Stepping stone failure

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Stepping stone failure

by Rachel Strauss
(Barrie, Ontario, Canada)

After waiting 3 days I flipped my stepping stone out of the mold and was upset to see that the cement must of oozed out between the glass and the sticky paper. There was very little glass showing so I had to chip away cement to expose the glass. Unfortunately I scratched a lot of the glass and now have a cement lip around the edge. What did I do wrong? I want to make another one soon.

Answer

It's been several years since I've made stepping stones and I don't feel qualified to answer your question. However, there is a web site and forum devoted to stepping stones where you will get a lot of help. You'll find it Here. The "Manuals" section gives specific instructions for making stepping stones, and the "Stone" forum will be able to answer any questions.

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Stepping stone failure

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Sep 18, 2009

Stepping Stone Failure
by: Valerie Lowich Iskierka

Here are a couple of things to consider. First, did you place contact paper sticky-side up in the bottom of your mold? The edges of the glass pieces (tesserae) must be FIRMLY adhered to the contact paper, otherwise the cement will seep between them. Secondly, your mold should be placed on a piece of plywood cut several inches larger than the mold, and the plywood on top of a level surface. After filling the mold, take a hammer or thick wooden stick (2x2) and pound sharply for 1 minute on the plywood all around the mold. This releases the air bubbles and allows them to rise to the top of the cement (which is actually the bottom of your stone). DO NOT pound on the mold or move the mold at all, in fact. No screeding either! Movement will encourage seepage. Good Luck! Val

Sep 17, 2009

Stepping Stones
by: Anonymous

I know there are some great molds out there, but if you want an easy way to make stepping stones.....I used the cement stones like you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. Glued my glass on the stone and then grouted over the glass. Take time to smooth the edge of the stone. No worry about how it sets up. You see what it will look like before you are done. Only draw back for me was all the glass had to be the same thickness. It was easy enough for my kids to help make some. I still have one my son did that I cherish. He made his name out of scraps.

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Stepping stone failure

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Stepping stone failure