I am trying to build a giant tar pit that a coyoyte has fallen into for my home. I hope that the tar pit could be about the size of my living room which is 16 by 22 feet. Please let me know if anyone has any hints.
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Hints for the carpentry for the beginning work? The tar itself? Best way to contain the 'tar'?
What specifically did you have concerns about?
I think this guy is laughing his butt off right now. Hook line and Sinker
LMAOROTF
Tony
A joke post? Ya think? hehe - ya gotta remember - I work for a place that builds exhibits like that. Havin summin like that in your living room might seem odd to some people - but I've seen some pretty odd things in peoples homes!
If it WAS in fact a joke post.. it was pretty lame... Congrats for foolin me but don't be too proud; Im notoriously gullable! ;)
It is not for inside my house, it is for the yard. Sorry for the mix up. I guess what I am looking for is a material to use to give the illusion of tar, as tar smells pretty bad (it could be liquid or solid). Also I need a way for it to look part of the lawn so that it has the illusion of being a tar pit. As well how can I make it appear a realistic depition of the tar swallowing up a cayote. How could I make the coyote look half in and half out.
It will need to be a level surface. I am wondering if a poured concrete layer could be given a black coating of some kind, probably with a glossy black paint. The pictures that I have seen of tar pits show them to be covered with all sorts of loose stuff and standing water so that the tar itself is barely visible.
For the coyote, just pick a lifesized pose that you like and saw off the "submerged" part. Blend it in by pouring black paint around the edges.
For a temporary display maybe you could paint a tarp black and stretch it out tight (tent stakes?) then sprinkle debris around the edges to blend it in.
'Sounds like fun to me!
Are you a taxidermist? I don't think that a real mounted coyote would survive more than a few short months AT THE MOST if it were exposed to the elements outside. A painted statue would be more durable.
No I am not a taxidermist, I am an artist, but actually the two professions are quite similar. Those are great suggestions, though you don't think that a real stuffed coyote will last very long? Is it possible to spray it with something to seal it? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated as it still is in the early stages.
Do you think that it is possible to make the tar, bubble and swell like the real thing? Again without using tar and so that it will not effect the fur of the coyote.
that did goose dispersal. He's put the yoted and foxes near their nests and around ponds at corporate centers and the like to keep them from landing. They don't withstand the elements well at all, regardless of what you do. Think about it, the tanned skin is rehydrating, drying, rehydrating drying, and on and on. The elements take their toll. I suppose if you were real creative you could fiberglass and replicate a "ledge" over the canine to keep him out of some of the elements, may extend his "afterlife" some. I'm not at all familiar with tar pits, would there be an occasion for one to have a ledge over it even, or would that totaly eradicate the realism you're obvoiusly trying to capture?
Carve the basic shape out of foam - being sure to put bubbles n stuff in it - then use truck bed liner spray and *poof*... instant tar =)
Doesnt bubble n spit tho. For that you would have to get into a pump system and since tar is thick you are going to run into problems. There are ways to make a thick liquid and have air pumped into it to bubble - but it's tricks like using a corn starch solution etc. The fact that you are wanting it outside makes ideas like this unpractical. Not sure what material could be used to represent tar that is thick enough and wouldnt be affected by the elements... The spray on bed liner will work if you decide to forego the active bubbling tho =)
Do you really think that it will be difficult to use a liquid that would bubble and gurgle outside? As I live in southern california, it dosen't rain too much and definitly does not get too cold.
I actually made a small one years ago combinig all the processes described above by everyone plus another i developed. i used a light concrete mixture they use for filling in old water tanks under city streets. It is called Flowable fill. You can trowel it to whatever form and shape you like. It is also breakable fairly eaSY, so if you ever decide to remove the pit, a simple sledgehammer will work and not need a jackhammer. Now what i did was use plastic sheeting sewn along the edges to the desired shape. One sheet for the top, one for the bottom, maiking sort of a pillow.Then I got ahold of some rubber swim bladders attached to a outside pool pump. What you do is insert the bladders in strategic locations betwen the sheets of plastic( polyethylene) when hooked up to a pump they will expand till they reach their limit, and then the exhaust valve will release the overfill air and it will relax and start the process all over. Sort of like a beating heart. When you cover the top sheet with like Raven said undercoating spray, when the bladder fills and releases, the top sheet of FAUX tar will have the look of a bubbling expanding surface. Also sprinkle small balck aggregate ( stone)around the surface and edges. It has a really cool affect. It can get very expensiv though, so you have to want it bad. I would also insert the yote in an area that does not rise and fall as it would be near imposible to make the sheting rise around the stationary dog.
Thanks for the hints, but where does the light concrete come into play with this suggestion, or is it a seperate suggestion for a stationary model? As well where do you find swim bladders and what do they look like? I do want to do this project, but you seem to think that it will cost alot. How much do the swim bladders and pool pump go for typically? Any new suggestions will be greatly appreciated... still pondering. Thanks
The flowable fill concrete can be used by digging a shallow pool in the yard . After the dirt has been compacted so as not to get any false surface compaction, cover the pool with about 2" of 3/8" crushed stone. Over this the flowable fill can be textured to form sort of a very shallow swimming pool. This will give you the basic structure and dhape of the intended tar pit. As for the swim bladesr, they can be obtained from some of the finer dive shops, and auto body shops. they are used to lift heavy objects off the sea bottom, and also to pry apart dents in cars sort of like the jaws of life ect ect. It can get expensive though. If a contractor was todo it, I would figure on material costs alone going about 4,000.00 and another 10,000 in labor