The Mouldmaking & Casting Forum

Hi all.

New to using/making moulds but very interested in the subject as a hobby and perhaps later a source of extra income.

Just wondering what alternatives, if any, people have found to using concrete to make items like pavers, ornaments and such?

Really interested in finding something that's cost effective and more environmentally friendly that has similar properties to concrete. Ease of use, availability, strength, cost, the ability to be colored and resistance to wear are among some of the factors to be considered.

Have people come across anything interesting in this regard?

I have found a couple of possibilities such as CEMLite from Ability Products and Hempcrete from Hemp Industrial Products but as yet have no real information on them as to their usefulness or prices, etc.

Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi Mark,
I am wondering why you would want to replace concrete for pavers etc. It is the lowest cost material as well as being environmentally friendly. It is stronger than any alternative and lasts for decades. In addition decorative concrete is growing enormously in the US and Europe and therefore is being improved constantly due to its use for ever widening applications such as kitchen benches and other household uses- see Caesar Stone and similar products in Harvey Normans. Anyone would think I was being paid by the concrete industry to spruik their product but really I would think twice before using any alternative to concrete for exterior structural and many decorative products. Stan

aldaxmoulds wrote:Hi Mark,
I am wondering why you would want to replace concrete for pavers etc. It is the lowest cost material as well as being environmentally friendly. It is stronger than any alternative and lasts for decades. In addition decorative concrete is growing enormously in the US and Europe and therefore is being improved constantly due to its use for ever widening applications such as kitchen benches and other household uses- see Caesar Stone and similar products in Harvey Normans. Anyone would think I was being paid by the concrete industry to spruik their product but really I would think twice before using any alternative to concrete for exterior structural and many decorative products. Stan

Just looking to the future Stan.

While the end product could possibly be considered "environmentally friendly", unless things have changed over the last few years and I missed it, concrete manufacture is far from it. And of course, any carbon trading scheme that may be implemented could push prices up. Who knows - I certainly don't.

Additionally, from what I've been able to find, some of these alternatives have a much lower finished weight reducing transportation costs.

I'm really just looking for alternatives as a way to create/expand potential markets. It may all come to nothing, but I am interested in at least seeing what's out there.

Cheers,

Mark

Hello,

Have you considered Forton MG? This is basically Gypsum cement mixed with a polymer resin.... It is used for architectural moldings and outdoor statuory...

very strong, very duaarble, easy to use... Can be finsihed with all kinds of effects.

Read more on http://www.bodyscape.net.nz/forton.htm or simply google "forton MG"

Cheers,

Olivier

Thanks Olivier, looks very interesting indeed.

You could also try looking into Geopolymers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolymers