Bored Geek?
Bored Geek?
This is one for the geeks - those who have a bunch of old CDs from old hardware drivers or AOL discs, lol.
It started when I was looking for images on Google of what I want my reef rockface to look like - and I found this image:
Wow - that would be cool to replicate, I thought to myself. But how? This is what I have come up with. Anyone with comments, suggestions or questions, feel free.
First, find a pile of old discs - one's no one wants anymore (Don't use that WinXP install disc!!!! :eek1: ), and using good shears, cut the basic shape...
Some discs are easier to cut than others are - some are soft, some are crunchy - don't mess with the crunchy ones - they will probably break as you work with them.
Now we shape it to get the awesome frills - I tried boiling the discs, but that didn't soften the plastic to a pliable consistancy, am thinking that everclear would work to soften, but wonder if it would re-harden afterward. I ended up using my trusty heat gun, on its high setting, in a well ventilated area. Soften that puppy up and watch it start to curl a bit.
I ended up making a bending rig of sorts with a bit of 2x4 and copper tube - this helps to make the bends go all the way to the bottom of the piece, if I want it too, and just makes life easier.
Now, I don't have any photo's of the covering process, but I simply mixed a thickish paste of 1:1 cement/sand, and using a cheap 1 inch paintbrush, painted the goop on. Had to do several coats, but this is the finished product. These can be added to the rockface as I am constructing it, just stick the ends into the wet cement and I should have something sort of like the coral pic.
These are pretty strong - take a bit of banging around before they actually break. A little less than 1/4" thick. You can use the paintbrush to "vein| the cement for a more realistic look.
