I'm really sorry for not responding for so long. I have been offline TH-cam for about 3 years. First; Sorry for the terrible audio - I had no idea it was bad or I would have fixed it. I'm very hard of hearing so have to depend on others. The audio was probably trashed by the upload process because it was not TH-cam format friendly. I'll try to re-install this video with better sound if I can find the original clips. Second; I must apologize for all the unanswered questions. Here are some answers. 1. The mortar used for the under layers is Rapidset morter - the brown bag. It can be purchased from Home Depot for about $16. The finish layers use Rapidset Cement - the purple bag with dry pigment colors added. I have only found Rapidset Cement - purple bag - retail at White Cap cement products distributors, and not all stores carry it. It's very difficult to find and worth a long drive. 2. The expanded metal (steel lath - normally used for plastering) is from Home Depot and is 27" wide by 8 feet long. Use the lightest gauge they have. 3. The cement finishing is done using wet diamond pads on a speed controlled 4-1/2" angle grinder converted to wet sanding - rough to fine - and then a dry very fine grit diamond pad. Because cement does not have a consistent hard surface to polish, the finish is then coated with an acrylic with similar properties to Incralac but at fraction of the cost labeled "Aervoe Clear Acrylic". Amazon now sells it. Since moving from a warm climate to a freezing climate I have found that outdoor sculpture pieces will spall the outer layers if each coat of mortar or cement is not applied before the previous layer sets hard because water gets betweent the layers and expands when frozen. Live and learn. Other tutorials can be found at www.westgate-works.com.
Rapidset Mortar - Home Depot. Can also use other Rapidset products for fine finish. I use a kitchen trainer to sift out larger aggregates for smoother finish. Colors can be cement pigments or a finish coat using Rapidset Water Stop mixed with small amount of atomized copper and then patina same as bronze. Acrylics can also be used.
I don't see the other tutorials under your name, and I'd really like to know what the mesh is called so I can source it. Can you tell me where you get yours or what I should search for? Thanks!
Interesting to hear you call Ferrocement " concrete " as a Ferrocement retired boat repairer, during my learning time if I ever called it concrete I would get a clip around the ear..It is most definitely NOT concrete, concrete is porous and not water tight because without a pozzolan like fly ash or DE added it is just ferro concrete, My mix is 2-1 with 15% of the fine sand replaced with a pozzolan, I also add a few grams of trioxide to stop the galvanic reaction between wet mortar and wire which causes gas bubbles/honey comb effect, fatal mistake for a boat..
Thanks for the video, very well demonstrated.
absolutely wonderful, lovely sculpture.
looks great man. i'd like very much to learn what are the matereals you used to put on the cement to make it looks so good.[sound problem]. thanks
I'm really sorry for not responding for so long. I have been offline TH-cam for about 3 years.
First; Sorry for the terrible audio - I had no idea it was bad or I would have fixed it. I'm very hard of hearing so have to depend on others. The audio was probably trashed by the upload process because it was not TH-cam format friendly. I'll try to re-install this video with better sound if I can find the original clips.
Second; I must apologize for all the unanswered questions. Here are some answers.
1. The mortar used for the under layers is Rapidset morter - the brown bag. It can be purchased from Home Depot for about $16. The finish layers use Rapidset Cement - the purple bag with dry pigment colors added. I have only found Rapidset Cement - purple bag - retail at White Cap cement products distributors, and not all stores carry it. It's very difficult to find and worth a long drive.
2. The expanded metal (steel lath - normally used for plastering) is from Home Depot and is 27" wide by 8 feet long. Use the lightest gauge they have.
3. The cement finishing is done using wet diamond pads on a speed controlled 4-1/2" angle grinder converted to wet sanding - rough to fine - and then a dry very fine grit diamond pad. Because cement does not have a consistent hard surface to polish, the finish is then coated with an acrylic with similar properties to Incralac but at fraction of the cost labeled "Aervoe Clear Acrylic". Amazon now sells it.
Since moving from a warm climate to a freezing climate I have found that outdoor sculpture pieces will spall the outer layers if each coat of mortar or cement is not applied before the previous layer sets hard because water gets betweent the layers and expands when frozen. Live and learn.
Other tutorials can be found at www.westgate-works.com.
what kind of mortar did you use? it Ordinary Portland cement?
what's in your mortar? also what kind of paint did you use?
Rapidset Mortar - Home Depot. Can also use other Rapidset products for fine finish. I use a kitchen trainer to sift out larger aggregates for smoother finish. Colors can be cement pigments or a finish coat using Rapidset Water Stop mixed with small amount of atomized copper and then patina same as bronze. Acrylics can also be used.
Visually interesting but impossible to understand much of the narrative. Is there a companion blog to this vid so we can actually learn from you?
Cool. Well done!
ilex, its called 3.4 diamond. an exterior plaster's wire. home depot
Thanks!
I don't see the other tutorials under your name, and I'd really like to know what the mesh is called so I can source it. Can you tell me where you get yours or what I should search for? Thanks!
you can get the mesh a Lowes, Home Depot
it's called Expanded Steel Lath and you can get it in different weights; ie. 2.5#/sheet, 3.5#/sheet etc 2023 about $20 for a 2.5# 2.5'x8' sheet.
Interesting to hear you call Ferrocement " concrete " as a Ferrocement retired boat repairer, during my learning time if I ever called it concrete I would get a clip around the ear..It is most definitely NOT concrete, concrete is porous and not water tight because without a pozzolan like fly ash or DE added it is just ferro concrete, My mix is 2-1 with 15% of the fine sand replaced with a pozzolan, I also add a few grams of trioxide to stop the galvanic reaction between wet mortar and wire which causes gas bubbles/honey comb effect, fatal mistake for a boat..
Pls close the tap when not in use and save 💦 water.
ernie, I love your info, but I cant hear a word you say. please rig up a better mike and speak a little clearer. thanks
Xxx❤❤❤❤