Q's on concrete slab armatures (what materials to use? Have several meshes..)

[SU2]

I'm going to attempt my first 'slab' project and am hoping to find out whether I can use 'cheesecloth'? I'm going to be using stucco-lathe as the actual 'structural armature'/scaffolding/skeleton, and I'd originally intended to use fiberglass-mesh screening (the type you'd use as scaffolding when patching walls or roofs) as the 'coating' over the the stucco-lathe but am having a hell of a time getting it to stay where I want it to - I saw 'cheesecloth' at a store yesterday, just this thin, white cloth that almost looked like 'tulle', which Colin Lewis recommends in his 'Cement Slabs' article, am hoping to know whether cheesecloth is suitable for this? It'd be soo easy to just tightly wrap the whole thing with the cheesecloth, moreso even than tulle I'd imagine, am just unsure if it's OK to use and don't want to resort to 20+ wire-ties to mate the fiberglass-mesh to the stucco-lathe!

Thanks for any advice on this, am pretty pumped to make my first slab (despite knowing it'll probably come out terrible lol!)

 

[Anthony]

Chopped polypropylene fibre ------------- see Shotcrete
Can be used for your cement pots as well.

See also for your cement pots -------------

perlite , peat moss and cement ----------- check acidity.
Good Luck
Good Day
Anthony

*If you re-read what I wrote to you on another topic, the wax goes on the
outside of the pot --------- you missed that.

 

[SU2]

*If you re-read what I wrote to you on another topic, the wax goes on the
outside of the pot --------- you missed that.

I definitely did mis-read! Why wax the outside? Just for longevity of the container? I'm really just set on sealing the insides, I'm pretty sure my 1st container is at the 4wk point or quite close but really even at 2mo I'd be wary as almost all of my trees are acid-loving bougies, and a small container whose surface is alkaline just seems a bad idea, if creating a barrier is possible, I want to do so!


And thanks for the hypertufa link, I'm totally fascinated by the stuff and plan to experiment with it at some point but not until I've gotten at least 5-10 'real' masonry containers finished

 

[Anthony]

Wax plus pigment = glaze look.
Test.

 

[SU2]

Wax plus pigment = glaze look.
Test.

Where do you get your pigments/wax? I'm picturing myself getting candles + paint and imagining that's not close to what you've got in-mind ;P

I really like the idea of finishing the outsides, I mean I want some that are raw concrete but want to be able to make 'pretty' stuff too!

 

[Anthony]

@SU2 ,

Got any art stores near you ?
They usually sell wax for projects.

Yes, you can try candles.

You can test crayons ------- the better known brands --- crayola.

If you want to dissolve wax, you can get an old gallon paint pan,
the metal ones.
Put a crayon in and add a little mineral spirits.
Cover with aluminium foil and place on the asphalt.
Make sure nothing flammable is around.

Let the sun do the work for you.
Not the kitchen stove ------- okay.
Respect the flammables.
Good Day
Anthony

* Use thinly.
You can leave the cement pot to stand in the sun and
apply the solution to the hot cement body.

Can be polished ---------- experiment.

 

[cbroad]

People use strips of burlap when making molds to add strength, I don't see why this wouldn't work for your purpose. A lot of nurseries, or stores that sell concrete statuary have loads of burlap sacks that are used to pack during shipping. These are very thick, and are used to hold cocoa beans.

 

[M. Frary]

Make sure nothing flammable is around

That takes all the fun out of projects.
I've found you don't feel more alive than after you've had a near death experience.

 

[SU2]

@SU2 ,

Got any art stores near you ?
They usually sell wax for projects.

Yes, you can try candles.

You can test crayons ------- the better known brands --- crayola.

If you want to dissolve wax, you can get an old gallon paint pan,
the metal ones.
Put a crayon in and add a little mineral spirits.
Cover with aluminium foil and place on the asphalt.
Make sure nothing flammable is around.

Let the sun do the work for you.
Not the kitchen stove ------- okay.
Respect the flammables.
Good Day
Anthony

* Use thinly.
You can leave the cement pot to stand in the sun and
apply the solution to the hot cement body.

Can be polished ---------- experiment.

Great stuff, thanks a lot!! What viscosity do you aim for, and what are you using to apply? ('thin' can cover a pretty wide range I just want to be sure I'm getting you precisely here )

 

[Anthony]

I am afraid you will have to experiment and see how it ages.
Anthony

 

[SU2]

People use strips of burlap when making molds to add strength, I don't see why this wouldn't work for your purpose. A lot of nurseries, or stores that sell concrete statuary have loads of burlap sacks that are used to pack during shipping. These are very thick, and are used to hold cocoa beans.

For larger stuff that is a great idea!! I've got two or three types of thin, fiberglass mesh (for drywall, for roofing tar, etc) that I was intending to use around a metal lathe (stucco lathe) frame for smaller stuff, burlap is a great idea for larger stuff!! (though I wonder about its long-term integrity, does burlap resist degradation over time?)

 

[SU2]

I am afraid you will have to experiment and see how it ages.
Anthony

Will do- I think I'm going to be making a lot of extra pots to account for experiments-gone-wrong

 

[Anthony]

Hey we have to do the same every time we find a new native tree.
Lots of cuttings and growing on.
Anthony

 

[cbroad]

does burlap resist degradation over time?

Haha no not at all, it would break down pretty quickly exposed to the elements, but maybe in between layers of concrete would work. But it sounds like your other alternatives would work much better.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

That takes all the fun out of projects.
I've found you don't feel more alive than after you've had a near death experience.

Frary, we need more of you on bnut! Hope you're well