Don't know who but someone on this forum used kitty litter and a product called OilDri. I don't remember the results. Billie

What is the reason for using them? Are they for concrete, or something else?

Sue

Sue, Absorbents are for picking up oil spills and kitty pee. Can't think of other uses at the moment. Billie

- What is the reason for using them? Are they for concrete, or something else?
Sue -

I am using it in the hypertufa mix instead of sand and it is working very well. I am going to put ironite on my volcano project in the morning and we'll see how it looks. The pictures will be on my site tomorrow (Sat) evening sometimes.

I would think that one reason for using other ingredients like those would make the item much lighter. I made a planter last week using 2 parts sawdust,1 part crete and 1 part sand, and it worked out good so far.
bonnie

Here is a link that might be useful: sawdust

I tried the floor-dry O'Reilly stuff in a 'tufa mixture last year. Set up hard, but it did NOT last the winter. It crumbled to nothing when I picked it up to move this spring.

Was the same recipe, portland, peat and floor dry. Ended up spreading the rest of the entire bag around driveway.

It does set up hard in a hurry.. maybe thats why it don't last very long? Well, hopefully mine will last through the winter. It will have water in it at all times.

My first thought: absorbents absorb water. Wouldn't this feature throw off the necessary moisture content for the cement? Wouldn't it be like applying fresh concrete to a dry base?

Sue

'Pup, That's why the mix sets up fast, the absorbent takes the water out of the surrounding mix. The two absorbents that I'm familiar with are made from part clay.
There's always one of us that's experimenting. For anyone that's selling, make sure you don't sell something that you haven't tried for at least a year or through your worst season. This isn't something you'd want to sell until your sure it will hold up. Billie

I have used kittylitter in some of my projects last summer. It makes a very "claylike" mix and cures to a very light weight, but beware! After sitting out for less then a year, they all developed cracks and the litter is washing off the surface. I would not recommend using litter. I have also used the corncob litter and this does not setup. I think it is because of the carbohydrates in it. Always test on small batches before attempting exotic ingrediance.

Jo

ok, so it sounds like using absorbants is not a good idea...hmmm, well I ran out of the stuff so I guess its back to experimenting with other things. I have made a volcano and large basin with the absorbants and will see how long it last :) If there was an easy way to grind up iron ore, now that would make an intersting piece.

Iron ore? Sounds interesting, but wouldn't it rust? Last year we had a project going on the forum using exotic ingrediance. We came up with the strangest things to add to the tufa from feathers to seeds, that sprouted. We had alot of fun and learned many things. Wish we still had that thread to look at cause it had lots of info.
Jo

"If there was an easy way to grind up iron ore..."

Got any bored kids hanging around? Give them a pile of dry dirt, a bowl and some magnets.

Sue

"Iron ore? Sounds interesting, but wouldn't it rust?"

Yeah, thats the idea. I think it would give it a real interesting color. I did try corn in a project and they all sprouted and started growing. Its all fun.

I think if you put the iron ore on the outside, it would be very interesting, but mixing it in may not be a good thing cause the rust may destroy your piece with spalling, I think???? Should ask Tango what he thinks. He is the doctor of rustology. In the meanwhile, polish up those magnets and call out the kids! How about curing your piece in rusty water? Wonder if it would absorb?

Jo

Spalling damage is caused by BIG iron.
Iron ore or small filings shouldn't be a problem.