Comment by scott dobert on April 25, 2011 at 6:23pm

hey guys! i was just browsin and came across your disc here. hope you dont mind but i can give yah another way to go thats also easy and cheap and probably gives more yeild and last but not least you can make it pretty light. but first let me say like you guys i would love to use the pro mixes and will on big customers projects but i too was looking for a cheap alternative to the pro mixes so i could play! so here it is at the depot i buy 1 80# bag of stuccou cement(not preblended with sand just the cement)then i buy 2 bags of sand(make sure it is not just play sand it says on bag for cement mixes).and then one gallon of bonding agent. one 25# bag of perlite from a cement supply store. my basic mix is 5 parts cement 2partsperlite and 2parts sand and about a half cup of bonding agent in the mix. this can be adj for lighter add perlight and reduce sand a bit. for creamier add more cement etc etc play with it!! i have had great luck even in completely upside down applications that were at least 1.5 inch thick and thicker! one draw back when using perlight is the mix can be gritty but a moist sponge wipe of your tool for a bit of wettnes smothes it all out!! hope this helps with some of your issues that you will have w preblended mortars. on a normal vert wall i even achevied 2.75 in thick with no sag1 pretty good for home made stuff good luck and just give me a holla if yah have any ques. p.s. i am not any kind of pro and just got into this 9months ago so please do not take this as im tryin to be know it all cuz im just startin to learn and want to share!!

Comment by Ryan W.Rall on April 25, 2011 at 6:53pm

Wow Scott! ! That helps out alot, I really appreciate your openness & willing attitude to share. Iam headed to HDepot right now. Just curious any thoughts on paint?

Comment by scott dobert on April 25, 2011 at 7:35pm

i spent 6 of the 9 months ive been into this tryin to figure out how to make stuff thats cheap that can also be thick and stays!! as for paint watered out paint works great but dosent stand up to weather as good as a stain. as for stain in the concrete section of the depot there are iron oxides in powder form they usually only carry black,red,and buff combine for diff earth toned colors. DO NOT SPRAY THIS! it will kill your sprayer to many solids. what i do is mix it very little powder with water and sealer like seal crete mate sealer for vertical surfaces also at depot and mix well make sure u smoosh up the wet powder or it just sits there at the bottom of your container. now apply with sponge,brush,rag or any thing else that will allow a bit of pressure  when applying if you rub your application tool on the bottom of the mixing container the color will be intense if you just dip in the fluid after stirring good less intense if not stirred very little color. out door paint thinned then an overlay of this type of stain and maybe a spritz and a splatt blotted of course with a sponge or faux blotting brush over that usually does a great jjob.

Comment by Ryan W.Rall on April 25, 2011 at 8:00pm

Thank you so much for your help,Iam @ H.Depot right now is the perlite like small little white balls or something. Else? Thanks again

Comment by scott dobert on April 25, 2011 at 8:01pm

p.s. be careful w poly it willmake stuff not stick and slide! bonding agent when mixed as an additive makes it real strong and sticky.

Comment by scott dobert on April 25, 2011 at 8:06pm

yep small white almost foam like balls that actually stick to concrete. my home depot dosent carry i have to goto a concrete supply place up the road. but it is fairly common so you shld be able to find it.

Comment by scott dobert on April 25, 2011 at 8:08pm

you dont neeeed pearlight unless lighter weight is your thing just backing off the sand by mixing your own will make it lighter and creamyer. also again the bonding agent helps keep it from cracking and stuff.

Comment by Ryan W.Rall on April 25, 2011 at 10:10pm

Hey Scott !! Back home now, its about 8:00 pm here in Southern California ,its gotta be 9 or 10 where your at. Just wanted to say thanks for all your help, Ive got all the material (except the perlite) I'll try & pick that up later . I'll send you some pics of my first sample board/project. Thanks Again & God Bless :)

Comment by scott dobert on April 26, 2011 at 5:06am

no problm ryan!! glad to help!

Comment by Greg Davis on April 26, 2011 at 6:44am

Hey Scott, great info! I will give that mix a try, I am working on a new project this week. Just practicing, so it will be a great time to test your recipe out. Got the first tear done last night about 11:30 pm, going out to see if I can still do some touch up carving on it this morning. Thanks again and have a great week.   GD

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