Author Topic: Da sidewalk in progress (Read 675 times)

Maverick · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2006, 11:43:02 AM »

Looks VERY good Dred! I wish I had that type of skills when I had our regular houses.

Nilsen · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2006, 11:47:44 AM »

looking real good dreid

wanna come over and do mine? its only 100 square feet or so but ill pay you in beer, sammiches and pats on the shoulder when you are done for the day. if you are realy unlucky you get to see the missus sunbathe topless too, or both of us skinnydipping.

xrtoronto · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2006, 11:53:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
lor both of us skinnydipping.

...umm...does that mean: a) you and the wifey or b) you and dred?

Is SOB invited?

Nilsen · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2006, 12:01:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by xrtoronto
...umm...does that mean: a) you and the wifey or b) you and dred?

Is SOB invited?

Sure he can join, but with a reduction in the number of beer and/or sammiches.

SOB already signed up last year. The missus wasnt too happy, but as you must have gathered by now she aint too picky

xrtoronto · « **Reply #19 on:** May 29, 2006, 12:18:10 PM »

Well, sounds like a plan ... carry on!:)

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #20 on:** May 29, 2006, 06:46:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by xrtoronto
Lookin' Good Dred!

ps: check with you neighbour Tony Soprano ... he may want to bury someone under there!;)

Did that already.
Lets just say a certain former union leader has a new home

Quote

Originally posted by Maverick
Looks VERY good Dred! I wish I had that type of skills when I had our regular houses.

It really isnt all that hard. The hardest parts are mixing the cement. Which after the first thirty 80 lb bags isnt as easy as I remember from 24 years ago

And trying to keep the from staining more then one stone at a time. And even that's not a big deal as you just use a different color and incorporate it into the next.

There are some imperfections but Im finding they only add to it rather then make it look bad.
because its supposed to look like stone. and I rarely see two stones that are perfect.
the perfection is actually in the imperfections
(that's my story and Im sticking to it LOL)

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
looking real good dreid

wanna come over and do mine? its only 100 square feet or so but ill pay you in beer, sammiches and pats on the shoulder when you are done for the day. if you are realy unlucky you get to see the missus sunbathe topless too, or both of us skinnydipping.

Heh after this. I'd be charging mega bucks to do it for someone else.

The thought of you and your wife skinny dipping has some appeal to it though So maybe we can work something out

Quote

Originally posted by xrtoronto
...umm...does that mean: a) you and the wifey or b) you and dred?

Is SOB invited?

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Sure he can join, but with a reduction in the number of beer and/or sammiches.

SOB already signed up last year. The missus wasnt too happy, but as you must have gathered by now she aint too picky

Hmmm there are several different ways I would love to respond to this. Each of which would probably be modded to death LOL

But As for Nilsen, his wife, and me. In a pool together

Think rotisserie

LMAO

Nilsen · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2006, 12:53:19 AM »

ROFL

lazs2 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2006, 08:51:30 AM »

dred.... I have two of those molds still in the shrink wrap in my living room.... bought em last month. I got the rectangular pattern tho.

I have two driveways that had wood 4x4 blocks on end as a filler between em for year and they are rotted out and loose... gonna do the fake stone thing... funny thing... was gonna dye em red. I figured with the molds I could just do a section or two at a time.

The molds you have seem to be taller... mine are only a couple of inches deep.

lazs

Brenjen · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2006, 08:59:33 AM »

Looks like way too much work, I used to make conrete yard turds (birdbaths benches pick-a-nick tables etc) I have to force my self to stop when I'm out playing around in my 4X4 to pick up rock for my path & the wifes flower bed borders.

But you are doing a fine job, looks professional.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:18:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
dred.... I have two of those molds still in the shrink wrap in my living room.... bought em last month. I got the rectangular pattern tho.

I have two driveways that had wood 4x4 blocks on end as a filler between em for year and they are rotted out and loose... gonna do the fake stone thing... funny thing... was gonna dye em red. I figured with the molds I could just do a section or two at a time.

The molds you have seem to be taller... mine are only a couple of inches deep.

lazs

Nope. Mine are only a couple of inches deep also.

in a nutshell
What I am doing is taking a 2X4 form in the shape of a U and placing the open end against the last section Then I pour the cement into the wood form, Level and smooth it out. then press the mold into the top of the cement.
then I wait till it starts to set but not so as its hard.
I remove the mold and smooth out the edges of the stones with a damp brush then move onto the next section.
The cement itself is several inches thick as you can see. but the mold itself is only pressed into that part way. Those lines do not go all the way through exept where the sections but up against one another.

the lines you see running down the sides Vertically from top of cement to the ground are all done by hand using either stick or trowel and only go in about and inch if that.

I find it easier to do itt his way then the way any of the instructions I 've found where they say to place the mold in the location you want, then fill the mold.
Unless the cement is VERY wet (slushie). You end up with alot of voids when you remove the mold.
Its far easier just to form out the section them press the mold into it making an impression in the cement

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:25:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Brenjen
Looks like way too much work, I used to make conrete yard turds (birdbaths benches pick-a-nick tables etc) I have to force my self to stop when I'm out playing around in my 4X4 to pick up rock for my path & the wifes flower bed borders.

But you are doing a fine job, looks professional.

thank you very much.
There are a couple F ups in it but they only seem to make it look better

It is alot of work. I first did a second "test area" in the front of my house to try to figure out how think I was going to want it and how many bags of mix I was gonna need (its always more then you initially figure LOL).

Most of the "work" though is simply in mixing the stuff. Which I am doing by hand using a hoe and masons shell.

Giving my arms,chest and stomach a great workout.
I wouldnt want to be on the receiving end of a punch from me right now LMAO

The rest of the stuff is actually pretty easy.

the worst of it is that the cement reallly dries my hands out and they end up feeling like 10 grit sandpaper. So Im going through alot of lotion

Brenjen · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2006, 08:23:21 AM »

Quote

the worst of it is that the cement reallly dries my hands out and they end up feeling like 10 grit sandpaper. So Im going through alot of lotion

Yeah it will do that. On a side note, wear a dust mask if you plan on mixing a lot of concrete in the future if you don't already. The dust will cause your lungs to begin to bleed ever so slightly over time. I was coughing up pink for a couple of months.

Also, what are you using as a mold release/lube? We used old transmission fluid in our molds, that stuff made my hands swell & itch & eventually slplit open. You may have some non-stick molds that don't require any lube to release the concrete properly; I wouldn't know....I stayed far away from concrete work after my run in with it

After my hands began getting irritated by the fluid, I was moved to the mixer full time, those bags of concrete & shoveling wet sand will give you some upper body strength you can feel.

lazs2 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 31, 2006, 08:38:06 AM »

Thanks dred.... wondered if I could press the forms in from the top. The reason I bought two forms was the width. I have a distance between two driveways to fill.... this might mean that I have to cut one of the forms down a few times to fit. pressing in from the top will simplify greatly..

It says to use 60 lb pre mix.... I assume you used 80 pounders because your idea takes more cement?

lazs

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #28 on:** May 31, 2006, 08:13:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Brenjen
[B
Also, what are you using as a mold release/lube?
I those bags of concrete & shoveling wet sand will give you some upper body strength you can feel. [/B]

No lube. Im only letting it sit there till it starts to set. Too much longer and its becomes too hard to smooth out the edges.

Ya.
Feeling Strong like bear;)

Mr Big · « **Reply #29 on:** May 31, 2006, 08:27:23 PM »

That looks reall good Dred.