Hi donn:
(your 1st photo isn't showing up?)

Yes. Absolutely you can use it as a mold (as long as you really CAN deflate the thing!) You need to experiment first to see exactly how small of a diameter it gets down to when deflated. Since I can't see the 1st photo, not sure exactly what you're wanting to make.

Also,you'll need to use a release agent, so the hypertufa won't stay stuck to the buoy.

Tell you what, here's some really good how-to information and a diagram that should set you on the right track. The article explains just what you're wanting to do, and there is a link in the information to educate you on release agents. Lots more hypertufa info on the website, too.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hollow Garden Sphere Instructions

Thanks, cfb. The link for that first photo may no longer be valid, so I saved my cached image, and put it on photobucket. See if this works:

{{gwi:75602}}

EGADS!! That is pretty amazing. How much does a vessel like that cost? (I assume you took the photo at an art fair??)

Definitely get all your ducks in a row before you undertake this project! Let's just say I'd suggest you make your vessel in the spot where you wish it to reside, that is unless you've got some really strong friends to help you move it into your garden (or wherever) once it's cured enough to safely move.

Good luck!

I snitched the photo from their website, linked below. They're made in New Mexico, and on display at a variety of places, including the Albuquerque airport, and a large nursery. I understand they range from $5,000-$12,000, not including freight and insurance. Something that size would cost another few thousand to ship to me.

I have a fantasy of a pot like that sitting on my boardwalk, with a large arching ornamental grass planted in it.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Mexico Pots

Hi donn-

Yep. Those big old pots are on display as public art along the freeway.

I think you have a great opportunity to recreate these pots with your buoy.

Remember that even though hypertufa is lighter than conventional concrete, something that big is not going to be light, so build it where you want it to live or on a platform that you can forklift in place, or something.

Be sure to reinforce the sides with rebar and lath so it can handle the dirt if you plan to fill it up as a planter.

At the children's garden in the bio park here, they built 8 ft replicas of terra cotta pots that are amazingly realistic, so the sky (literally?) is the limit in fabricating large vessels.

Good luck!

Jo in New Mexico

Hello all,
I'm the webmaster for Desert Blooms, the business that makes the large Native American pots. Here are their website links:

http://www.nmpots.com

http://www.desertblooms.biz

They have really neat SW landscaping art and are really nice people. Also, the pots are hollow and would accept a tree or plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: spingo portfolio

My goodness, those guys must have some huge kilns!

I wonder if a thin concrete would be better for something this size rather than hypertufa. Rickharmer's mymud recipe would probably be the place to start but whatever you use it's going to be a heck of a project. (Fingers crossed that the inflation point on your buoy is at the top where you'll be able to get to it and not at the bottom so you'll have to wreck the buoy - this might be something you need to have a couple of goes at!)