Off gassing please read anyone!

[sSNAKESs.com]

Okay i painted these cages i built over a month ago and the paint smell is completly gone... BUT when i turn the heat lamps on i can smell the paint again faintly... Is it safe to house some animals in???? I used varathane colors in plastic and quite frankly i dont think the smell is ever going to go away 100%... anyone with knowledge could you please advice me here... these rubber maids everywhere are driving me INSANE!!!! Thanks everyone...

[chameo_liz]

I like the look of the varathane colours in plastic(i have been a painter for a few years and the best oil base paint i have used) but it does take awhile for the smell to go away(leave the cage open all the time for about 2 weeks as this paint is very strong to begin with)
hope that helped
Kris:grab:

[sSNAKESs.com]

lol the cage has been painted and open for over a month now!

[chameo_liz]

leav the light on and the cage open for a few weeks. I knew what i was try to say but it did not come out that way
LOL,.
Kris:grab:

[sSNAKESs.com]

lol thanks man, the lights on and the doors are open!! hope it works

[Quervo]

hey Jeff, I got some bad news buddy.

Oil based paints can offgas for up to 5 years!!

I tried the Varathane myself cause it's advertised as "baby safe"- well, I guess they don't think much of their baby's.

What I did with mine was seal it with Varathane water based clear finish (any good water based finish should work) After a few days the smell was gone.

Most of the bigger paint companies are starting to produce water based or solvent free paint that is a lot safer to use on cages. Of course it costs more.

Good luck
Keith

[sSNAKESs.com]

LOL thanks Q! so should i buy some of that finish and finish over the paint i already have in there?!?!?! if it worked for you im going to do it ASAP!

[Quervo]

Yup .. As I said I tried the Varathane for the inside of my light hood and even after two weeks with the lights on it stunk up the whole room. It made ME dizzy just to be in the room (although that could have been mostly in my head, cause I was looking for something adverse to happen ), but after I painted on the sealer, it was only a couple of days before the smell went away.
I waited a week and a bit and in went the snake.