How To Make Rocks From Styrofoam (1/5)

Making fake rocks from styrofoam is a great method to build extremely
realistic looking artificial rocks and boulders which are strong and
able to weather outside in all climate conditions. Some people like to use
expandable foam to make fake rocks, which is also an option for making
the base form. The only problem here is that the expandable foam
product is actually quite expensive, but also it will not cure to any
appreciable thickness. If you want to have something large then you
would have to do multiple layers of expandable foam with dry time
allowed in between each layer. The problem is that the cans of
expandable foam are single use only, making a multiple layered approach
not exactly practical.

Through this tutorial process you will follow along step by step as we
make a fake rock from styrofoam. This will include a steel armature,
concrete mix design, sculpting and texturing the concrete, as well as
finishing details such as scraping, sanding, multi-stage paint and then
a concrete sealer application layer.

Episode 1 - Styrofoam shaping & steel reinforcement:
https://youtu.be/6H0oC1lqjD4

Episode 2 - Mix concrete & Add rock texture:
https://youtu.be/jraLaUxhtpw

Episode 3 - Scraping & sanding:
https://youtu.be/EE65oY6jbYk

Episode 4 - Painting fake rock finish:
https://youtu.be/Or07HPaJEdE

Episode 5 - Apply concrete sealer:
https://youtu.be/ago5vaoqu-Q

00:00 - Introduction
00:53 - Beginning with a styrofoam form
01:32 - Finding scrap styrofoam for projects
02:22 - About layering styrofoam to build form
03:14 - Dangers of using PVC primer to melt styrofoam for rocks
04:45 - Expectations of finished rock
06:50 - Why steel mesh is used
07:52 - Protect yourself working with steel mesh and concrete
08:54 - Wrapping steel mesh armature to foam form
09:44 - Importance of placement of steel mesh
10:37 - How to secure steel mesh to styrofoam form
12:49 - How to shape the steel mesh
13:41 - Example of what to avoid with steel mesh placement
14:17 - Cutting the steel mesh
15:15 - How to finish securing steel mesh to foam form
16:30 - Folding and bending steel mesh to set firmly in place
17:35 - Dealing with the excess steel mesh
19:13 - Folding steel mesh on top of rock form
20:05 - How to compact steel mesh layers
21:16 - Last steps to finish the form
21:57 - Getting the steel mesh tight to form
22:57 - Fake rock form making conclusion

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