Fu-Tung Cheng and Sakrete’s ShapeCrete

shapecrete

Fu-Tung Cheng has made a career using concrete as the star of the architectural show. His work includes everything from concrete water features to a concrete range hood.

He recently teamed up with SAKRETE to make the material accessible to makers, crafters, and DIY homeowners. The product, ShapeCrete, allows users to mix and sculpt concrete without the need for oven-baking or kiln firing.

Easy to use

Concrete has a reputation for being difficult to work with, but ShapeCrete changes all that. This easy-to-use, just-add-water product can be rolled, pushed and molded into concrete projects that are limited only by the imagination. It is a collaborative innovation from designer Fu-Tung Cheng and Sakrete.

In this project, a koi pond surround was created to keep kids from jumping in and disturbing the fish at Teance Fine Teas in Berkeley. To achieve this, the team added perlite and peat moss to the ShapeCrete mix to create a hypertufa-like material that should grow moss over time.

To make a leaf texture, simply place the leaves on a plastic container then cover them with the ShapeCrete mixture. After the mix has a clay-like consistency, it is ready to mold. It is hard to get the right consistency by measuring and pouring from a bucket, so you will have to experiment with this part of the process.

Easy to shape

SAKRETE ShapeCrete is a new concrete mix that can be rolled, molded, pushed or poured into limitless DIY designs without the need for oven-baking or kiln firing. The easy-to-use and fun material is used by makers, artists and everyday DIYers to create a wide range of decorative and functional objects.

To get started, select a project guide with material lists, form ideas and tips for making your own ShapeCrete creation. Mix the product with water until it reaches a clay-like consistency and press it into your mold.

The small particle size and additives give the material strength in a thin shell, and the texture picks up and holds fine surface detail. However, like a normal concrete mixture, it will have some bubbles on the surface. This can be reduced with gentle blending to avoid mixing in air, and vibrating the mold to help them rise to the top. It is also possible to add chemicals that reduce bubbles.

Easy to clean

Concrete is a durable material that can stand up to almost anything. It can be etched and polished to bring out its natural beauty, or painted or stained to match your design style. It’s also easy to clean and can be customized. You can add colors and glitter to your concrete during the mixing process or use a staining sealer after your project is finished.

A: A new product from Sakrete, ShapeCrete, is an easy-to-use concrete mix that can be rolled and molded or pushed into shapes to create custom concrete designs. It’s clay-like and allows makers, crafters, artists and DIY homeowners to explore their creativity with projects that don’t require oven-baking or kiln-firing.

The small particle size of the Sakrete concrete mix, along with special additives, allow for a more smooth and clay-like surface texture that can hold fine detail. Surface bubbles are common when casting, and can be reduced with gentle blending to avoid mixing in air or by vibrating the mold to help them rise to the surface.

Easy to customize

Concrete may not be a DIY material, but Shapecrete changes that. This unique concrete mix is easy to mold and sculpt, just like clay. It can be rolled, molded or pushed into just about any shape imaginable and it hardens within 24 hours without a kiln or oven. It is also durable enough to be painted or stained after curing.

This product is an excellent alternative to clay, especially for those who do not have access to a pottery studio. You can make a variety of items with it, including vases and planters. It is even strong enough to be used in place of traditional tile for a backsplash or countertop.

To customize your Shapecrete, you can paint, stain or apply a sealer. The sealing process takes a little longer than the rest of the project, but it will leave your piece looking great. In addition, you can add pigment to the mix before mixing to create different color options.



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