Legs legs legs- I am so excited to put the finish coat on the left side legs and cross bar of Griffin and Alex’s bench. .
Before the finish coat
Once I start working on the piece it can not be moved - movement liquifies the concrete until it sets. I have the piece angled to give me more room to work.
Step 1- safety gear. The cement mixture creates a lot of dust before the liquid ingredients go in. During this period I usually wear a throw away protective face mask. I did not try to buy any but I am sure due to Covid 19 the stores are sold out. These are my concrete overalls. They live in the garage.
Step 2 - paint the bonding liquid on the legs. As the bonding liquid dries I mix the dry ingredients for 15 minutes.
Step 3, 4, 5
I mix the dry and wet ingredients for 20 minutes.
Once the dry ingredients and wet ingredients are mixed I clean up the concrete mixer and paint on a slurry of bonding mix and cement.
Step 6, 7
I apply the concrete by hand to the legs and build up the areas that get knots and gnarls
then I take tools and add the texture and cracks.
Legs finished
Detail of the top of the front two legs in a tight hug
View from the backside
Where the back leg connects with the back of the bench.
Step 8- the piece hydrates for 5 days 🧐I check it twice a day to make sure the humidifier is full of water and functioning properly.