Secret formula to make or build a rock?

[Gary Bee]

Sorry Aaron I did not read your post before lodging mine.
It is a good book though don't you think?
Apologies again

[beanwagon]

I have been in the process of building a waterfall and planting a ficus ontop.

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I used newspaper, chicken wire and cement

[jgmansell]

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I built this recently as an experiment but as you can see I am not very artistic although I think it could be an option for someone who is. I cut various lengths of PVC and taped them together and covered it with plastic wrap before layering it with several layers of hessian soaked in cement water mix, pushing the hessian into the top of the PVC to make hollows for plants. A pile of wet sand could be used instead of PVC. The good thing about this method is that a fairly large rock can be made that is still fairly light since it is hollow inside. I would like to see any other examples using this method and any comments about how good/bad it is. Concrete colour can be added to make it more realistic.

[beanwagon]

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I built this recently as an experiment but as you can see I am not very artistic although I think it could be an option for someone who is. I cut various lengths of PVC and taped them together and covered it with plastic wrap before layering it with several layers of hessian soaked in cement water mix, pushing the hessian into the top of the PVC to make hollows for plants. A pile of wet sand could be used instead of PVC. The good thing about this method is that a fairly large rock can be made that is still fairly light since it is hollow inside. I would like to see any other examples using this method and any comments about how good/bad it is. Concrete colour can be added to make it more realistic.

I like it.

[SteveW]

Guys, forget variations of cement fondu, use carved styrofoam coated with non-flexible tile adhesive and painted with acrylic. Carole Waller showed us the technique at Bonsai by the Beach last year.

The railway modellers and war gamers are way ahead of the bonsai guys on this front. Try these clips for a taste.
https://youtu.be/Mpko5rxM9pI
https://youtu.be/4FshOmdHwn8
https://youtu.be/4FshOmdHwn8

BTW: rego for Bonsai by the Beach, with a penjing theme, close on 6 April.

[beanwagon]

Guys, forget variations of cement fondu, use carved styrofoam coated with non-flexible tile adhesive and painted with acrylic. Carole Waller showed us the technique at Bonsai by the Beach last year.

The railway modellers and war gamers are way ahead of the bonsai guys on this front. Try these clips for a taste.
https://youtu.be/Mpko5rxM9pI
https://youtu.be/4FshOmdHwn8
https://youtu.be/4FshOmdHwn8

BTW: rego for Bonsai by the Beach, with a penjing theme, close on 6 April.

Awesome cheers. I will check it out

[SueBee]

Yes as a sculpture teacher and Miniature enthusiast I have used both hessian/concrete, Papercrete and the styrofoam/glue methods to create and teach with....... and that last is definitely the easiest and cleanest to use ...and incidentally the lightest too. The model train people know it well.

[SueBee]

Just remembered ...expanding foam works well too...can be carved after extruding it into all sorts of shapes then cover with with cement /pva mix and paint. A screwed up plastic bag makes good texture on the wet surfaces.

[beanwagon]

Yes as a sculpture teacher and Miniature enthusiast I have used both hessian/concrete, Papercrete and the styrofoam/glue methods to create and teach with....... and that last is definitely the easiest and cleanest to use ...and incidentally the lightest too. The model train people know it well.

Do they all have relative strength/longevity?

I have heard acrylic cement is very good to use but i have not used it yet.

I have a few old foam rollers (the type used on muscles) i was going to carve/glue them together and then coat in some sort cement.

[beanwagon]

During construction

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[SueBee]

The best longevity I have so far found is to use the tile glue using pool tile glue which is for outdoor/wet areas ( over polystyrene). Nothing I used this for has ever come apart in ten years outdoors, but does come out expensive for bigger jobs like a waterfall in the garden.For Bonsai it would perhaps leave you with leftover glue .....or you could make and sell some rocks with it???
I have also added marble dust to white cement/PVA for a a lovely smooth and easily carved (while still damp)sculpture medium....but would be heavy if not made over an armature of either wire or polystyrene.

[regwac]

Think I am getting close with my lightweight trays .

[beanwagon]

The best longevity I have so far found is to use the tile glue using pool tile glue which is for outdoor/wet areas ( over polystyrene). Nothing I used this for has ever come apart in ten years outdoors, but does come out expensive for bigger jobs like a waterfall in the garden.For Bonsai it would perhaps leave you with leftover glue .....or you could make and sell some rocks with it???
I have also added marble dust to white cement/PVA for a a lovely smooth and easily carved (while still damp)sculpture medium....but would be heavy if not made over an armature of either wire or polystyrene.

Awesome cheers

I have started construction this afternoon. Now i just need to find myself some non flexible tile glue. Any suggestions on brand/type

[SteveW]

Any hardware or tile shop will sell you a bag of non-flexible tile adhesive. Looks a lot like cement . . .

The flexible adhesive fails outdoors.

Dremel carvers work a treat on the foam. Wear a mask and hold a vacuum near the bit to keep things cleaner.

[melbrackstone]

Carole Waller did a demo up here in Qld too, it's an awesome technique.

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