to water too well. I was thinking of maybe spraying
on an oil based clear coat (be it urethane, polyurethane, lacquer, varnish,
.... I really don't know what the difference is yet).

Thanks,
Harry




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