PeterW Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 35 minutes ago, bassanclan said: I bought some from the manufacturers and when I went to pick them up I could see how they were made. There's no mesh inside, just soft or silver sand and cement. The moulds have the look of being painted with liquid rubber, which I imagine is a release agent. DPM would be too thick and wrinkly, but if you have any tanking liquid from your bathroom renovation that might do the job??? Make sure you buy all your sand in one go to make sure you get colour consistency The new ones are made from Silicone rubber and are flexible to allow them to remove the mould from fairly complex castings. Out of interest, what colour have you got as I’m trying to come up with a “blend” to match some sandstone and I’m looking at using Snowcem with yellow sand but it possibly needs some mortar colour in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 18 minutes ago, JSHarris said: I've seen a concrete coffee table made using a mould made from laminate covered boards. The finish on that was pretty good. I think that one challenge maybe how to ensure there are no air bubbles on the surface. Moulds I've seen made from Melamine or Formica topped material are pretty good - release agent used in them was WD40 ! They put in a 10mm or so layer with just sand and cement from the looks of it, and then used a roller docker to settle it into the bottom of the trays and remove air, then topped them up with a mix with some 10mm gravel in. @Onoff you can buy these.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 When I made mine ( which have since disintegrated ) I also used wd40 on a plastic mould to release . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 25 minutes ago, PeterW said: Out of interest, what colour have you got as I’m trying to come up with a “blend” to match some sandstone and I’m looking at using Snowcem with yellow sand but it possibly needs some mortar colour in it. I think you'll need some mortar dye to get the colour right. The render on our retaining wall is a mix of white cement, yellow sand and hydraulic lime, and is a fairly pale cream colour. It's a fair bit lighter than the honey coloured "sandstone" that we've used for garden walls. The colour is about the same as magnolia emulsion, maybe very slightly darker. The sand we used was a very deep yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 It ain't pretty but it'll hold some bricks up whilst they set: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 24 minutes ago, Onoff said: It ain't pretty but it'll hold some bricks up whilst they set: Get indoors man ?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 23 minutes ago, pocster said: Get indoors man ?! It's telling isn't it when lying on a scrap of dpm in the dark is preferable! So useful this little Parkside welder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 1 minute ago, Onoff said: It's telling isn't it when lying on a scrap of dpm in the dark is preferable! So useful this little Parkside welder. You must be in trouble to stay outside so late ..... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC45 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 thats why led head torches were invented for. Got mine out this week - great to have an old friend back.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 15 minutes ago, CC45 said: thats why led head torches were invented for. Got mine out this week - great to have an old friend back.... I need at some time to add some bright LEDs around the welding mask which many people do. Amazing the difference good strong light makes to seeing the weld pool even when the mask auto darkens. I might invest in a cheat lens too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 Bit more done. Lost daylight yesterday evening, LED work light packed up etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 On 09/10/2019 at 21:17, Onoff said: I need at some time to add some bright LEDs around the welding mask which many people do. Amazing the difference good strong light makes to seeing the weld pool even when the mask auto darkens. I might invest in a cheat lens too. What’s a cheat lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 27 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said: What’s a cheat lens. This: https://migtigarc.co.uk/welding-helmet-magnifying-lens-2250-p.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Onoff said: This: https://migtigarc.co.uk/welding-helmet-magnifying-lens-2250-p.asp Brill, I find it difficult welding with my bi focals, never looking in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Onoff said: This: https://migtigarc.co.uk/welding-helmet-magnifying-lens-2250-p.asp Nice one rodders ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 Honestly, as a start, improve the lighting on your work area it makes a world of difference. Try and focus it on the weld area. Buy an ESAB Sentinel mask too if you've £200 ish to spare. Just look at the field of vision! You can get it air fed too: Who wouldn't want to look like this? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 ^ big splatter shield, but what size is the actual LCD panel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, dpmiller said: ^ big splatter shield, but what size is the actual LCD panel? Standard but the frame doesn't encroach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 Do a bit, it rains, repeat! ? Being under the tree is a double edged sword. A bit of protection but light not so good and then there's the leaves: Temporary halt to proceedings whilst I knock up a ply former for this pillar's junction box and drill the stainless steel plate lintels with my new Chinesium hole saws...if they work! "Stainless steel is special" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 4 holes out of 42 drilled for my plate lintels! Quite impressed with the hole saws so far in 5mm 304 stainless plate. No blunting or loss of teeth! Used with cutting fluid in the small pillar drill. They're stamped Hss rather than Hss Co. Cut as clean as a whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Punter Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Why all the holes? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 1 minute ago, Mr Punter said: Why all the holes? Trial and error ? ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 5 minutes ago, Mr Punter said: Why all the holes? Matches the holes in the bricks to tie everything together. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 15, 2019 Author Share Posted October 15, 2019 Well the Chinesium bits did their thing. Make that Chinesium BIT as in I only used one. Forty two 25mm holes in 5mm 304 stainless plate aided by the odd squirt of finest Machine Mart cutting fluid from a Lucozade bottle. It's still SHARP FFS! Bench cleaned up and the plates all degreased in the kitchen sink when SWMBO wasn't looking: Pity I should have drilled 44... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Punter Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 On 13/10/2019 at 17:57, Onoff said: Matches the holes in the bricks to tie everything together. Wow. Never seen this before. Is it just mortar? Looking forward to seeing the flint infill (although obviously not trying to rush you). The panels look more substantial than I imagined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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