wine rack question

Over the winter I bought a 120 bottle wine rack (in 2 sections) to place in my friends very cool damp cellar. I just bought a qt. of oil-based paint to keep the raw untreated pine wood from rotting. Providing that I allow the paint to completely cure, am I still chancing an odor taint to my wine. I use clear adhesive tape on my labels otherwise they mold and crumble off.

Corks keep oxygen out (pretty much) and oxygen molecules are pretty small compared to most other molecules with nasty smells. So, personally I wouldn't worry.

Has anyone ever demonstrated that bad smells can get through corks and affect wine? I know is has been shown that TCA cannot.

Thank you. I will carry on.

Hi Jim,
Are you staining/painting the wine racks outside the “cellar area”? If staining inside the “cellar area”, I would use a water based stain/paint (less smell).

Salute

Mainly you should just worry about the base of the racks, where they come in contact with the concrete floor. This is the part that needs a good sealant, maybe even a metal guard. Plain latex paint can work for this. Paint the bottom and maybe 1" up the sides of each member coming in direct contact with the cement floor. You could also put some sort of composite board between the floor and the wooden rack. Other than that the only thing you need is cosmetic enhancements. Maybe a simple one-coat stain-finish. And I agree with Steve, you don't have to worry about aromas getting into the wine.

Thanks guys for your thoughts. The base of the legs is my major concern and I am going to but a board down to put the racks on, partly because the concrete is not very level. It will be nice to see what I have instead of moving boxes around.