Hey Rick --- you are the kind of experimenter we like here and I'm sure everyone would love to see some pix of your projects. Keep it up!

hi,
thanks and I filled a few more jars today. I,ve seen a lot of people use globes and other glass . but the recycle center no longer takes jars so I have a lot ,
I put a bolt in the top so when turned over it will stick into the ground for ?? edging. but the variety of shapes is huge.
will the glass mostly break off even from the one s I did not spray with pam????
and does anyone use chelated iron for concrete dye???
I use this on scrap and slag pcs and they look like real rock in the garden .
also can anything go wrong b adding some stain to the jars after they cure for a week or so . ??? thanks.
Rick

It sure would be great to see some photos!! Your ideas sound unique and interesting.
Laura

Most forms of mineralized iron work very well indeed as concrete stains. Not sure what effect the chelation has on this application, but I use ferrous oxide all the time in and on my sculptures. It simply "oxidizes" and forms rust which is a very permenent stain that only a strong acid will attack. Mineral oxides are a broad and ancient category of colorants that are cheap and very effective, especially useful for concrete & cement.

hi,
thanks the chealated iron was something I read or? somewhere and it is easy to get the first bag was scrap from gma,s garage I just mixed a bucket of water and this and threw a lot of scrap in. over a summer looks great , rocks are a commodity around here so I like it all . the other I used was pellets and had to dissolve it is not as strng a color.
and thank you I knew I came here for a reason I have not done much for mo,s and remembered last spring I took a lg sidewalk pc. in the yd, and covered it with railroad spikes and nails and teaspoons of rust in a pattern and sprayed it with vinegar?? and cover it with plastic , well I just pulled all the weeds off and it looks cool . no promises on any pics though but the jars are what I really want to see.
my big plan for this summer was to fill all the coffee cans and oatmeal boxes I have (over a 100) with crete and dye to make furn. and a wall for a greenhouse with but now I don,t know?? also have 100,s of cups that make great border.
what I used for stepping stones is a barrel hoop. big stones thanks rick

Hi Tango
I need more info on oxidizing iron.
Can you get a nice orange color.
I've been fiddling with iron fillings from my grindstone but haven't got any exciting results.
Is there a best iron to use to get a deep rusty color.

I'm wondering if I can get the purdy green that copper get's when it oxidizes.
I've been meaning to grind up some old copper pipe and see.
So many things to try and so little time.:)

tufaenough --- the ferrous oxide I use comes in large, cheap bags as a nutritional supplement for crops & critters. You can get it through any agricultural supplier. As you have no doubt discovered by now, predicting colors in and on concrete is the hard part as there are so many "unknowns" involved that affect the final tone and density. However, I've found the ferrous oxide to be pretty consistent and predictable in that the color is always..."Rust"...shades of yellow-gold to almost red. Variables seem limited to concentration of the solution you apply (how much you mix in a given volume of water)...how long you leave it on...and the density of the concrete or cement you apply it to. The higher the concentration and the longer you leave it...the darker and more concentrated the color...but these two factors take a backseat to the density of the concrete/cement mix. "Standard" concrete formulations will take this type of stain very well, however, if you "densify" the mix with admixtures, fortifiers and such...or use a very "lean" mixture such as neat Portland...the color effect can be minimal. For more info on various oxides take a look at the Bayer link below...they produce a wide range of oxide colorants as well as the aspirins that they are better known for. Just don't get them confused if you have a hangover.

Here is a link that might be useful: Of Oxides & Aspirins...

Thanks Tango
Color is driving me nuts because I only use integrated colors. It is so hard to keep it consistant.
I would love a good orange and purple to fill out my pallet.
The following I wrote in another group today about my frustrations with colors:

I WISH concrete pigments worked like paint but they don't.
Blue and red made brown.:(
Red and yellow make brown.:(
In fact none of the mixes give you an expected color although green and blue
pigments do give you a green/blue but it's a muddy color.
You can spend a lifetime mixing pigments trying to figure out the colors you will get.
I am experimenting as fast as I can.
I mix measured amounts of white portland, white sand and pigments in coffee
cans. I then label the can with the recipe. Some recipes have other stuff like
iron fillings, brass filings.
Every time I think up a new recipe I mix it up in a coffee can and label it.

Right now I have at least 25 cans of recipes waiting for me to find the time to
add water and make my test bricks.

It's fun but more of an indoor winter project.