casting a freestanding concrete bath

[clint solemn]

Hi all. I hope someone can help me. I've been working with metal for some time now, but recently started experimenting with concrete. I've made some fabulous tiles in smooth wooden molds with varying degrees of colour and complexity, but now I want to have a crack at a freestanding concrete bath. I know this is probably a little bit ambitious at such an early stage, especially as just thinking about the form makes my head spin round (it may even be impossible) but I don't care anyway. I'm still going to have a go. Any advice would be helpful, i.e material and construction of the form, mixture for such a large piece (reinforcement?, and sealing/polishing techniques. Thanks.

[jOe~]

Get the book Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden by Sherri Warner Hunter. great book for all concrete projects.

jOe

[whisperingangel]

I have created concrete sculpture and having a Civil Engineering background I know enough about the stuff to get frustrated with it. However, when you create a form that is not like a mold where you pour the concrete into it, you must have some sort of wire mesh, or armature created to hold it together, and with that formed up I use a mixture of mortar mix and some hardener stuff like acrylic hardener. Then I sorta spread the mix onto the form using a puddy knife of spoon, or using thick rubber gloves my hands. I look to make sure the form is covered completely inside and out evenly with a thickness of about 2" to be on the safe side. Once the mortar is dry, you can paint it using a concrete patio paint. I have tried doing different things. For example I created some really nice bird baths using a large plastic trash can lid. I took some nice stones and broken
marble and put that in first for a design, then I poured the mortar mix into that. Let it sit for about 24 hrs, and then carefully pealed the plastic off. Usually have to cut it in places. You should always remember to affix your fasteners in the wet concrete if you are going to bolt something to it, like the base of the feeder.
Hope this helps.
Karen J Wassmer