Craftsman Mix | The Ultimate Concrete Countertop Mix, Part 4 - FAQ
What About...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CRAFTSMAN MIX
What color is the Craftsman Mix?
All of our mixes start out white. You can pigment it to any color you like. Any Color? Yes, ANY COLOR!
How coverage per bag?
5 sq ft at 1" thick
How much cement is in the bag?
20.5 lb cementitious
How thin can I make it?
By the book, the mix should be 1.25" thick. That said, the mix can be made much thinner for tiles and other objects that have self supporting geometry (think of a bowl, or an I beam). How thin? This depends on the circumstances. We make samples 1/2" thick in 2' x 2' tiles.
What are the white specks?
The Craftsman Mix contains a small marble aggregate. When heavily polished, the marble will become exposed in the form of a white speck. Don't want the white specks? Use the GFRC or ECC mixes.
How is the Craftsman Mix different from the Original Counter Mix?
The big difference is that the Craftsman Mix contains a curing polymer blended into the mix. We have also adjusted the sand ratios, reducing how much water is needed for the mix to wet out. Both of these adjustments reduce the potential for shrinkage, and improve the overall durability of the finished product.
I have some Original Counter Mix, can I make it more like the Craftsman Mix?
For the time being, the Original Counter Mix is available in 70lb bags. Here is a recipe based on those bags. Adjustments to fiber, aggregate, water reducer, and so on can be made based on the recipes in the previous posts, this is a good starting point-
- 50 lb Bag of BR Countertop Mix
- 2.5 Quarts Chilled Water
- 1 Quart Liquid Polymer Plus
- 14 lb Pea Gravel (optional to increase yield and reduce shrinkage)
What do I fill the voids in the Pressed Finish with?
The voids can be filled with the Bone Paste Plus, pigmented to taste. You can also use the Original Bone Paste. The Bone Paste Plus is a 'just add water' product, while the Original Bone Paste requires an acrylic additive to be added as the liquid.
Why add aggregate for Cast in Place?
You will notice that we suggest adding aggregate to cast in place projects, but not for other projects. The addition of aggregate reduces the amount of shrinkage the concrete will experience, and also increase the yield of the bag. It will also reduce the ability for the concrete to be made thinner, and reduce the ability for the concrete to be easily transported. Shrinkage is the biggest issue that must be addressed in cast in place projects, but is not as great an issue in precast objects.
Can I use rebar?
There is rarely a reason rebar is necessary. Read this blog post on Reinforcement to gain a better understanding why this is the case. The suggested reinforcement in the recipes is ideal in the majority of cases.
How long before I can polish?
The best way to answer this is by first reading page 18 in the Catalog of Products and Techniques. Now that you understand curing, concrete can be ready to polish in 24 hours. The older the concrete is, the hard it will be, and the same is true for the Bone Paste Plus. If you are looking to remove stock, and expose aggregate, you are better to polish earlier. If you are looking for a high sheen polish, the harder the concrete the better the polish.
Can the Craftsman Mix be stained?
Yes, it can. We would suggest taking a look at BR Glazes as a method for coloring and tinting following casting. You can read more about the Glazes on page 22 of the Catalog of Products and Techniques.
What sealer is recommended for this mix?
For a better understanding regarding sealers, start on page 23 of the Catalog of Products and Techniques.
How does this mix differ from a Counter Mix I can buy for cheap at the local Big Box store?
If you are still asking that question after reading through all this information, then we may have missed something. How is the coffee at the gas station different from coffee at the coffee shop?