Folks,
Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
Truthfully, I did not think that they were all that much appreciated
but will post something here and maybe then up at the PNWLB site.
My material of choice is Amaco Sculptamold Modeling Compound. Three
pounds of it is about $5 + tax. Three pounds makes lots of rocks! It
sets up in about 30 minutes and is very nicely hard after a day.
This is a website with it http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?
CATID=2055&PRODID=11161&AID=10273743&PID=874056&afsrc=1
I am now mixing craft paint in with the wet material as I mold it so
the color goes through the entire "rock". I like it to band a little
and am hoping to get better at making it do so. I put in some
glittery silver paint to get the effect of flecks of mica in it.
Choose colors from your area. Grey and black mottling can be very
persuasive as just a concrete lump. Check the clue for my Stone Soup
box.
I mold the material around a film cannister or food container
(T*pperware). I put the lid side down on the container so it can be
opened later. Sometimes I have to scrape away a little of the
material if it has overlapped the lid. No problem, the stuff can be
carved and sanded.
After it is thoroughly dry, I spray the rock with at least two coats
of clear, matte-finish sealer. I suppose you could use glossy. I just
like the non-eyecatching quality of matte.
More thoughts on this: Steve Rayvenhaus says he is experimenting with
Liquid Nails (a tough glue) and twigs. I got some of the Liquid Nails
and want to get some pea-gravel to glue to the food containers, too.
Thanks, Steve!
I have also used oven-hardening clay. It is pretty much okay as it is
but I have sprayed it with a spackled rock paint (craft stores have
lots of these kinds) and again, folks look right past them. One is in
a very high traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
much to my surprise. Again, waterproof these babies.
Of course, you can also hollow out rocks if you buy travertine and
use a concrete bit. Make sure you use respiratory and eye protection
while doing this. Gloves are also a good thought.
I think you would be surprised at how brazen one can be with a fake
rock. Folks see what they think should be there, not what is truly
there. Heck, with fake rocks, hollow rocks, Liquid Nails and twigs,
we could make whole centerpieces in which to hide letterboxes. I have
thought of making a fake brick, too, but worry that someone might
decide they wanted it.
Now a small caveat: my Amaco rocks are pretty lightweight. They have
also not yet gone through a California winter. You might have to use
more sealant for your area, maybe even put some real rocks glued
together with it to give it weight. I don't know.
I am very interested in hearing from anyone else playing with this.
Rock on,
Sir B
Fake Rock Making
4 messages in this thread |
Started on 2003-10-15
Fake Rock Making
From: Sir Balthazar (neovolatile@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-10-15 23:35:40 UTC
Re: Fake Rock Making
From: rscarpen (RiskyNil@pocketmail.com) |
Date: 2003-10-16 02:49:01 UTC
> Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
> Truthfully, I did not think that they were all that much
> appreciated but will post something here and maybe then up at the
> PNWLB site.
Sir B, you are must too modest with your creative abilities. =) But
no need to post to the Pacific NW letterboxing board--everyone there
is on this board as well and it's certainly not a PNW related topic.
> I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because I'd
like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
> I think you would be surprised at how brazen one can be with a fake
> rock. Folks see what they think should be there, not what is truly
> there.
Hidden in plain view. I love boxes like that. =) Part of the
reason I like the hiding place for my Walking Tour letterbox so much.
> Now a small caveat: my Amaco rocks are pretty lightweight. They
> have also not yet gone through a California winter.
Please keep us informed on any new developments! This is good
stuff! (And let's face it, much cooler than tupperware under a bunch
of twigs or rocks.)
-- Ryan
> Truthfully, I did not think that they were all that much
> appreciated but will post something here and maybe then up at the
> PNWLB site.
Sir B, you are must too modest with your creative abilities. =) But
no need to post to the Pacific NW letterboxing board--everyone there
is on this board as well and it's certainly not a PNW related topic.
> I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because I'd
like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
> I think you would be surprised at how brazen one can be with a fake
> rock. Folks see what they think should be there, not what is truly
> there.
Hidden in plain view. I love boxes like that. =) Part of the
reason I like the hiding place for my Walking Tour letterbox so much.
> Now a small caveat: my Amaco rocks are pretty lightweight. They
> have also not yet gone through a California winter.
Please keep us informed on any new developments! This is good
stuff! (And let's face it, much cooler than tupperware under a bunch
of twigs or rocks.)
-- Ryan
Re: Fake Rock Making
From: Lea Shangraw Fox (princesslea@alamedanet.net) |
Date: 2003-10-17 00:15:49 UTC
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen" wrote:
> > Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
> > I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> > traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
>
> Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because I'd
> like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
>
Don't know if Sir B. has already decided whether or not to give this location away, but
my suggestion to you, Ryan, is to start deciphering some of those Middle Earth clues
if you want to find this rock.
-- Princess Lea
> > Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
> > I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> > traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
>
> Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because I'd
> like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
>
Don't know if Sir B. has already decided whether or not to give this location away, but
my suggestion to you, Ryan, is to start deciphering some of those Middle Earth clues
if you want to find this rock.
-- Princess Lea
Re: Fake Rock Making
From: Sir Balthazar (neovolatile@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-10-17 03:33:05 UTC
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Lea Shangraw Fox"
wrote:
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen"
wrote:
> > > Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
> > > I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> > > traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
> >
> > Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because
I'd
> > like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
> >
>
> Don't know if Sir B. has already decided whether or not to give
this location away, but
> my suggestion to you, Ryan, is to start deciphering some of those
Middle Earth clues
> if you want to find this rock.
>
> -- Princess Lea
Dear Princess,
I know the last thing in the world you wanted to do is to give Ryan
an additional clue to where that oven-hardening clay box is. He
probably had all the other non-encoded boxes anyway. So, telling him,
in essence, "Do your work, Turtle Boy!" you really did not give up
much on the location to a mystery box. Right?
I am not going to give him any hints other than "Listen to a princess
and/or Nancy Drew when it comes to mysteries."
BTW, just bought some new to me stuff, Flexall flexible all-purpose
filler. I plan on coating a T*pperware box with it and see how that
works. Might just sprinkle some local sand over it before it sets up.
Add a few choice pieces of rock and gravel affixed by Liquid Nails
and we should be cooking.
Rockin' boxin',
Sir Balthazar
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen"
wrote:
> > > Ryan C. said that some folks are interested in my fake rocks.
> > > I have also used oven-hardening clay...One is in a very high
> > > traffic downtown location and has remained safe there,
> >
> > Really? I'd like to check this out. Which box was it? Because
I'd
> > like to put it higher up on my to-do list. =)
> >
>
> Don't know if Sir B. has already decided whether or not to give
this location away, but
> my suggestion to you, Ryan, is to start deciphering some of those
Middle Earth clues
> if you want to find this rock.
>
> -- Princess Lea
Dear Princess,
I know the last thing in the world you wanted to do is to give Ryan
an additional clue to where that oven-hardening clay box is. He
probably had all the other non-encoded boxes anyway. So, telling him,
in essence, "Do your work, Turtle Boy!" you really did not give up
much on the location to a mystery box. Right?
I am not going to give him any hints other than "Listen to a princess
and/or Nancy Drew when it comes to mysteries."
BTW, just bought some new to me stuff, Flexall flexible all-purpose
filler. I plan on coating a T*pperware box with it and see how that
works. Might just sprinkle some local sand over it before it sets up.
Add a few choice pieces of rock and gravel affixed by Liquid Nails
and we should be cooking.
Rockin' boxin',
Sir Balthazar