DiamondCRETE is very
easy to mix and needs no additional reinforcement. If you follow these instructions,
you will find it easy and fun to make garden stones for all kinds of uses.
Materials
Needed
DiamondCRETE Water at room
temperature Pair of rubber kitchen gloves for mixing by hand
Two buckets large enough to hold the
amount you are mixing
Two measuring cups - one for dry mix
and one for water
Contact paper to hold your glass in
place
Mold
Petroleum jelly or mold release
Mixing
Instructions for All Colors
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Special Mixing Instructions
for the Color Gray:
To prevent black streaks in
the top of your stone, be sure to use less than the 2 oz of water per cup of DiamondCRETE.
Mix the Gray DiamondCRETE to a thick batter consistency and pour immediately to prevent
black streaks from forming.
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1.
Prepare your mold by using a petroleum jelly or mold release product to lightly coat the
mold. This will prevent the DiamondCRETE from attaching to the mold and allow it to
be removed easily.
2.
Place your glass with the top of the glass down so it is stuck to the contact paper so
that it will be upside down in the mold. Place the contact paper with your glass in
the prepared mold. Make sure that backside of the glass is facing up when you place it in
the mold. This will mean the side you want to show on the top of the stone will be
facing the bottom of the mold.
3.
Pre-measure the DiamondCRETE using the dry measuring cup. Shake the cup to level the
measurement. Place all the dry DiamondCRETE in one bucket. If you are mixing
the DiamondCRETE colors, do so at this time in the powder form and hold back some of the
mixed dry powder for filling any air holes after the stone is removed from the mold.
4.
Pre-measure the water in the following way: 2 ounces per each dry
cup of DiamondCRETE you are using. Pour approximately two-thirds of the water in the
other bucket and hold back some of the water as you may not need to use it all.
5.
Wearing rubber kitchen gloves is recommended while mixing DiamondCRETE. Add some of
the dry DiamondCRETE mix to the water and stir vigorously. By adding the dry mix to the
water it will mix easier and it will also help you to add the correct amount of water.
Keep adding DiamondCRETE to the water until it becomes so dry that it is difficult to mix,
then add small amounts of water (drops at a time) and continue mixing until you have all
the dry mix in and the consistency is that of a thick malt/milkshake. You may not
need all of the pre-measured water so DO NOT PUT IT IN! The light pigments (Antique
White or Powder Blue) require less water than do the dark pigments (Charcoal). TOO
MUCH WATER IN THE MIX WILL WEAKEN YOUR STONE AND CAUSE PROBLEMS DURING SETUP, CURING AND
AS THE STONE AGES. TOO MUCH WATER IS THE MOST DAMAGING THING YOU CAN DO TO THE
STONE. If you put to much water in the mix as you are mixing you can add additional powder
to get the consistency of a thick malt/milkshake. You may end of with more
DiamondCRETE than you need for the particular mold you are pouring, but the stone will be
stronger and will have less chance of damage as it ages.
6.
Once the mixture has reach the right consistency of a thick malt/milkshake continue mixing
vigorously, putting energy in to the mixing, for about 2 to 5 minutes. You may use a
drill motor with a mixing blade to get the energy in to the mixing. This will help
to activate the chemicals in the stone to make setup faster and the stone stronger.
If the mixture starts to heat up, pour immediately.
7.
As you pour this thick malt/milkshake mixture into the mold, it is recommended that you do
so gently. Using one hand to pour through will help keep the glass from moving.
Place your hand with fingers open close to the glass in the mold and allow the
DiamondCRETE mixture to pour gently into and through your hand into the mold. Tap gently
for about 30 seconds on the edge of the mold or on the table to release the air bubbles.
8.
DO NOT MOVE THE MOLD DURING THE SETUP TIME (green stage). Moving the mold may cause
unseen fractures in the stone, which will become evident as the stone ages. If you
think you might have to move the mold during this time, place it on a solid board (bread
board) to move it.
9.
Clean up your buckets while your stone is setting up. DO NOT RINSE IN THE SINK.
DiamondCRETE will set up in your plumbing and clog your pipes. Use a
garden hose outside or keep a large (5 gal) bucket close by your mixing area to rinse the
buckets and other tools. You can let it dry in the bucket and crack it out later but
this method does not clean the bucket as well as rinsing it in a large bucket or with the
hose.
10.
DiamondCRETE stones may be removed from the mold in about an hour depending on the
temperature and humidity of the area you are working in. You may leave the stone in the
mold longer (up to 5 to 6 hours) but it is not recommended to leave it in over night.
Correctly mixed DiamondCRETE will go through three stages during setup. It will be
cold, wet and soft in the beginning, turning warm to hot and damp during setup and finally
in the harden stage will feel cool to cold and drier. At this stage it is ready to
be removed gently from the mold.
11.
Turn the mold upside down and the stone should slip easily out of the mold. If it does
not, gently press in the center of the mold to release the stone.
12. Remove
the contact paper from the top of the stone and clean the DiamondCRETE from the top of the
glass. Check for air bubbles, which might have left some pinholes in the
stone. Using the remaining dry mixed powder and a small amount of water, make a
paste. A small container such as a paper cup works well for this step. Apply
the paste (grout) to the pinholes and smooth. Wipe clean with a paper towel. Filling
these pinholes prevents water from setting in the stone and later causing the stone to
crack.
13.
Place your stone on pencils, wood blocks or a vented shelving unit to allow airflow around
the entire stone. The stone needs to cure in a warm room (approximately 65 to 70
degrees) for 28 days to be sure all of the water has evaporated from the stone.
14. It
is important to seal your stone with a good concrete/masonry or tile sealer.
Follow the instructions on the bottle. Seal all sides, top and bottom with two coats to
insure maximum coverage.