Daniel,
Nice job! I like the red color even if it doesn't look like sandstone. The joy of 'tufa is that sometimes our practice pieces turn into favorites.

I've used the buff cement colorant and I think that you're right about it giving you more of a sandstone look.

Deb

Daniel, You did a good job on your trough. What recipe did you use?
You really don't need the fiber mesh for troughs. Billie

heres the recipe:
4 scoops sifted peat (2 1/4 lb.)
4 scoops portland grey cement (13 lb.)
4 scoops white wet sand (14 lb)
1 lb limeproof red "Rainbow" cement color
2 clenched fist Cono-net Forta fiber (1 oz.)from New Holland Concrete (that is hard to clump like some others)
put in plastic bag to cure about 70 % humidity
fiber overkill huh? when do you need fiber?
any thoughts for a sandstone look with or without color?
daniel

"fiber overkill huh? when do you need fiber?" Ummmm.... :)

Good job on your first trough, how deep is it?
Thanks for the detailed recipe. What size are your 'scoops'?

Will you be burning off the fibre hairs once it is cured?

What's next?

~GardenChicken

Dan'l, They use fiber mesh for overpasses and bridgework. It's something that someone read about, experimented with and now people think they need it. Ain't so! Just adds to the expense of your work..........and time shaving the hairs off when it's cured.
It helps if you answer in this post instead of posting another message thread. Especially on this side of the forum. I think we only get 2 pages for pictures on this side. Now your answer to Garden Chicken is separated from the question and will die a slow Internet death.
I have a box of red "Rainbow" dye and 2 bags of fiber mesh from a concrete manufacturer that have got to be over 10 years old. Both are unopened.
I use paints, dye stains and stains from Smith Paint in Harrisburg. Great selection. I also use acrylic paint from the craft store and wood stain. Billie

Here is a link that might be useful: Smith Paints

Hi
Nice trough
Michael

If you want a rusty color you can try using white portland and spraying on some liquid iron fertilizer spray, I've used it to color waterfall pieces. It gives stone a wellwater rust stained look, which looks good in some places.