Concrete. Contemporary Concrete Bowls & Plates by Impure Vessels. Concrete Planters and Candle Holders by roughfusion. Art Concrete How-to 1b: Mixes. THIS PAGE is one of several explaining techniques about how to use concrete in small-scale art projects. Concrete mixes are variable, and specific to certain applications. As a general rule, the larger the final piece the larger the aggregate. (For descriptions of aggregates and additives see the materials page.) These are basic mixes that I have used and developed over time and work well in terms of plasticity, compressive strength, density and finishing characteristics. I have not suggested liquid volumes as they are too variable (depending on moisture content of the sand etc) but the general rule is to use as little as you can get away with.
Always mix the dry ingredients well first. Very Small Scale (jewellery) 1 tbsp stone dust (screened, limestone or marble) 1 tbsp portland cement (grey or white) half tsp metakaolin pinch fibres (if using PVA fibres, do not use latex or acrylic, just water) (optional) 1 tsp metal filings (silver, bronze) acrylic or latex solution (as little as possible) Art Concrete How-to 4: Casting. Concrete Decor by Robin Wilson | New York. They say the only concrete things in life are birth and death. We’d like to add the first collection of home goods from eco interior designer Robin Wilson. Drawing ideas from her new green showroom, Wilson utilizes leftover elements from construction sites (among other waste-producing places) for her creative endeavors. With a focus on form and function, beautifully simple and modern votive holders, planters, trays, bowls, benches, and nesting tables are made from recycled smokestack ash and demolition ephemera — which can be ordered artisanally rough or honed and polished and finished with a nontoxic stain.
Any refuse from projects are passed on to a local recycler. Many of the handsome smaller pieces (planters) are surprisingly light; the furniture (like side tables) rolls on wheels. All can sustain the wear and tear of full-time outdoor/patio living. Call it mortar combat. Available online at theneststore.com. Ncrete bathroom accessories. Loving this soap dish and shaving kit in soft concrete, available from Mjölk. Beautifully handmade by visually impaired craftspeople, the marks in the soapdish read “soap” in braille. also on iainclaridge.net ... Concrete Pendant Lights by fmcdesign.
GFRC Mix and Materials. Traditional spray-up GFRC is a low water-cement ratio mix. Most decorative GFRC products, other than artificial rocks, are made with a two-layer process with a very thin (1/8 to 3/16 inch) face coat and a thicker backing layer. Sand and cement are typically used at a ratio of about 1 to 1, although some mix designs call for slightly higher cementitious materials content (see "GRFC Mix Design," Concrete Décor, June/July 2008). With its high cement content and low water-cement ratio (0.33 to 0.38), GFRC can dry out quickly and not gain full strength.
Traditionally, GFRC panels were cured in a moist-room for 7 days. Today, more commonly, this is overcome by using an acrylic polymer additive which serves as a curing compound to prevent the mix water from evaporating. GFRC can be sprayed directly onto the mold with the proper equipment. The acrylic also gives you concrete that gains strength rapidly. This unique fireplace surround was created using GFRC. Find Manufacturers: GFRC Mixes.