Post #6639 by KahunaMilu on Fri, Aug 23, 2002 4:52 PM

OK, before I get to the coloring, I found the following handy tip. The book(let) is on making pots and planters, so that is why it refers to "containers"."After the container has air-dried for at least one week, you can greatly enhance the 'stone' appearance by cleaning and washing it...This treatment will give your containers a look and feel very much like real lava rock with its many small holes and rough texture...

"With a wire brush from the hardware, brush all outside surfaces. This wll remove the thin unbonded cement shell which will have formed over all the small bits of peat moss filler. Suddenly an almost smooth surface will become that of a very old rock which is full of small holes and fissures similar to those formed by foreign matter in a rock. Continue to brush until you get the effect you want. Round all sharp edges by brushing. The idea is to eliminate all evidence that this is anything other than an ancient and weather worn stone carving. The bits of peat moss will be brushed out, leaving only small random holes. Any air bubbles left by the casting process will blend right into the scheme of things! When most loose dust has been brushed away, wash the container with a hard blast from a water hose. Allow the container to dry for several days before proceeding."

Next up: Water-proofing and Staining

[ Edited by: KahunaMilu on 2002-08-23 16:55 ]