If you cover the leaves with thin plastic drop sheets and then spray with a lubricant then put concrete on top of those layers, the concrete will peel right off and there will be no leaves stuck or embedded into the concrete.
Thank you for the advice. Since you're Tony Soprano's wife I am not surprised by your expertise regarding cement. I have pinned your comment. Could you post a link to an example of the kind of thin plastic drop sheet that you have used?
@@BoboGaming 😂😂😂 the plastic drop sheets you get in a roll in the paint department at a big box store works really well and can be used again or recycled. Cheers.
Rather than let the concrete dry in 24 hrs, cover the concrete leaf with a large trash bag, trying to keep the leaf damp. If you keep damp for as long as possible, the concrete will “cure” making it stronger. One or two weeks damp and covered is best.
I watched a number of videos on casting leaves in cement and yours was the best! Very easy to follow! Very well done; much appreciated! Can't wait to try!
A really nice idea and less expensive than the local Home Cheapo. I used baby oil and rubbed the oil on to the leaves to act as a release agent, it worked a treat and I have made around 10 or 15 now so thanks for your idea.
Fantastic creation. Everyone can add their own little ideas, about improving it, but that doesn't detract from the original idea of educating folk on creativity. Personally, i would try and incorporate some kind of reinforcement ( maybe chicken mesh ), just to strengthen it, as it would be a bit of a shame if it broke, but great stuff regardless!
Just been to a garden centre in Cheshire and saw a waterfall made from 4 large leaves cascading down. I think it was fibreglass but cost an absolute fortune. I think I'll make my own from concrete using this method.
Thanks for the video. I have made many stepping stones with rhubarb leaves, but not a birdbath. I might make a fountain. It will be interesting how the water overflows the leaf crevasses.
+Sylvia Scott You're welcome. Making a fountain with rhubarb patterns sounds like an interesting garden project, but I guess you'll need many bags of concrete :-)
I've heard that too. I tried it once but to me it did not make much difference. The remainder of the leaves will inevitable decay after some months anyhow.
Bryden Van Iderstine Thanks for your kind comment! Making a concrete bird bath shaped after squash leaves sounds like an interesting project. You should upload a video of the result! :-)
I live in Miami, and we have an abundance of elephant ear plants. I am going to make the same and use it as my new coffee table. Thank you for the idea!
I enjoyed this video,very detailed.....question though, i've seen persons use chicken wire and peat moss in their mixture, does ur hyperfuta crack eventually?
I've made 6 or 7 of these and none of them have cracked. The oldest has survived 3 Swedish winters. I use this "fine" concrete: www.finja.se/finbetong.5511005.produktinfo
Thank u so much for your reply.......i am more confident to proceed.....i don't have that name brand of concrete in my country but i have just as good and i have used chicken wire as reinforcement, though i've recently started making these casts.
Nubian31 Portland cement. ..the finer the material used the less porous it will be which will help with breaking and ya definitely use wire in between. or at least I recommend it, here in mi we change temp so much and get so cold that cement and asphalt Crack pretty easily. also seal them after like a week with a clear spray paint..MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMPLETELY cured. that will all help with longevity.
that's a good question. I have always cut the rhubarb leaves maybe 30 minutes before putting the wet cement on them. So, unfortunately I don't know the answer to the question, but if I were you, I would give it a try.
We made a birdbath just as you have done in your video. We have a problem though. When we pulled the leaf off the cement there was some cement flaking off the surface of the bath. Do any of you have ideas about what to do to solve this problem?
I'm sorry to hear that there was a problem. Unfortunately I don't know the reason why the cement flaking off. Maybe there was too much water in the mix, maybe it's because of the cement type or that it was not mixed enough, maybe the rhubarb leaf was removed to early. Perhaps there was air pockets between the leaf and the cement. After the wet cement is applied try to push it downwards a little. I'm just brainstorming freely. I wish I could be of more help.
I'm not an expert, so it's hard to give a concrete answer. I think it's some kind of Portland cement. The "regulation (EC) No 1907/2006"-sheet (page 2) says something about Portland cement. I could only find it in Swedish: www.finja.se/App_Resource/Product/PDF/SDB/5511005-1.pdf
Below is a link to the product that I used. You could send an e-mail to info@finja.se and ask what the product is in English: www.finja.se/finbetong.5511005.produktinfo
Can concrete pigment be added to this mix so that it's still safe for the birds or the plants if i make both? I would love to make some greens and blue green ones if it's safe.
Unfortunately I don't know if pigments in the mix can be unsafe for the birds. Maybe you can ask the seller or producer of the pigment? Or you could perhaps ask this guy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Av1Tj7KH988.html
you might be able to seal in the pigment by sealing the whole leaf with concrete sealer and then it won't leech anything but whatever is in the sealer (then will have to check on that stuff of course lol).
If making this into a pot for a plant, shouldn't the leaf impressions be on the other side . . . ? Otherwise, you just cover them up with dirt. . . . I have several birdbaths, all in use, but I find that the smoother their interior . . . the easier they are to clean out. This is very pretty, though!
you definitely have a point there. I mostly make them as bird baths. The plant pot version with leaf impressions on the inside was perhaps not the most well-considered product development ;-)
@@BoboGaming also, i don't have rhubarb plants or other large leaves, so i will probably try with burrdock (my dogs will find them for me) 😊 sounds easy enough to do, thanks
@@freespirit3891 The rhubarb leaves are small when you buy them in the garden store and it takes some time until they get really big. If your dog can find big burdock leaves in the wild it could be interesting to try them as moulding patterns 😊
I've made a few of these bird baths and none of them have cracked (after several years outdoor in Nordic climate) ツ I guess adding "finish" could make them even stronger but I have not used it.
Garden centers usually have rhubarb plants but their leaves are rather small. When planted in your garden, however, they will grow much bigger. The stalk of the rhubarb plant can be used to make pie also ;-)
calmeblondy You could use any kind of leaves from any plant that are large enough to cover the space you want the bowl to be, or several small leaves layered around would do also just as the larger ones do. You have palm trees, I saw one made from a palm leaf that was very pretty.
Great idea but very roughly done, no need to pay for bags of soil ,,, oh and if you want your concrete more pliable and easier to work with,, pour in some washing up liquid,, not too much though,, it also gives you more time to sculpt your creation ;-)
I make these too, but I think its a total waste to cover all those veins with soil, it defeats the object of seeing a vein pattern, It just looks like a lump on concrete. sorry.
