It's Like Watching Paint Dry...
...Only less colorful.
This what what I would most like the cottage to resemble, its plaster surface and realistic detail.
The Wall Report: So it's not as heavy as I thought it might be with 32 ozs. of compound slathered on there for a basecoat. It seems to be highly successful wallosity where sufficient amounts were applied. I'm thinking that I might want to use something cheaper as a first coat and use Flex-all as the coup de grace. Or risk spending about $100 worth on wall sludge. The thing is, I used the last bit in the tub on one of the tree branches to see what it would do and I have to say, woo. It seems an ideal last layer of construct before painting as it adhered flawlessly, increased toughness of the finer twigs, and yet remains elastic enough to flex without breakage. Much better than the plaster, matte medium, and acrylic paint concoctive I made to coat the papier mache 3 years ago.
It's definitely not a soggy wall now that it's dry. The shape is completely rigid. It's been wicked hot here these days and hopefully any moisture in the paper cardstock underment will be well dried. "No mold in Halfland!"
Issues: Ma' wooden peg broke when I took out the panel to look more closely at it. Hmm, drill out the hole and replace the wood with a externally-threaded, hardened steel dowel pin?
(From the basics of design engineering: A "stud" is an externally threaded headless fastener. One end usually mates with a tapped component and the other with a standard nut.) *Sounds more like a description of many of the relationships in LA! heh.
Next Step: Try out different compounds on other wall panels. I'll have the walls done before I know it.
Next challenge: How to add a wooden threshold to the panels on either side of the wooden cottage door? I plan to Google some images of country peasant cottage doors to get an idea.
This what what I would most like the cottage to resemble, its plaster surface and realistic detail.
The Wall Report: So it's not as heavy as I thought it might be with 32 ozs. of compound slathered on there for a basecoat. It seems to be highly successful wallosity where sufficient amounts were applied. I'm thinking that I might want to use something cheaper as a first coat and use Flex-all as the coup de grace. Or risk spending about $100 worth on wall sludge. The thing is, I used the last bit in the tub on one of the tree branches to see what it would do and I have to say, woo. It seems an ideal last layer of construct before painting as it adhered flawlessly, increased toughness of the finer twigs, and yet remains elastic enough to flex without breakage. Much better than the plaster, matte medium, and acrylic paint concoctive I made to coat the papier mache 3 years ago.
It's definitely not a soggy wall now that it's dry. The shape is completely rigid. It's been wicked hot here these days and hopefully any moisture in the paper cardstock underment will be well dried. "No mold in Halfland!"
Issues: Ma' wooden peg broke when I took out the panel to look more closely at it. Hmm, drill out the hole and replace the wood with a externally-threaded, hardened steel dowel pin?
(From the basics of design engineering: A "stud" is an externally threaded headless fastener. One end usually mates with a tapped component and the other with a standard nut.) *Sounds more like a description of many of the relationships in LA! heh.
Next Step: Try out different compounds on other wall panels. I'll have the walls done before I know it.
Next challenge: How to add a wooden threshold to the panels on either side of the wooden cottage door? I plan to Google some images of country peasant cottage doors to get an idea.
Sounds good! I tell ya what... I wasn't too sure about the whole wooden peg thing to begin with really. I'm sure you;'ll solve it nicely though. Hey, maybe you can divorce the stud and get everything it owns? Er... maybe not.......
ReplyDeleteYou ought to go with regular plaster from here on out. A bag of it that will do the whole cottage costs probably about the same as one tub of the compound.
Thanks, Mikeee, So now I'm gittin' the pit'chr that when you don't comment on something I post--that you don't want to say anything because you're agin'it and you're too polite to cast doubts and throw cold water and be a wet blanket.
ReplyDeleteMike's silence = Shelley's "independent learning opportunity" LOL! XD
By the way, I forgot for a second time to credit that model window shot, it is the amazing miniature work of Noel and Pat Thomas (http://www.thomasopenhouse.com/house_sale.html) but lousey photos there.
There is an old article with better photos in May '92 issue of Nutshell News available at (http://www.c-we.com/wild.orchid/nutshell.htm for $3.50)
Yea shellster, I agree with mike on this one, quit buying the 1 quart tubs of stuff and go for the 50lb bags of plaster at the local home depot or lowes. Mix it as you need it and save bundle.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to wear a hard hat.
You must have posted a link to the Noel and Pat Thomas site before, because I think I remember seeing it. They sure do some amazing work, lots of good reference stuff too.
Dearest Dewds, There's one thing you are perhaps missing---Flex-All Is F-L-E-X-I-B-L-E!!! I'll use it to backfill the mesh but the finished surface is way more controllable and decidely uncrumbly. It's loaded with creamy acrylic copolymer goodness!! It's limestone, water, ethylene glycol and essentially plastizer. And the texture is sweet. Like I said, I used to mix my own version by adding matte medium (expensive!) in but even then it would crack and crumble if stressed (that sounds strangely familiar!)
ReplyDeleteThe little test branch I coated with it is fantastic, I think I've got to at least topcoat the tree with it. Unless...Mike--is this a code orange? (that's when Mike LETS me make a mistake due to my pig-headedness)
oops, I meant to say that I'll use bag o' plaster to backfill.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Mark, I did mention the Thomas' early on in this blog, good recall!
ReplyDeleteherself said...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mikeee, So now I'm gittin' the pit'chr that when you don't comment on something I post--that you don't want to say anything because you're agin'it and you're too polite to cast doubts and throw cold water and be a wet blanket.
Well, yeah, sometimes. Actually in this case it wasn't really like that.... I kinda had doubts, but it's not like I had a solution to offer or anything. I kinda thought you had something figr't out that I wasn't getting.
But sometimes I just honestly gots nuttin ta say, ya know? I don't know... it's kinda weird... I don't want us all to feel like we have to make comments on every post each of us makes... that'd get weird after a while. I think, if you got something to say, say it, and if ya don't, then let it go.
Oh, and I'm thinkin you might wanna go with some nice big flathead screws from under the table... like tie-down scews for the walls. Not sure if they'll fit that close together though. Heh... that might be what you already said though?
Oh, got it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea, Mikeee!
Shell