Brainstorming a concrete casting project

Creative Arts
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Hello,

I would like to cast 3 concrete planters but I have no idea what the best or most appropriate material would be to build/form given the tools available at DMS. Do any of you have any experience with something similar? I thank you in advance. The planters would be about 30" H x 14" W but I am very flexible on the dimensions… somewhere close to those numbers.

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Check out Instructables for some ideas, insights, and inspirations:

https://www.instructables.com/howto/concrete+planter/

(apologies for the accidental alliteration!)

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Thank you! I’ll check it out.

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You might look into fiber reinforcement that is specifically available for concrete use, and maybe using some pearlite in the mix to lighten it. Of course, you get too much, (by accident, or intent) and it will age to a porous surface after the first freeze.

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my experience would be to use OSB with some construction plastic over it for the outside, reinforced with some 2x2 (I used a 2x4 sawed in half), and some insulation foam for the inside (or just styrofoam if you can find a piece that is big enough)

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also, like @kbraby said, look into using some sort of reinforcement. my recommendation would be some sort of wire mesh, like chicken wire or something.

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Pink insulation board for sure. Multicam finger joint it if you want to be fancy or are making multiple

Speaking of, can a girl get an advanced Multicam class in here so I can do it too

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here are some plans for the form that i roughed out. tjhey were made assuming 0.75" wall thickness. the dotted line on the OSB is where you attach the slanted edge of one of the other pieces of OSB, the OSB square goes on the bottom, and the four OSB pieces form the outside of the mold, and the four foam pieces form the inside of the mold

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That is very nice of you! Thank you and thank you to the rest of y’all helping with this project! Much appreciated.

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BTW… I made a rough attempt a few months back building from plywood and one thing I needed to improve is the even spacing between the inside and outside mold/case… I am thinking some kind of fixed spacers.

Thanks again,
David