Fake Rock

[annie]

Hello,

I posted here around a month ago about making fake rock out of drywall mud.

I did an experiment and I think it will work. I took the mud I purchased pre-mixed and did not dilute it. I used a picture of river rock and real river rock as guides to shape the "rocks". I did this on a scrap piece of drywall mud. It dried just fine. Next, I left it in the garage under really cold weather-mid-20's and brought it inside by the fireplace.

It has not cracked-it is really as hard as a rock!

Just to be on the safe side I decided to do the final rock wall on a separate piece of masonite? board. I will mount this to the wall and I have already figured out how to "frame" it. It was fun shaping the rocks-reminds me of mud pie days! The hardest part was the smoothness as river rock is for the most part smooth even if different shapes. A light switch cover found in the garage worked well.

It is drying and it will be a few weeks until I have it painted. By then I will figure out how to get a picture of it online.

Just wanted to share the outcome-in case anyone wants a low-cost rock wall.....

Annie

[annie]

Whoops! I mean I did it on a scrap piece of drywall, NOt drywall mud

[Jim from Canada]

Have you tried it with something like "Durrock" (or is it dura bond?). It is a drywall filler that dries harder and faster. ie Durrock 90 dries in as little as 90 minutes. According to what I gather, you can hardly sand it after it sets up.

[mokehillannie]

Have you Googled Hypertufa? There are lots of articles on making fake rocks out of that stuff. There are lots of different recipes for it.

[annie]

Wow! Thanks, I will definitely check out both ideas.

Annie