A good way to seal the paper and make it more durable would be to mix some latex paint into the mix, but then that would not be so good for children to play with, fairly messy. A final coat of paint on the outside instead would make it last for a while. You are going to paint it anyway, right? I have also used silicone chalk dissolved in turpentine and then painted on as a seal.
"Normal" papercrete is pulped, and then portland cement added, up to the dry weight of the paper or sometimes even more than the weight of the paper. Borax or boric acid is often added for fireproofing and insect repelling, and mold prevention. For sculptures, which are not structural, as little as 10% portland by weight would probably work fine. If you use portland cement you will want "rubber" gloves since portland is caustic and will play havoc with your skin.
When I made my big dome a lot of the pc was just paper with no additives, and eight years later it is holding up pretty well even though it was never sealed. We only get eight inches of rain annually around here so this might not be a great idea if you get lots of rain.
spaceman
Robert Morger wrote:
On 9/22/09, Spaceman <Spaceman@starship-enterprises.net> wrote:If this was the pumpkin question, I replied to it yesterday morning at 8:15, recommending just paper pulp with no additives. I think yahoo is having problems again, did not receive the below referenced post. In answer to the "chopping" question, the paper needs to be pulped. Confetti sized won't work so well. You want to separate the fibers with agitation in water. spacemanYes you did and we will try it but a few of the pieces will be used as planters in front of my garden until they decompose (if they do). So a more permanent mix is desired. Is this true of regular papercrete for construction purposes also? Robert Morger Central Texas ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:papercreters-digest@yahoogroups.com mailto:papercreters-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: papercreters-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.112/2388 - Release Date: 09/22/09 05:51:00
__._,_.___
