Onoff Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 25 minutes ago, Gus Potter said: My view is that cement is not an option. All cements shrink.. flints have a very smooth impermeable surface and you won't get a flexible bond if you use a mix with any cement content. Anything lime heavy is far too white for our liking. Worst case it fails and I have to take them all out and redo. This is the mix I'm going with. - 3 soft - 1 sharp (figured it'd add strength and maybe some interest with the fines in it) - 1 opc - 1 lime (for plasticity/self healing) Happy with the test piece, its colour and edges around the flint: Plan is to, once dry, treat with maybe one of the waterproofing creams and repeat as required. Goes against the grain of traditional flint walling I appreciate. Let's face it, they wouldn't have had such waterproofing coatings back in the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 2, 2022 Author Share Posted January 2, 2022 Decision made! It'll either work or fail miserably but it will have kept me out of the house for a good bit and is deliciously complicated. I've an off cut of stainless mesh been kicking around for years. 304 I think. Bought some similar recently for work and it was nigh on £100 a sheet! It's about 16SWG/1". (Saying that I do want to make an oil flue mesh guard so I'd get my monies worth out of a sheet doing another 3 panels for the pillars and that). The plan is then to add another 4, M5 studs, resin anchored in. These won't need to be as long as the existing two as they're to anchor the coach lantern. The mesh is held in place with st/st M5 penny washers and full nuts. That'll give me a rot proof, mesh "base". I'm then going to glue the individual flints on with Sticks Like Sh!t or something similar. I'll cut the mesh as required if the flint needs to sit a bit deeper past the mesh. Some flints are not so deep though, guess I set my mesh depth near to the shallowest one. Duct tape if necessary to stop the flint slipping. Once all positioned and the adhesive set, I'll use a mortar gun to pump lots of the mix below in through the gaps, let it go off a bit and brush in around each flint. The biggest problem is whether my mix will pump through my mortar gun! Really I should be out trying that rather than charging up the batteries getting ready to drill... This is the test mix I did back in October 'ish this year after a lot of experimenting - 3 soft - 1 sharp (figured it'd add strength and maybe some interest with the fines in it) - 1 opc - 1 lime (for plasticity/self healing) The sample has sat face up for the last 3 months through multiple frost's, freezing days and nights, torrential rain etc. I'm quite pleased how it's weathering. In it's final position it will get some added protection from the pillar capstone overhanging this flint face. I'm hoping that the lime will aid it going through the gun along with the liquid waterproofer. Only one way to find out! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jimbo Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Sounds like a plan. And that is better than no plan fella. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 2, 2022 Author Share Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) It peed down! So...instead of waiting for it to stop and do my test mix/pump, I thought I'd try and stick a flint to the mesh with clear Sticks Like Sh!t. It didn't go well. I think it's too "runny" and not "grabby" enough. I wonder if I'd be better with a dedicated grab adhesive. The flint here in the picture slowly twisted and slipped out of position. I've had to use a ratchet strap with a strategically placed twig! Happy with the mesh as a base. Surprisingly taut and stable. Wait for this one to dry then! Probably many good reasons why it's not done like this! ? Edited January 2, 2022 by Onoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 The Everbuild grab adhesive was marginally better than Sticks Like Sh!t but it still slipped a bit. Very like Sikaflex EBT: The lower ones were a pain. Then I had a brainwave, use cable ties to tie the flints to the mesh then blob in some adhesive. As I've said some flints are quite thin and have no tail. I like to think of myself as the Hengist Pod of flintwork! Craftsman and those easily offended, look away now! Going to let it set as is then finish off that top bit. The coach lantern going on the two projecting studs should hold everything in place if it all fails! ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roundtuit Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Can't help thinking you could have made up a re-inforced flint panel flat, on the bench, then fixed it in to place and pointed in afterwards... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Roundtuit said: Can't help thinking you could have made up a re-inforced flint panel flat, on the bench, then fixed it in to place and pointed in afterwards... Erm...yeah, just come to a similar conclusion before I read this! ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 2 hours ago, Onoff said: The Everbuild grab adhesive was marginally better than Sticks Like Sh!t but it still slipped a bit. Very like Sikaflex EBT: The lower ones were a pain. Then I had a brainwave, use cable ties to tie the flints to the mesh then blob in some adhesive. As I've said some flints are quite thin and have no tail. I like to think of myself as the Hengist Pod of flintwork! Craftsman and those easily offended, look away now! Going to let it set as is then finish off that top bit. The coach lantern going on the two projecting studs should hold everything in place if it all fails! ? Expectations are high so don't (expletive deleted)ing disappoint! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Could embed your rocks in resin, maybe a few LEDs as well. That would look very 'Essex' and keep people away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Hmmm... Impetuous me decided to cut the cable ties off...one flint slipped straight away the other just fell off. Where the blobs are at say 3 or 4 points around the periphery of the flint it seems to be holding. Where they're at the top, in effect suspending the flint, not so good. Some like the 4 at the bottom seem to have held. The two at the very bottom were just Sticks Like Sh!t. So WTF sticks to flint? I'm now wondering if in fact Sticks Like Sh!t is in fact better adhesion wise than the white Ever Build stuff. Thus, with the intent of doing a basic "peel" test to see how the adhesion of each is: Lines of white Ever Build Multi Stick and clear Evo Sticks Like Sh!t on both the rough and smooth side of a flint. Left to dry atop the oil boiler. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Now I know this stuff really does stick like the proverbial. It's what I used to stick the M5 studs in that hold the mesh on. I wonder if big blobs of this would better hold the actual flints? Would have be very organised and have a plan so it's not going off in the nozzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Hmm...on the test flint the Sticks Like Sh!t seemed to have fully dried after 24hrs. The (white) Ever Build Multi Stick was still a bit sticky underneath. On balance I'd say the Sticks Like Sh!t was adhered better. Still managed to pull it off. Try again! Second panel flints in their sand box for reference. I figured the flints being spotlessly clean might help. To think SWMBO moans I never load the dishwasher! You know that calm before the storm feeling... 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Looks like I got away with the dishwasher trick. Had it done, unloaded and restacked with dishes without her twigging. They came out rather impressively hot and in fact held their heat for a long time...(heat store project? ?) The next, new, rough plan goes like this then: I cut a board the size of the recess. Found another bit of mesh. I organised the flints how you'll see them face on like the reference photo. I then mirrored the photo. I've laid the flints face down on the board then tried to rearrange with reasonable gaps. The mesh gets laid on top and the mesh cut out where the high points are. Shouldn't matter if it doesn't sit quite flat. I'll clamp the mesh down onto the flints then blob Fischer or similar resin in each flint to hold it to the mesh... hopefully! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Mate. You are an absolute lunatic. ?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 3 hours ago, Onoff said: Looks like I got away with the dishwasher trick. Had it done, unloaded and restacked with dishes without her twigging. They came out rather impressively hot and in fact held their heat for a long time...(heat store project? ?) The next, new, rough plan goes like this then: I cut a board the size of the recess. Found another bit of mesh. I organised the flints how you'll see them face on like the reference photo. I then mirrored the photo. I've laid the flints face down on the board then tried to rearrange with reasonable gaps. The mesh gets laid on top and the mesh cut out where the high points are. Shouldn't matter if it doesn't sit quite flat. I'll clamp the mesh down onto the flints then blob Fischer or similar resin in each flint to hold it to the mesh... hopefully! Looks like you shat in those shoes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 4 minutes ago, pocster said: Looks like you shat in those shoes Always guaranteed to bring something to the party. There's me thinking you'd have gone with something to do with the words "face down" in the above text. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markc Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 One day I hope to have enough free time to #£&@ about like this. Not jealous much …. Honest . 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 1 hour ago, pocster said: Looks like you shat in those shoes I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 23 minutes ago, markc said: One day I hope to have enough free time to #£&@ about like this. Not jealous much …. Honest . I like to think I've turned procrastination into an art form. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Next time someone wants to stick a flint to something they'll be thanking me for this! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 1 hour ago, Onoff said: Next time someone wants to stick a flint to something they'll be thanking me for this! ? I no longer wish to stick a flint to anything. Thanks! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Was at school with someone called Flint. Got expelled for cheating in his 'O' Levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, markc said: One day I hope to have enough free time to #£&@ about like this. Not jealous much …. Honest . You already have the time. You just need to let the important things that you must do fade to the side. TIME created!. Now (expletive deleted) about to your hearts content! Edited January 5, 2022 by pocster 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Something like this: Then rope in No.2 daughter and let loose with the resin gun: ...whilst I watch Hidden Figures with a glass of Wainwright The Golden Beer! Hopefully the resin will stick like the proverbial to the flints and mesh. I'll then be able to lift the whole thing into place like a mosaic tile mat and hang from some resin studs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 3 hours ago, pocster said: You just need to let the important things that you must do fade to the side. Said like a true believer. What I lack in cash I make up for in faff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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