Eman
Master
Update on Atlas Stone Project:
I opted to skip buying a Slater Mold, mostly because I wanted a smaller beginner stone to practice with before jumping to a bigger one. Since I knew I'd probably only ever make one of them at this size, I tried a DIY method using this:
(The one linked above is smaller than what I got but just shown for reference)
The idea is you use the plastic globe as a sacrificial mold, breaking it off at the end. Again, this is ideal if you only want one stone at X size and don't want to spend the extra money to end up having a mold sitting in the corner for years at a time.
So, results:
I'm very pleased with how this stone came out. When I first poured the concrete, I was slightly concerned because the gravel rose to the top and I thought the sides might be gravely and course - I couldn't have been more wrong. The outside of this stone is perfectly smooth. I've seen several tutorial videos online and I have to say, I don't think any of them came out quite as smooth as mine. It's rather slick, which is also good I think.
Pics:
Notes:
I think part of the reason this stone came out well is the constant vibration and tapping I did throughout pouring it. I had a rubber mallet that I tapped it repeatedly with as I filled the mold with cement. Once I had it filled, I took a blade out of my saw zaw and held it against the mold as it was running to vibrate the air bubbles out.
I let the stone sit for about 2 weeks before breaking it open. It's been a little cooler here and I wanted to give it extra time to cure. Now that it's out, I'll leave it for another week before getting too rough with it. I am considering adding a seal to it but will do more research. The bottom is rough and I'll grind it down smooth, as of now I don't think this needs patched in any spots due to air bubbles... Everything I see is very negligible.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this method and I would consider using it again however, my next stone will be with a Slater Mold. I'm unsure what size it'll be but most likely a bit wider than my arm's reach and I'll adjust the weight by adding foam or lead inserts to make it lighter or heavier, respectively. This way I'll get multiple uses out of a single sized mold.
I opted to skip buying a Slater Mold, mostly because I wanted a smaller beginner stone to practice with before jumping to a bigger one. Since I knew I'd probably only ever make one of them at this size, I tried a DIY method using this:
(The one linked above is smaller than what I got but just shown for reference)
The idea is you use the plastic globe as a sacrificial mold, breaking it off at the end. Again, this is ideal if you only want one stone at X size and don't want to spend the extra money to end up having a mold sitting in the corner for years at a time.
So, results:
I'm very pleased with how this stone came out. When I first poured the concrete, I was slightly concerned because the gravel rose to the top and I thought the sides might be gravely and course - I couldn't have been more wrong. The outside of this stone is perfectly smooth. I've seen several tutorial videos online and I have to say, I don't think any of them came out quite as smooth as mine. It's rather slick, which is also good I think.
Pics:
Notes:
I think part of the reason this stone came out well is the constant vibration and tapping I did throughout pouring it. I had a rubber mallet that I tapped it repeatedly with as I filled the mold with cement. Once I had it filled, I took a blade out of my saw zaw and held it against the mold as it was running to vibrate the air bubbles out.
I let the stone sit for about 2 weeks before breaking it open. It's been a little cooler here and I wanted to give it extra time to cure. Now that it's out, I'll leave it for another week before getting too rough with it. I am considering adding a seal to it but will do more research. The bottom is rough and I'll grind it down smooth, as of now I don't think this needs patched in any spots due to air bubbles... Everything I see is very negligible.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this method and I would consider using it again however, my next stone will be with a Slater Mold. I'm unsure what size it'll be but most likely a bit wider than my arm's reach and I'll adjust the weight by adding foam or lead inserts to make it lighter or heavier, respectively. This way I'll get multiple uses out of a single sized mold.
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