Polycrylic, Epoxy, or Polyurethanes???

[EXXXtacy2000]

While shopping around for the best finish I have found these choices, Polyurethanes, Polycrylic, Epoxy, Oil base, Water Base, Gloss, Semi-Gloss, and Clear Satin._ I am building an enclosure for a Red Tail._ I would like to know what would be the best when cured, holds up to cleaning, humidity, urine and just plain water._ And if it's epoxy, where can I get it and what kind??? _ I have also heard that once you have started to use an oil base to continue to use oil bases. Same for as water bases._ Just wondering if somebody could clear this up for me.:confused: Thanks;)

[Invictus]

Epoxy seems ot be pretty popular here. I've never personally used it, since I use melamine, but it does cure too a plastic-like finish, and it is pretty much impenetrable to water. Avoid the water based paints like the plague, as well as the gloss (enamel) paints. You'll be reapplying every 6 months. Polyeurethanes can offgas for quite some time when exposed to heat. Epoxy is safe, you'll never have to reapply it, and it even looks good. :)

[EXXXtacy2000]

Epoxy comes in the resin and the hardener... Does it only come in little tubes or does it come in quarts? I looked in Walmart today and I saw only the little tubes. It looked like it was for bonding things together instead of a clear finish like I'm looking for. You know what I mean?

[Invictus]

Might be the same stuff.... Check with your local hardware store... you have Lowe's in the States, as well as Home Depot. It's pretty industrial-type stuff, so Walmart won't have what you need.

[crazyboy]

will the epoxy for garage floors work?

[Jeff Hathaway]

The epoxy for garage floors is a kind of epoxy paint, not a pure epoxy resin. Epoxy paint is useful for sealing surfaces, but it is not as good as epoxy resin. A lot cheaper, though- ~$35 / gallon instead of ~$100/ gallon. It could be argued that epoxy resin is overkill for the inside of an enclosure. I use it for creating custom waterfalls, ponds, etc. It is the best stuff I've found for this kind of work. Epoxy paint may do just fine for the wall of a cage, but I haven't tried it.

Epoxy resin will not be found at Home Depot- you need to go to a specialty outlet. Look in the yellow pages under fibreglass supplies, boat building supplies, etc. The little tubes are not what you want- they are 5 minute epoxy for cement things together. I use System 3, but there are other brands as well (West Systems is another).

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[EXXXtacy2000]

Thanks a lot Jeff. That answered a lot of questions. If I didn't want to go with epoxy, what would hold up to water better: Polyurethane or Polycrylic? Water or oil base?

[Invictus]

Something else you can try is melamine paint. It doesn't create quite the same veneer finish as industrial melamine, but I have heard of people using it with great success. I'll be trying that with an all-plywood project I have on the to-do list. Melamine paint is super cheap too... $35 CDN/gallon, so it'll be even cheaper than that in the states. Just something you can add to the list if you decide against polycrilic too. :)

[EXXXtacy2000]

Thanks Invictus. I'll defiantly check into that. Do I apply that on the wood before I have built it and the wood is just cut to the lengths or after when the enclosure is all put together and the only thing needed to be done is put the finish on?

[Linds]

Waterbased is watersoluble and will not hold up very well in a moist environment, however it cures fast and will not offgas forever like oilbased will. Oilbased products stand up much better since they are resistant in any form to moisture (this includes melamine paint), however they take a while to cure and will continue to smell for a very, very long time. Urethanes and paints may seem cheaper with a sometimes cheaper initial price per gallon, but you will use -much- more and will have to refinish the enclosures from time to time.

Jeff,
I use an epoxy (resin, not paint) called Epoxal 3:1 available from Niagara Protective Coatings. It is really great to work with and only costs $55/gallon. I recently finished 6 large enclosures in the summer, inside and out, and only used 3/4 gallon.

[dzaborow]

Any one looking for a garage floor coating I ran across this web site http://www.originalcolorchips.com
They have many options that allow you create your own custom floor. Check it out. They are very helpful if you would like to call or email them to find out more about their product.