"How
to" Step by Step
Step 1 -
Build your form (heating duct galvinized steel strips are
great) and position it on your work board. A 4 to 5 foot
steel strip can be made into a circle, square, rectangle,
or ellipse and held in shape with duct tape or clamps. Lightly
coat the inside of the steel strip with cooking oil or spray.
The work board should be about 3/4 inch thick to provide
a good sturdy work surface. Covering the board with plastic
or Teflon will make it non-stick.
Step 2 -
Mix the concrete according to the recipe you prefer.
Step 3 -
Place your work board and form on the floor and fill slowly
with concrete mixture, starting in the middle, packing it
as you go. To remove air pockets (very important), lay 4
mil plastic over the mixture and tamp concrete mixture down
by walking on it to press all the air out. Be sure to work
the air out of the edges, too. Repeat until form is filled
to the desired stepping stone height. Remove the plastic.
You should see that water has worked its way to the surface.
Step 1
Preparing the Form * |
Step 2
Mixing
* |
Step 3
Removing air pockets
* |
Step 4 -
Smooth the surface of your concrete with your gloved hand
or trowel.
Step 5 -
Allow the concrete to set up until it is firm but not hard.
This takes about three hours at room temperature (72)
Step 6 -
Carefully move your entire work board and form to wherever
you are going to do your carving. This should be a comfortable,
sturdy place like a table. you may want to make or purchase
a lazy susan to make it easier for you to get at all parts
of your carving more easily.
Step 7 -
Carefully remove the form from you casting by slicing the
duct tape. CAUTION, metal strip may "spring" open.
Once removed, take time now to clean your form before
concrete sets on it.
Step 8 -
Carefully scrape any scale that has formed on the surface
of your casting. This scale appears as a flaky, crystalline
deposit. A hacksaw blade or knife works well for this.
Step 7
Removing the Form* |
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Step 8
Removing scale*
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* Click on image for larger view
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