I have not made artificial rock for about 15 years and I forget what we use to mix in the paper pulp. We use to mix paper pulp and dexatrine and a third item that gave the rock the grainy look and feel. Can anyone help refresh my memory? How about the Jonas premix paper mache for rocks. Is it any good? Thank you in advance for yyour help!
Mark
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Hundreds of anwsers.
Found at some hardware stores and fireplace centers. I still play around with it in making artificial rocks. Effects are "so-so". Lots of ways to make them. Some better than others.Breakthrough had a nice article on making rocks a few issues back. But, to answer your question, vermiculite comes to mind.
Dan
Thanks for the responses!
Dan
What is vermiculite and what does it do for the rock? Also, where can I get some?
Mark
Vermiculite is made in part from the silicate mineral mica. Found in igneous rocks such as granite, gneiss etc. It is thin, shiny and almost waffer like in nature.
Class "A" stainless steele chimneys (the type used for wood or fuel oil furnaces)also known as triple wall pipe, used vermiculite as an insulation inside the pipe. I might be wrong, but I think it was used in attic insulation also. On a separate note it may also be found in potting soil too.
Some lumber yards may still carry it in bag form. I would check there first. Vermiculite (in fine grain) mixed with a slow set mach'e makes a great fish fill in panfish too. Mix about three handfuls fine vermiculite to a handful of mach'e. No slow set mach'e? Add borax powder to the saturation point of your water. This will slow down the setting time. Never add dry borax to your mix.
Vermiculite should give you the grain type pattern your after. Hope this helps.
Dan
It's also refered to as being used for filler(in concrete blocks) in construction. Hope this helps-Susan