A winter project

[Paul G]

Soooo….I went a little stir crazy this December. These are cast from Portland cement reinforced with hardware cloth. Not for show, just for fun, as are most elements of this hobby for me. I plan to let them weather all winter and then give them each 5 water changes in the spring to let any residual compounds leech out. Think that’ll be enough to make them safe for use?

 

[Bunjeh]

Awesome

Soooo….I went a little stir crazy this December. These are cast from Portland cement reinforced with hardware cloth. Not for show, just for fun, as are most elements of this hobby for me. I plan to let them weather all winter and then give them each 5 water changes in the spring to let any residual compounds leech out. Think that’ll be enough to make them safe for use?

View attachment 64887

These are fantastic. What did you use for molds?

 

[JudyB]

Nice project. I used to make hypertufa containers, it was fun. I don't know the answer to your question, but wanted to say how much I like your display area!

 

[crust]

Based on my understanding your plan to rinse and let it weather under rain for a few months is good. What you are trying to do is leach out Alkalinity which is pretty strong at first but reduces in time. Some folks soak the ware in water and change it daily for a week or more--or just let it get rained on or sprinkled with a sprinkler. I would not let it freeze for a month though.

 

[Paul G]

These are fantastic. What did you use for molds?

Thanks

I used wet sand for the slabs. For the pots I used 2x4s and particle board. The trick, which I learned through trial and error, was to line all the surfaces with wax paper. Also, I had bad luck casting feet, so I traced out troughs from each of the drain holes on the underside.

 

[dick benbow]

I spent 37 years in the koi hobby

When you build cement ponds and wish to stabilize the PH so you can introduce fish,
you can safely use a good soak in vinegar. Some folks use muradic acid but it's really too dangerous to mess with.

So get you a big bucket and soak them for several days. Rinse and resoak. The second rinse they're good.

Glad to see your aware of what can happen if they are not aged and stabilised.

Congrats on a really beautiful job with them

 

[Paul G]

I spent 37 years in the koi hobby

When you build cement ponds and wish to stabilize the PH so you can introduce fish,
you can safely use a good soak in vinegar. Some folks use muradic acid but it's really too dangerous to mess with.

So get you a big bucket and soak them for several days. Rinse and resoak. The second rinse they're good.

Glad to see your aware of what can happen if they are not aged and stabilised.

Congrats on a really beautiful job with them

Thanks for the input

Straight vinegar or diluted?

 

[dick benbow]

try and mix about 50-50 with water. I think thw white is more expensive than the brown but it works just as good....

 

[Wee]

Those look good...I made a large one myself back during the summer....I just painted the inside with plastic-dip paint....I haven't put anything in it yet.....I plan on making some more thanks for the tips on aging them.

Brian

 

[CWTurner]

Stir crazy already?

Paul G

So you went "a little stir crazy" after one whole week of Winter? And made those beautiful pots?

I'm expecting by February that you'll be propagating indoor Hemlocks, have finished writing a bonsai book or two, trained all B-Nut posters to act civilly, and maybe found a cure for split fingertips.

I envy your energy.

CW

 

[Cadillactaste]

I know nothing of the topic...but sounds like your aware of what needs done with the great advice. Also...wanted to say I love your display area as well!

 

[Paul G]

Paul G

So you went "a little stir crazy" after one whole week of Winter? And made those beautiful pots?

I'm expecting by February that you'll be propagating indoor Hemlocks, have finished writing a bonsai book or two, trained all B-Nut posters to act civilly, and maybe found a cure for split fingertips.

I envy your energy.

CW

Thanks It was more like three weeks. That's how long it took for my wife to finally kick my concrete factory out of the basement.