Great stuff! I've found that when using wax, running a hot-air gun or hairdryer over the inside of the mold can help the wax run into any little divots or grain lines or corners you might've missed, before you apply the spray. And have some bits of stone and rock and tile on hand: if the spare amount of concrete you have is less than a full mold's worth, gently embed the stones etc into the upper surface of what you pour into the mould. They'll lock in when it cures and provide a key for the next bit of spare concrete you pour in to help prevent it splitting along the join line.
My plan is 1/8" masonite mold with a half dozen blocks in each large scale mold and to make 3 molds, 2 with open ends that bump up against the sides of the 1 solid mold so I can make many casts at once, have 3 to 4 removable molds and no matter what, only an 1/8" gap between the storage garage floor I have planned. *This plan isn't quite set in stone but is approximately the exact plan when the rubber meets the road.* Upon completion, rather than mortar pack the crevices, a cheap and flexible silicon caulk. *It's cheap, strong, dry and there's room for shifting since it's not intended to be equivalent to a true car garage concrete or block with mortar flooring.*
Love your channel❤ I've been making flagstone pavers from molds, and your tips have been an enormous help. Question: I want to make light gray, chisel edge retaining wall blocks, that have a black speckle. What kind of aggregate can I use for the black speckles?
@@creatingconcretei just watched your series on making a Urn planter, and I see what you mean about using paint for the black specks. I'm going to try that👍🏻
Steve, is it OK to use an acrylic fortifier/bonding agent (SkaLatex) together with a superplasticizer? I know in one of your vids you said there was some kind of combo to avoid but I don't recall exactly what they were.
Not a lot of info about this but I think for desktop and decorative products it might be OK. For HRWR (high range water reducers) for structural and engineered projects it might be a problem. If you read the directions from the manufacturer it should list and conflicts with other admixtures to avoid.
Great stuff!
I've found that when using wax, running a hot-air gun or hairdryer over the inside of the mold can help the wax run into any little divots or grain lines or corners you might've missed, before you apply the spray.
And have some bits of stone and rock and tile on hand: if the spare amount of concrete you have is less than a full mold's worth, gently embed the stones etc into the upper surface of what you pour into the mould. They'll lock in when it cures and provide a key for the next bit of spare concrete you pour in to help prevent it splitting along the join line.
I also use a heat gun or torch with wax quite often. Thanks for commenting.
Hi new to this channel. Would a plastic sheet work to protect the mould?
It would but it might leave lines in the underside of the stepping stone. But yes, it would stop the concrete from sticking to the mold.
@@creatingconcrete thank you
Would love to try and make some remodel pavers (5/8). Do you have any recommendations for a thin paver like that(mix, admix, etc.)?
My plan is 1/8" masonite mold with a half dozen blocks in each large scale mold and to make 3 molds, 2 with open ends that bump up against the sides of the 1 solid mold so I can make many casts at once, have 3 to 4 removable molds and no matter what, only an 1/8" gap between the storage garage floor I have planned.
*This plan isn't quite set in stone but is approximately the exact plan when the rubber meets the road.*
Upon completion, rather than mortar pack the crevices, a cheap and flexible silicon caulk. *It's cheap, strong, dry and there's room for shifting since it's not intended to be equivalent to a true car garage concrete or block with mortar flooring.*
Looking to carve out an “Interior Mountain Edge Rock Wall” in the shower. Any idea on the process and type of concrete I would need?
Love your channel❤ I've been making flagstone pavers from molds, and your tips have been an enormous help. Question: I want to make light gray, chisel edge retaining wall blocks, that have a black speckle. What kind of aggregate can I use for the black speckles?
What about paint? Any aggregate would need a reveal like an acid wash to remove the portland haze.
@@creatingconcretei just watched your series on making a Urn planter, and I see what you mean about using paint for the black specks. I'm going to try that👍🏻
Steve, is it OK to use an acrylic fortifier/bonding agent (SkaLatex) together with a superplasticizer? I know in one of your vids you said there was some kind of combo to avoid but I don't recall exactly what they were.
Not a lot of info about this but I think for desktop and decorative products it might be OK. For HRWR (high range water reducers) for structural and engineered projects it might be a problem. If you read the directions from the manufacturer it should list and conflicts with other admixtures to avoid.