"RULES OF THUMB" FOR WATERFALLS , STREAMS?

[Mmathis]

SISSY -- do you recall the name of the YT video? Or what key words to do a search?

 

[sissy]

I look at them and write down what I need and go on .I have A habit of that .I know how I found it Originally was that I googled Faux rock construction and that is where I found the you tube video with a butch of other sights .The hardest thing to find was the fibergalss fibers ,I tried fiberglass window screening and that worked also ..If I find It again I will right it down .

 

[Mmathis]

SISSY -- Thanks! So far I've seen a few sites that were helpful, but all use different techniques and/or ingredients. That's not a bad thing, though -- more options. Some that looked good wanted you to buy their instructional products (why, when there are SO MANY DIY's...). Haven't come across a video (YouTube) that hit the spot yet.

 

[sissy]

ponddigger on you tube has a video.It is cute to watch .

 

[Waterbug]

Turtle, I have used styrofoam balls out of stuffed animals, hypertufa and lots of other stuff. It does weaken the structure but that shouldn't be a primary concern. Using the right material for the job is the trick. People often think 5,000 psi concrete is better than 3,000 psi, or 6,000 psi even better. Bigger numbers are always better I guess is the thinking. But a fake rock normally doesn't need anything like that. Hypertufa structures need very little strength and are normally pretty thick. The important point is it gives a desired look and is strong enough for the task.

I don't think the styrofoam balls really lightened the rocks much and is only good for the first layer because the balls mess up the smoothing process. They use styrofoam balls for some building products but they're really tight tolerances to make a difference.

These days I don't even add mortar clay any more. I just use prepackaged mortar.

 

[Mmathis]

POND DIGGER videos were good.

I personally think that
YOU GUYS, ON THIS FORUM
need to make a series of instructional videos Everyone's ideas & perspectives have been SO informative & helpful -- but being a "visual" learner, I can appreciate the see-it-being-done viewpoint!

You guys ROCK! ( no pun intended )

 

[Waterbug]

Back when I started making fake rock there was like one guy teaching people and you had to fly to his location for classes. Now there's tons of stuff on the web about it.

 

[sissy]

I like all ponddigger's pond videos he has quite a few and all have something good to learn from .Besides being neat to watch .His turtles looked happy .

 

[Mmathis]

SISSY [and everyone else, too] -- questions about rock making in a box. Have read that technique several places, but need something clarified: when you line the box, is that to make up the outside, general shape of the rock? So the way you stuff the box and where you put the filing wil determine the shape?

Then I assume you only make a "shell" rather than solid-fill the box? How long do you leave it all in the box -- can you pull it out at any point for some surface shaping while the mix is still somewhat soft (or would taking it out compromise the rock & cause it to break?)?

Where do you get fiberglass fibers? All I know about is the fabric for layering fiberglass.

Have always wanted to make fake rocks -- this may become an obsession Already driving hubby crazy by saving boxes

 

[HARO]

What you do is get a box that a refrigerator came in, That way hubby will be thrilled to let you make all kinds of smaller rocks!
John

 

[sissy]

yep thats the form of the outside of the rock if you want a hollow rock to put over things .I used grocery bags as they would give it great texture and shape .Sinks and sags where ever and looks more real .I used sealer after the rock cured and that was just non glossy sealer .I leave my rocks in a corner of the basement and let them cure for a month or more .I have found out the longer they cure the stronger they are .I stuff plastic bags inside the rock to help it stay moist and even take a hand sprayer and spray them with water while they are drying .Not a lot of water just a mist .I have even used fiber glass insulation to make the forms.leave them in the forms as they cure

 

[Mmathis]

Cement rocks: what is the minimum temperature that you can work with these materials? Want to get started, but our temps. are dropping -- 20's at night, up to 50's daytime.

 

[taherrmann4]

Your lows are getting too cold for concrete to cure without insulating it somehow at night. Here is a short FAQ on portland cement.

http://www.cement.org/basics/concretebasics_curing.asp

 

[sissy]

I do mine in the winter in my basement there is an additive you can add to keep cement from freezing ,but it is not cheap .Waterbug you kill stuffed animals LOL .I have even used a old blender I had to grind up styrofoam ,messy job but in trying to recycle some of the packing styrofoam it was worth it .

 

[sissy]

Forgot you can also use burlap as the stabilizer .Almost like you use paper in paper mache .I make some of the mortor more watery and soak the burlap in it and lay it over your packed in form .Meaning you build the form and then line the inside of it with the burlap ..I have even used straw as a binder ,like they use straw in adobe in Mexico .I guess it is mnore trial and error just like a pond is .Sometimes when I take the rock out of the form I make a slurry of mortor to spread over the rock to smooth it out more and make it look like I want it to look .I even add color then .