Side view Tiki Mail box
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Comment by Ryan W.Rall on April 20, 2011 at 8:43pm
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WOW !!!! Greg for a first time you really hit a home run!! Looks very authentic &real
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Comment by Greg Davis on April 21, 2011 at 8:16am
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Thanks Very Much Ryan, I am happy with the first run at it. Of course I can pick it apart but I hope to improve on my technics with time. Nice to have a site like VA.com to show us the ropes, really helps with the learning curve. Thanks again GD
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How much material do you think you used on the mailbox?
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Ryan I think I used a bag of stucco mix plus the sand about 16 shovels full on the scratch coat. On the stone work I went heavy, plus I was experimenting with the mix. Each batch was a bit different but I think it took about two bags per side and three on the front side do to the face. I did waist a bit though being an amateur. I was using 60# bags of mortar plus some admixes. GD
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Interesting, thanks for the info, yeah my problem is I live here in Southern California and all material supply houses are in the Midwest shipping gets a bit expensive.
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Hey Ryan no problem at all. I am going through the same thing, I live in a small town in florida and have no access to pre mixed mud either. Cost more to ship the stuff than to buy it. I do agree with the pros though, it would be nice to just open and mix. If I was doing it for pay, I would do it that way and charge it in the job. I am doing for fun and want to be able to do a lot of it, I think the pros would agree you can do it with out the fancy mix and get good results. I use the pro finish quick crete mortar ( sets slower) with a little polymer and concrete mesh. worked ok for me on the mail box, would like to lighten it up a bit though. Next project I will be doing that and fine tuning my mix. Just mix some mud and carve it, hell at $5 bucks a bag what do you have to loose is the way I look at it. Not sure if you are a member to the Vertical Artisans.com site but your sing up fee is Money well spent. He gives up years of experience on that site for a very fair price. I was very confident after a couple days on the site and think I will be much better because of the knowledge he shares. Best of luck. GD
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Thanks Greg I didn't realize it was that simple,I thought I had to use a special wall mix,for my project to come out right. And I wholeheartedly agree the V/A website is one of the best investments I have ever made! .So its that easy huh? Just go buy some Mason Mix add some polymer and Iam ready to carve right?
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Ryan, full disclosure here you are talking to an amateur. But yes that is what I did on the mail box. Do not want the folks on here to think I am a know it all, seeings I have only carved one piece to this point. I just went through the same concerns you are having, but felt much more confident after braking the ice and getting a little practice. Wet a bag of mud slap it on something and carve it!!! Bets of luck GD
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Thanks, that's just the sort've encouragement I needed. I'll keep you posted,be looking for somepiccs from me. By The way, what did you use for paint?
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Cool Ryan, go for it. I used H&C semi transparent decorative stains from Sherwin-Williams paint store. I have a commercial account with them but this stuff is not cheap. I paid about $50 a gallon and that was a special price. I was pretty happy with it, but I got carried away early on and got the rock a bit dark for my liking. Hard to lighten it back up after it is on. I used some of Nathan's trixs to lighten it back up a bit though. I will do it in more layers next time and give it some time to dry in between. Think I may try some of the other recommended stains out there in the future to compare. Good luck keep me posted GD
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