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Garden Accoutrements

Concrete Molding Techniques

21 years ago

I'm working on a simple concrete bridge for my japanese style garden. I have the basics in place from a design elsewhere on the web, but haven't been able to secure a series of Japanese style paving stones with 'Kanji' symbols.

These "paving stones" will be set into the bridge surface as symbols for the four seasons.

I intend to try to cast these stones, after carving the Kanji symbols into a wooden mold. It strikes me that demolding these might be an issue without breaking the relief design?

Does anyone have tips and ideas to help a) form the 1/4" high relief design b) de-mold it.

Thanks, Tony

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Comments (3)

Dena6355
21 years ago
Tony,
Consider 'carving your design' into fun foam that is 1/4" thick. You would be creating a form from the foam that is the same shape as your stone, then making a stencil with the carved out design in it. To keep the foam stencil from shifting place it on a piece of contact paper before putting your concrete in. Here is something similar to what I am imagining you are talking about. Hope this helps.
happy casting,
dena

Here is a link that might be useful: behind the fence
GinaC
21 years ago
Here's a Kanji symbol that I mosaiced (you can also mosaic onto concrete or sealed substrate).
GinaC

Here is a link that might be useful: Kanji mosaic
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enyardreems
21 years ago
Tony,
Check out the Hypertufa Forum. Lots of info on Molding! Some of the stuff they do is amazing.
Terry

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