I don't know if chicken wire is the best choice because the openings are so large. You could wrap it with two layers so that the openings overlap I suppose.

I haven't done tufa in awhile, so maybe someone else has a better suggestion.

But to get tufa onto any kind of armature, just mix the tufa really dry, so it'll stick together enough to make 'hamburger patties'.

Gently pat them onto the wire frame close together, and when it's all covered, let cure until it's set enough to play with.

Then smooth out the edges a bit with any kind of scraping tool, and then coat the whole thing with another layer of tufa, slightly wetter to make an even surface.

Hope that helps!

Nancy

Thanks Nancy, that is useful info. I hadn't thought of putting on a smoothing layer. Is there a point where it is too dry/cured to put another layer on? As for the holes being too big, maybe I should wrap my chicken-wire armature in newspaper, so the 'tufa won't squish inside the holes too much? Though I was kinda hoping to make the wire an integral part of it for strength--like the reinforcing rebar sometimes used in concrete

Bernee, if you haven't tried the hamburger patty idea it works great. I was so happy when I finally tried that idea. Seems to speed up the molding process for me. Just be sure to squish them together enough. Billie also advised me to use hot dogs shapes. It makes it easier to see how thick it is. Hum, wonder if you could get some kind of coiled effect?

You are saying temp strength on the vase. Are you using it as a mold and going to remove it? Or is it over a mold of some kind to be a permanent part? I realize it will be if you put turfa on it. Or is it that you feel you need the chicken wire because it is going to be that big? Just questions I'm tossing around in my head. I don't exactly have the answers, just trying to learn from it. Keep us posted on the vase. You can probably work on turfa year around without dragging in inside somewhere. I want to try some BIG pots/vases. I haven't done anything with armature and not sure where to start. Kathy