Preparing to repot in a wood basket

[Callaslily]

So I want to repot my orchid in a wood basket I bought. I read somewhere that it's good to sand the down and coat them to make them last longer. Well, I coated mine with helmsman spar urethane protector/sealer. I've let the basket sit outside for a week through rain, I've poured water on it, then I brang it in, rinsed it off and wiped it down. It still smells like the chemical. Is it safe?how should I prepare it?