Pony Shelves - Sealing Paint? Stain?

[okapishomapi]

Hi, everyone! Silly question here, but the internet isn't helping me like you can...

I'm currently redoing my pony collection display. Currently they're on naked wood shelves, but I'd like to stain or paint the wood. However, I'm scared of sticking (in the case of paint) and staining (in the case of stain).

Is there any easy and reliable way to seal either painted or stained shelves? The seal I remember using as a young adult just made everything stickier :/

Am I better off buying a bunch of white particleboard and using all my naked wood for a different project?

THANK YOU! 

[hathorcat]

What about putting a laminate over the surface? You would only need to do it on the shelf surface but of course if you ever tried to remove it would likely remove the stain or paint as well. You can buy it in rolls normally - you may need a specialist shop or it may be something your hard ware or hobby shop will carry.

Personally I only would put ponies on pre stained/painted/coloured shelves - as you know plastic sweats and sometimes that can cause a stickiness which will in time stick to paint surfaces or cause the original stain to perhaps colour pony feet.  I'll be honest and say it would just make me super nervous unless you physically had something between the ponies feet and the painted/stained shelf. Not saying it would even matter but just in case something did happen...I would urge to caution.

[sd_dreamcrystal]

I would suggest sealing if there is a worry.
Polyurethane is what pops up for both painted wood and stained wood

[MiRaja]

It's hard to say, but I know there's stain that exists out there that won't get sticky.  I think the main issue is making sure it gets enough air to set up right.  Almost all of my shelving is hand made ( my late grandfather made the pieces ) and it's all deeply stained and finished ( Rosewood. ) and has never, ever been sticky in the least, though I do still put down cloths and what not under my ponies, however, I have had books and all sorts in some of the other shelving units, and I would think if they were going to stain, they surely would've have. . .

I believe he used minwax, but I don't think it's so much to do with the brand, but how much time it is allowed to air out.  Also, temperature control when they're brought in probably helps too.  Keeping the ambient temp between 65f-75f, low humidity, etc. 

[okapishomapi]

What about putting a laminate over the surface? You would only need to do it on the shelf surface but of course if you ever tried to remove it would likely remove the stain or paint as well. You can buy it in rolls normally - you may need a specialist shop or it may be something your hard ware or hobby shop will carry.

[snip]

Oh! I didn't know you could buy laminate in rolls! Maybe this is what I'll go with....paint the shelves, then laminate the top...

Thank you, too, sd and MiRaja. I'm really just wary to use sealers because I've had them get so sticky with me in the past!

[Artemesia's Garden]

 I put folded acid free tissue paper on the shelves under the ponies because I was worried about the paint reacting to the plastic.

[sd_dreamcrystal]

What about putting a laminate over the surface? You would only need to do it on the shelf surface but of course if you ever tried to remove it would likely remove the stain or paint as well. You can buy it in rolls normally - you may need a specialist shop or it may be something your hard ware or hobby shop will carry.

[snip]

Oh! I didn't know you could buy laminate in rolls! Maybe this is what I'll go with....paint the shelves, then laminate the top...

Thank you, too, sd and MiRaja. I'm really just wary to use sealers because I've had them get so sticky with me in the past!

Polyurethane  doesn't get sticky We've used it for a custom floor in our house. Laminate is good too just make sure it stays down

[Leave a Whisper]

Maybe you can stain the shelf and put some kind of fabric on the bottom. Such as gluing velvety fabric or just draping a decorative piece of cloth.

[Eternia]

Don't really have any advice, just a story. I used to have my ponies on a teal shelf that I had painted, beautiful color. When I moved and had to pack them all up I noticed almost all of then had teal paint on the bottom of their hooves- really wasn't too bad but it was there. This was a matte teal. I have another shelf that is bright pink, high gloss this time, that also leaves paint on hooves but it is much worse than the matte paint was.

[hathorcat]

What about putting a laminate over the surface? You would only need to do it on the shelf surface but of course if you ever tried to remove it would likely remove the stain or paint as well. You can buy it in rolls normally - you may need a specialist shop or it may be something your hard ware or hobby shop will carry.

[snip]

Oh! I didn't know you could buy laminate in rolls! Maybe this is what I'll go with....paint the shelves, then laminate the top...

Thank you, too, sd and MiRaja. I'm really just wary to use sealers because I've had them get so sticky with me in the past!

http://www.duckbrand.com/products/shelf-liner/peel-stick-laminate/1125?swatch=true

Just an example of the kind of thing I mean. As Eternia says just make sure its stuck down but as long as you apply it properly it should be fine and its easy to replace if you wish. It allows you to stain or paint the book case surface any colour you wish without concern that it may mark the ponies as well.