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submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by wiegell@feddit.dk to c/diy@beehaw.org

All recommendations are welcome. In particular how to vibrate a two part mold without it breaking apart. I did not weigh the mix and water, but i suspect i used too much water. Also added about 2% plasticizer.

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[-] jay2@beehaw.org 4 points 14 hours ago

Hi. I'm a refractory designer. I have over 30 years of experience in creating linings for industrial furnaces with bricks and monolithics, including what we would call 'Precast shapes' of which this would be included.

Those are definitely air pockets stemming from the pour that were not vibrated out. It could be your aggregate size is making it difficult. I don't know the product you are using, but often there are 'fine' versions that feature a smaller grain size just for better consistency when pouring. I would never recommend gunning something like this.

As far as vibration goes, they sell industrial vibrators with long rubber mixing tips. I might have video from a few of my precast shapes showing a large precast shape getting vibrated. Everything about it just screams dildo and you feel silly, but it is what it is, and it does work.

You'll know if you add too much water. It will be brittle and fail if you can even get the mold released. More water is never a solution. Better PH is superior to more water.

Vibration can be achieved by building an outer box for your foam insert. Wood can work for something this size probably, but metal would be best. You can then use any vibratory method that works. Pour direction matters too, but it opens ugly doors like lifting and drying.

[-] wiegell@feddit.dk 1 points 2 hours ago

Thank you for the elaborate response. The second batch is now vibrated a whole lot more than the first one and i weighed the mixed beforehand. It’s just a premixed bag for setting posts i’ve used. 0-8mm. It’s really a pleasure to see the concrete vibrate into place. I am curious whether i’ve now also vibrated the pour down between the two parts of the mold too… We’ll see in a few days i guess.

[-] jay2@beehaw.org 1 points 25 minutes ago

The grain size is small enough. and you appear to be pouring upside down (thumbs up). I think all along it was only the vibration. You may have a breakout. Hard to use last pour for a volumetric comparison if the mix ratio changed. Yeah, I hope it went well.

Weighing and adjusting for temp/ph is also key. These control the chemical reaction and thus the end result.

this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2025
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