Mississippi 44"

[Gulf]

Re: Mississippi 44"

This was my first sample doing the hand press method. I used grey portland with graded sand with acrylic additive...2:1 Ratio. I did two different shades but it didn't contrast that great, then I slurried it with sandless tile grout...because I couldn't find white portland anywhere and I only needed a little bit. I don't like it...but it was my first one and it's used as a top for a little cabinet in the shed. I put some linseed oil on one half just to see the color for the pic...then coated all of it.

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Loooks great Stonecutter,
My wife would love that for the kitchen. She ain't exactly sold on the colors for the MQ

I can't help but wonder why a 3-1 sand to portland is lean, though . A general purpose mix is approximately 3 sand, 2 gravel, 1 portland. I used play sand for the sand portion. It is not exactly masonry sand as it has up to 1/8" to almost 3/16" pea gravel in the mix.

I did replace my water for the pour with an acrylic fortifier.

I don't have the temperature extremes of many on this forum and will be under a cover. What do you suggest would be a good mix ratio for my wing counters which may not be under cover in the near future?

[stonecutter]

Re: Mississippi 44"

This was my first sample doing the hand press method. I used grey portland with graded sand with acrylic additive...2:1 Ratio. I did two different shades but it didn't contrast that great, then I slurried it with sandless tile grout...because I couldn't find white portland anywhere and I only needed a little bit. I don't like it...but it was my first one and it's used as a top for a little cabinet in the shed. I put some linseed oil on one half just to see the color for the pic...then coated all of it.

[stonecutter]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Thank's Stonecutter,
I mixed my on using a 3-1 sand and white portland with concrete colorings.




I will be forming some 24" wing counters for the oven. Locally, I can not get the melamine in that width. I was thinking about gluing, some of that cheap stuff they sell nowadays for bathrooms, to a 3/4" plywood base. I don't know the name of it, but it is the same stuff that they use for dry erase boards. There may be something out there that is cheaper and better but. I am open to suggestions .

Wow... 3:1 is pretty lean for a sand only mix...I'll be interested to see how it holds up( I hope it does). I'm assuming you don't get great temperature variation given your location, that will help. I'm assuming you used a good sealer too. White porty is tricky to get around here..I have some bagged counter mix and a couple 94lb bags of white I am saving for some inside counters in our master bath... or I might just use it for veining.

No melamine around in 4'x8' sheets anywhere? You could try a cabinet maker..they might be able to help you locate some. A couple guys I spoke with use formica or other laminate (available in 4'x8' at big box stores) over plywood for a base table. Cheap, readily available and easy to clean. I'm gonna try this when my melamine is gone.

I have used PVC trim for some small forms and it worked great, and takes hot glue well. They should have it at the big box stores in different widths too. I just picked up some 3/4" x 6" that I am going to rip down to 3" ( didn't want 3.5" stock ) for my forms...if it works for my samples it will work great for the larger pieces.

Another thing you could use for free form shapes is plexiglass or some other kind of acrylic 'glass' because it bends without breaking and is nice and smooth..but I confess, I haven't actually used it yet.

[Gulf]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Interesting colors Gulf. Did you buy a bagged mix or is it your own mix design? I know a lot of labor must have went into the pieces.

What are you using for your forms? Which btw, you did an excellent good with, very clean looking lines. Good form work is so important to making nice pieces.

Looks like there is a group here that gets to work with the little ones...very cool to get their hands dirty in a digital age! Here is my buddy celebrating the completion of the dry stonework...

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Thank's Stonecutter,
I mixed my on using a 3-1 sand and white portland with concrete colorings.

I used 3/4" melamine shelving for the base. Which, as you know (but for other readers) is the top of an "upside down" pour. I ripped 1x4" yellow pine for the straight runs of the forms. That is what I had available in my shop. I also did not like the idea of counter sinking screws in the particle board center of the melamine board. I used 1/4" luan to form the curves of the forms. It does not bend very well into sharp bends straight form the building supply, But wetting it and laying it out in the sun for a day will curl it up nicely. Of course, that raises the grain, but a little sanding, fixes that .


I will be forming some 24" wing counters for the oven. Locally, I can not get the melamine in that width. I was thinking about gluing, some of that cheap stuff they sell nowadays for bathrooms, to a 3/4" plywood base. I don't know the name of it, but it is the same stuff that they use for dry erase boards. There may be something out there that is cheaper and better but. I am open to suggestions .


Thanks for the pic of your buddy. It reminds me that I should get some equal time for my grandsons. They have helped hauling wood etc. but, they are not under foot as much as my grandaughter. She loves getting her hands dirty, they love the digital age

[stonecutter]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Interesting colors Gulf. Did you buy a bagged mix or is it your own mix design? I know a lot of labor must have went into the pieces.

What are you using for your forms? Which btw, you did an excellent good with, very clean looking lines. Good form work is so important to making nice pieces.

Looks like there is a group here that gets to work with the little ones...very cool to get their hands dirty in a digital age! Here is my buddy celebrating the completion of the dry stonework...

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Gulf,

WOW.......looking good. I have a sidewalk superintendent too. Your so lucky to be able to work, it just snowed another 8" this weekend at my place.

[dvm]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Those are looking good. And kudos for employing the skills of your art consultant. She will have fond memories of these days every time she looks at those counters, which barring some tornado, should be for years to come.

[Gulf]

Re: Mississippi 44"

WOW!!!!!!

And beautiful too...

Chip

Thank's Chip,
Yes she is. Favors her mother, who favors her grandmother .

I'm sure glad that she doesn't take after me

[mrchipster]

Re: Mississippi 44"

WOW!!!!!!

And beautiful too...

Chip

[Gulf]

Re: Mississippi 44"

So Gulf
How did the aboriginal inspired multicolored counter turn out?

Sorry about the late reply DVM,
I have been working a lot of hours and have had some camera issues as well. The test shelves, where I tried a new veining technique,

that drew that acclaim have been retired to my brain fart pile :>.

I have went back to the origional black sand veining that I first used. My Art Consultant on this build is a "task master" and I must meet her close scrutiny in all aspects of the build.

[dvm]

Re: Mississippi 44"

So Gulf
How did the aboriginal inspired multicolored counter turn out?

[mrchipster]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Chip, I'm not sure how the fern will turn out. I want be doig much grinding. The shells and the glass should already be exposed. I tried two test pieces with ferns, and I got varying results.

The impression of the fern and all air pockets will be filled with a black slurry. The filler shown in the test pieces was made from the same white portland as the other colors. On this run I will be making the slurry from regular portland.

That makes sense back filling is a great idea, I hope it works out, you are getting some interesting grains and colors.

Chip

[Gulf]

Re: Mississippi 44"

V-Wiz, It may have something to do with permitting. Or lack of getting one before cutting, that resulted in a fine. The wood on the back of my pickup were from trees being cleared to make room for a house on a neighbors land. I got a couple of pickup loads back in the fall from wind fallen trees beside the road that was just about dry. I don't intend to buy any hardwood as long as I am able to go get it myself.

Chip, I'm not sure how the fern will turn out. I want be doig much grinding. The shells and the glass should already be exposed. I tried two test pieces with ferns, and I got varying results.

The impression of the fern and all air pockets will be filled with a black slurry. The filler shown in the test pieces was made from the same white portland as the other colors. On this run I will be making the slurry from regular portland.

[V-wiz]

Re: Mississippi 44"

Why?

I have no idea, and there is plenty to go around, my parents neighbors had cut a large branch off the oak tree in theyre own yard, the city had some how found out and provided before and after photos VIA satellite of what the tree looked like, They fined them $5,000

[brickie in oz]

Re: Mississippi 44"

here in california cutting oak is illegal

Why?