Concrete type track material

[phillyb]

I see alot of threads on building the tracks, and those are incredible inspiration to me. I have read almost all of them that I can find on here. You guys are very creative in the use of materials.

Somehow I don't understand the different types of surface materials, what has everyone used, how did you mix it, etc? I have a small course waiting to be covered with something, and I just don't know what to use. I even created a small piece to test on, just to see what methods produce the best results before I apply to the actual course. I have never mixed concrete, or any sort of mix like that.

I have seen the portland cement used, mortar, etc but have no idea what this means and the guys at home depot don't seem to have a clue.

[jetboat]

my personal favorites are to use plain old Sackrete ($2.60 a 60# bag) to build up the sections and then a thin layer of sand mix (topping mix) to skim over it. With the Ihobby course build I have been experimenting with mixing 1 bag sackrete to 1 bag sandmix and it seems to work well. There really isn't much to it, just add water and mix to a "plastic like" consistency.

[helhedded]

Originally Posted by jetboat

my personal favorites are to use plain old Sackrete ($2.60 a 60# bag) to build up the sections and then a thin layer of sand mix (topping mix) to skim over it. With the Ihobby course build I have been experimenting with mixing 1 bag sackrete to 1 bag sandmix and it seems to work well. There really isn't much to it, just add water and mix to a "plastic like" consistency.

Thanks for the tip, I need ideas for a new course that i'm building. I'm gonna use real rocks, but Im gonna mix that stuff in certain section to fill in holes and whatnot.

[cavecrawler]

Originally Posted by helhedded

Thanks for the tip, I need ideas for a new course that i'm building. I'm gonna use real rocks, but Im gonna mix that stuff in certain section to fill in holes and whatnot.

That is what i did somewhat to the same degree. I have a small home course in the making and im using real rocks with concrete to add some more crawling surface and more features. I have thought about using concrete to fill in the holes but the holes make it more challenging and you can change up the course if it gets to be to easy if you dont cement them together.

[helhedded]

Originally Posted by cavecrawler

I have thought about using concrete to fill in the holes but the holes make it more challenging and you can change up the course if it gets to be to easy if you dont cement them together.

that's what a sledge hammer is for :-P

[2wheeltyson]

in my garage, i want to do a movable/removable course. i was thinking of do a fiberglass mold using a bed-sheet over an actuall rock garden. then frame it in and make it have adjustable angles.

[SWelte]

Where can you find burlap?

[jetboat]

Originally Posted by SWelte

Where can you find burlap?

Home Depot carries it during the summer

[phillyb]

I asked and they said they didn't have any burlap. Will have to go again, and ask someone else.

I like the idea of mixing gravel with the 'concrete' material.

[cavecrawler]

Originally Posted by 2wheeltyson

in my garage, i want to do a movable/removable course. i was thinking of do a fiberglass mold using a bed-sheet over an actuall rock garden. then frame it in and make it have adjustable angles.

That sounds like a pretty good idea but the fiberglass would probably be to slick to get traction on.if you want good traction and a light weight material try stucco or plaster either would work

[drumbeater]

Originally Posted by SWelte

Where can you find burlap?

Originally Posted by phillyb

I asked and they said they didn't have any burlap. Will have to go again, and ask someone else.

You can use a painter's drop cloth if you can't find burlap

[cavecrawler]

Originally Posted by drumbeater

You can use a painter's drop cloth if you can't find burlap

Go with the cheap way use old bed sheets you have laying around or go down to a thrift shop and buy them they are really cheap and work great

[2wheeltyson]

i was planing on adding traction with various materials. the glass would only be the start. one idea i had was when the resin gets tacky sprinkling sand on it to creat a moab like sandstone feature.

[jetboat]

for the burlap, its right next to the weed barrier. Get it soaking wet before you put the crete on and the crete will soak around it and work like Rebar allowing you to put it on thinner.

[ROCKEDUP RICKY]

I made to show my friends at SMRCRC how I made our indoor course. Maybe it will help you out a little.

[phillyb]

Nice video, very informative. Did you use one bag of cement for that one piece?

I got two 60 lb bags, both are the Quikrete brand from Lowes, one is 'ready to use concrete mix' the other is 'sand/topping mix' - do I need to mix both with sand like in the video, or just mix together with water?



http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Concrete

This says to mix with sand, guessing I need some sand.

[brug33]

Here is mine I did today, wood frame underneath, wrapped with chain link fence, its hard to see definition in pic, but there are a lot of different angles. Still not done, used 7 80 lb bags of quikcrete and some natural rock.

[Gimbal]

Originally Posted by ROCKEDUP RICKY

I made to show my friends at SMRCRC how I made our indoor course. Maybe it will help you out a little.

Good vid, thanks.
So how much does that whole piece weigh complete? Can two guys pick it up?

[Cycleeric]

Originally Posted by ROCKEDUP RICKY

I made to show my friends at SMRCRC how I made our indoor course. Maybe it will help you out a little.

Very nice video and description of whats involved in making some good practice rocks

[jetboat]

ready mix concrete gets mixed with water. Portland cement gets mixed with water and an aggregate (sand,rock etc)