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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:25 pm
by Leeco
Hi, I have just bought some riven flag moulds and ordered 4 different coloured bags of mortar tone. i am new to casting flags and want to start making 2 tone flags. I have an idea how to achieve 2 tone flags but any advice from a Pro would be great.
Thanks Lee
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:34 pm
by cookiewales
Leeco wrote:Hi, I have just bought some riven flag moulds and ordered 4 different coloured bags of mortar tone. i am new to casting flags and want to start making 2 tone flags. I have an idea how to achieve 2 tone flags but any advice from a Pro would be great.
Thanks Lee
lee there is a lot of work goes into making slabs i did it years ago simple method make your base mix then keep some back with other colour in plase mould on vibrating table drop in mix till quarter full start table then drop in couple shovels of colour mix top up with base mix stop table stack and repeat turn out next day and hey presto two tone slabs ps there is a lot of work for very little money back :p
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:31 pm
by lutonlagerlout
sorry to be nosey lee
but why are you making slabs?
LLL ???
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:12 pm
by Leeco
I though it might be a good little money earner but like cookie said its probably hard work too. I’ve worked out that it would cost just under £1 to make one flag which normally sell for £4 and I bought over 70 450mm x 450mm flag moulds and 2 9ft concrete post moulds and 5 5ft board moulds that go in-between the posts off ebay. I will try it out but they will be back on ebay by the end of the month :laugh:
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:19 pm
by michaelthegardener
i had a go at makeing gnomes an the like once thought it ud be a good earner when ive got to finish work at 4 in the winter didnt work out to well an ive still got the moulds ???
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:31 pm
by lutonlagerlout
a friend of mine bought various moulds for concrete garden animals, apart from the fact he never got the mix right they always looked rubbish and no one would buy them
making slabs is a specialist job
there are a couple of pros on here who do just that ,but you will struggle in your shed
LLL
Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1280781134
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:27 pm
by cookiewales
Leeco wrote:I though it might be a good little money earner but like cookie said its probably hard work too. I’ve worked out that it would cost just under £1 to make one flag which normally sell for £4 and I bought over 70 450mm x 450mm flag moulds and 2 9ft concrete post moulds and 5 5ft board moulds that go in-between the posts off ebay. I will try it out but they will be back on ebay by the end of the month :laugh:
only problem the outlets you need to sell to will only give you 1pound 50p max you have to have the right grade of washed sand which is now top dollar there is no market for 18x18 paving saxon paving has it tied up and we know how good they are :p :;): give me a call in the morning i did this with a mate of mine big time i pulled out 2years before he went bust 
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:33 pm
by GB_Groundworks
the trick to that game is to be the guy making and selling the moulds with the promise of huge profit in reality he'll be the one coining it in, friend of ours has just got out the precast business, he was big as well 10 lads, big plant with huge mixer and silos loads of tables and made everything inc lintels beams etc made to measure stuff, just wasn't any money in it.
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:18 pm
by Leeco
GB_Groundworks wrote:the trick to that game is to be the guy making and selling the moulds with the promise of huge profit in reality he'll be the one coining it in, friend of ours has just got out the precast business, he was big as well 10 lads, big plant with huge mixer and silos loads of tables and made everything inc lintels beams etc made to measure stuff, just wasn't any money in it.
Your not wrong, a small range of second hand ones on ebay sell for good money. Im one of the mugs that buy them thinking we are going to make big money :laugh: .
But to be honest im a joiner and a electrician but I bought them for my dad who was a bricklayer for many years and knows his stuff about concrete. Im willing to help him out as I know its hard work and a few testers we made look good but with no dye. We will see how it goes and hoping to get a few paving jobs out of it.
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:48 am
by Leeco
Im just small time realy here is my website http://www.gardensupplies.co.uk/
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:40 am
by cookiewales
if your selling to the public you need to be very carefull lots of horror storys slabs failing release oil stains wrong sand list is endles :p :p ps slabs wont be strong enough for shed bases unless you upgrade the spec to lay them on ???
Edited By cookiewales on 1280814191
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:12 am
by Mikey_C
IMHO
my advice would be in order of preference
1) sell the moulds and kit for as much as you can, while they are still new(ish).
2) stick to joinery and electrics, as that is what you are trained in and presumable good at and there should be a good profit in it.
3) if you still want to carry on, use the liquid mortar tone as I understand it is better than the powdered variety.
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:42 pm
by mickg
I agree with Mikey on 1 and 2 as you will earn more money for a lot less outlay and no risk
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:50 pm
by Leeco
Ok I get the picture, leave it to the experts. Since I have them Ill have a little play with them what harm can I do. 
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:06 pm
by dig dug dan
5 5ft board moulds that go in-between the posts
I can't for the life of me imagine what use 5ft long concrete gravel boards would be when all fence panels are 6' wide ???