Any new articles?
Any sites with techniques?
Anything about new products used?
Do you know sites showing what they are doing in Fiji or any other place?
Thanks
I used to make my own all the time, with crushed seashells, sand a nd a little portland cement. I would go
to gulf shores and gather the shell frags from big piles washed up, mix it up in an ice chest and pour it into
molds I would make on the beach. I would cover it with sand and come back and get it in a week or two.
It was nice, and you could make shapes, but it was a bit heavy. not very porous after all.
SALT in Rock Mix
I have tried using rock salt in the mix like others have been posting for a whole, one thing to consider is that concrete and salt are mortal enemies. I was told by a professional concrete worker that mixing salt will weaken the mix but the damage would be localized where the salt is. He went on to say that once the damage is done and the piece has dried that it should be fine, meaning no further damage.
My test pieces confirmed that mixing salt into the batch had a negative impact on curing time, but once it was dry it appeared fine. I did have some reef plugs I was making that never seemed to dry at all because the salt content was too high.
My conclusion on salt
Salt works in small amounts but I have concerns on the strength of the rock if used in load bearing pieces. I have no plans on using salt in for any future projects.
Future plans
I want to try plastic rope cut so I have single strands like fishing line about 3 inches long.
Cheetoes and Rice Kispies