Cast marble with your hands - complete instructions and tested mixtures

finishing various surfaces of natural stone in mind the high price of the material is not available to everyone.In addition, self-hewing to do is difficult, as it requires some experience + appropriate tool, and also hired craftsmen services are not cheap.And the selection of products made of polymer desired hue is associated with many problems.

the way, is the name often applied to different samples of artificial marble.But this is not entirely correct.Polymer-called stone made based resin, although it is applicable not always.

optimal solution to the problem - to organize the production of casting marble with his own hands at home.Consider the basic species such imitation of natural materials, which are nothing more than a hardened mixture of certain ingredients and excipients (+ various additives as plasticizers, colorants, additives and so on).The apparent advantage of this method is that it is possible to get exactly (in shape, color, and so on) that you want to and not be satisfied with what we have available at the point of sale.Save time, nerves and money is obvious.

owner himself knows that he needs to make and in what quantities - a vase, a table-top, wall tiles, a sink or something else.Depend on it and the parameters of shapes and volumes of materials procurement.But the overall structure of the basic tools and materials for the production of casting marble does not change significantly.Let us consider that we need:

Accessories (if necessary):

• form;
• mold halves.

Materials:

• filler.Often in his role as advocates marble chips, but to reduce the cost of "production" can be used silica sand, crushed gravel, even for the preparation of concrete mixture (DSP).All samples depends on the dimensions (primarily the thickness) and the destination;
• polyester resin, an alcohol-based, unsaturated (eg, Mo-12);gypsum;chalk or cement (depending on the particular recipe);
• hardener (for strength);
• dyes;
• grease (isolation) - gelcoat;
• colorless gel.

All necessary materials are desirable to acquire in specialized stores.Sellers will help you choose the required components.At least, they know this is often better than those who trade "on the street" (in small special stock markets and the like).The last and then claim a show does not work, if they will.

Mouldmaking

First of all, you need to decide at some point:

• a matrix is ​​needed for 1 time or it is supposed to re-use?In the latter case it is advisable to do a folding design;
• strength (in fact it is poured into a mixture characterized by a certain weight, and it depends on the size of shape, including and depth);
• what should be the front surface of cast marble - smooth or corrugated?The last option may be the manufacture of tiles, although this is rarely the case.

unlimited choice of materials for the matrix.The main criteria - the required durability and ease of use.This can be plaster, polyurethane, rubber, plastic, wooden box (or frame with glass bottom).

Sometimes the matrix is ​​divided into sectors - mold halves.This is useful in the manufacture of small (single-type) sample of the same mixture (original mass production).

Preparation matrix

The interior surfaces are covered with grease.She therefore called "separation" that protects the form of a mixture of adhesion.Although if surface treatment cast marble (grinding) is expected later, the master cost and thin film p / e, which is placed inside.The meaning of this step is clear.

Kneading

simple technology.The main requirement to the mass - and the lack of uniformity of lumps (coarse particles).Therefore, in the cooking process must be carefully stirring the mixture.Greatly facilitate this task the use of technical means.For example, the construction of the mixer (for large volumes) or E / drills.The nozzle is made of thick wire (in the form of a "butterfly" or something like that).

But a mixture of components for cast marble and their relationship - a separate issue.More about this later.

Loading matrix

After filling weight must be removed from her air bubbles.Often this is done by hand, banal "pierce" the solution over the entire area.A more effective method - setting the matrix on a vibrating table (if available).

intensity curing cast marble is determined by the room temperature, the equity ratio of the components and the "boot" of thickness, so it may take half an hour to half a day.

After downloading the entire mass of artificial marble form covered film p / e.This prevents occurrence of cracks on the surface during evaporation.

«breakup" and additional processing

Ready sample is taken out of the matrix.After his inspection of a decision on the feasibility of machining and finish polishing.

Mixture injection marble

composition depends on the destination of the samples.Here are some tried and tested recipes practice.

On the basis of cement

sand (quartz) - 2h, cement - 1 hour Mix well and add a filler (fine gravel or crushed gravel, granite better)..Mix again and enter, if desired, additives (colorants, plasticizer).All the components are added in portions, while stirring constantly produced.

It should be the highest priority be given to pigments.They need to work carefully, because you can always add, but remove the excess dye is unlikely to succeed.Readiness is judged by the weight uniformity and its shade (monophonic, with veins and so on).Master must achieve the desired result.

resin (polymer concrete)

Option 1

resin (polyester) + filler.The same sand (or any crumb color of the mineral, then the dye is not required).Resin - from 20 to 25% (depending on the required strength).Accordingly, the filler - from 80 to 75%.

Option 2

mixture AST-T and butakrila (in equal parts).Filling - sand or fine gravel (½ of the weight of the mixture).In this case, using acrylic colors.

Sometimes as a central "body" (for saving solution) is used a piece cut to size (slightly smaller form) chipboard.He plunges into the mass of cast marble and daubed it on all sides.

On the basis of plaster

1 hour 4 hours + lime plaster.All of this is ground and mixed well.This is one part.Next is preparing the second - 1 hour water (distilled) + 1.08 h sulphate of lime.Then both the composition are mixed to obtain a dough.Thereafter, it is necessary to stretch to remove air from the structure.Further, such a "plasticine" give the necessary form.This is just one way of making decorative plates (plates), of cast marble tiles.

Based chalk

Most often this technique is used to make a flesh-colored tiles.The components are mixed under heating capacity chalk (42 parts) + white sand (28 hours) + vermilion and ultramarine (1 h) + burnt lime (4 hrs) + resin (24 h).The resulting homogeneous mass is loaded into the matrix.

Who is interested in producing a wide range of samples of artificial marble to find on the Internet are many other recipes.But we should immediately prepare them large amounts of mixtures.Not the fact that all exemplified equity ratio - right.

Recommendations

• All manufacturing operations should be carried out in the rubberized gloves.
• Just choose the desired ratio of the components can not even every professional, especially if you want to get the products "in color".Therefore, it makes sense to start practice with small volumes .Spending it a little bit of material can be further dramatically reduce the percentage of rejections cast marble.
• Polishing is done with felt surface (soft) with the addition of special equipment (varnish).The color composition is selected individually for each sample (or group).