Elise Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 I am making a plaster wedging table, I’ve read here that hydrocal is the plaster to use. Can I use the lightweight formula? Or should I stick with the high-strength formula? The lightweight is slightly cheaper and is on amazon prime so I’d have it by Monday versus waiting longer for it to arrive and paying slightly more for the high-strength formula. TIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 19, 2019 Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 I've always just used #1 Pottery Plaster. The reason to use Hydrocal is for greater durability, so I'd go for the high strength formula. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elise Posted April 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2019 9 minutes ago, neilestrick said: I've always just used #1 Pottery Plaster. The reason to use Hydrocal is for greater durability, so I'd go for the high strength formula. Perfect, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 Hydrocal doesn't have the water absorbing property of plaster. If you want to use the wedging table for drying clay, definitely plaster. Use expanded metal as a reinforcement in the plaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elise Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 12 minutes ago, CactusPots said: Hydrocal doesn't have the water absorbing property of plaster. If you want to use the wedging table for drying clay, definitely plaster. Use expanded metal as a reinforcement in the plaster. After more research I decided to order the USG #1 Potters Plaster instead. I don’t know what expanded metal is but I will google it. I am also going to search on this forum for tips on building a (small) wedging table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 How big is "small"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 Expanded metal is the stuff they build plaster walls with. You could use hardware cloth, which is a smaller hole version of chicken wire. I usually wind up working on my wedging table, so I'm building a new bigger one for my new patio working area. In this case, bigger is better. Whatever space you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 Tips on building a wedging table. Make it as strong as you possible can. My preferred construction method is to cut the lateral supports 2x4 into the legs 4x4 Screw and glue with Gorilla Glue. My woodworking skills are not what I would have them be, so the Gorilla Glue covers a multitude of sins. The top lateral 2x4s only cut half way into the legs, so they stick up 1 1/2 inches. That will be the thickness of plaster, minus the plywood. Not so thick, you need the wire. If you need more info, I could try to do a better job describing it. My current table is 15+ years with no problems, no wiggle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 You can also add add layers of plastic cloth/fiberglass cloth to reinforce in the middle of the pour. If you go to the main page and do a search you will see many posts on making wedging tables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elise Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 11 hours ago, JohnnyK said: How big is "small"? This is my current wedging table. It’s very sturdy since the legs are metal. I am just planning on adding plaster to the top wood section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted April 20, 2019 Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 OK… Take a couple of 1x4s and nail them to the sides and the front of your table top, calculate the volume, mix a little more plaster than your calculation and pour it into the frame. then take a stiff straight edge, and skim the top level and let it set up. Voila...you have a wedging table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elise Posted April 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2019 15 minutes ago, JohnnyK said: OK… Take a couple of 1x4s and nail them to the sides and the front of your table top, calculate the volume, mix a little more plaster than your calculation and pour it into the frame. then take a stiff straight edge, and skim the top level and let it set up. Voila...you have a wedging table. Thank you Sir! I will follow your directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 21, 2019 Report Share Posted April 21, 2019 With #1 Pottery Plaster, you'll need 16.316 grams of plaster per cubic inch. Plaster to water ratio is 10:7 by weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elise Posted April 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2019 I’ve read through most all of the “how to” posts on building wedging tables and I’m seeing that you can add hardware cloth in the middle of the plaster to strengthen it. I have some hardware cloth scraps I can use but I don’t see any details on exactly how to add it. I guess my question is this- do I pour 1/2 of the plaster, let it firm up, then add the HC, then pour the other 1/2 and let set? Or Do I pour 1/2 then immediately add the HC then pour the other 1/2 and let set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 Do I pour 1/2 then immediately add the HC then pour the other 1/2 and let set? Yes this-keep on pouring so its one continuous pour-with cloth on middle.Get soem help so you pour they drop in the cloth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 23, 2019 Report Share Posted April 23, 2019 You can set a spacer so the second pour won't push the hardware cloth to the bottom. That can be as simple or complicated as you want. Even if it's at the bottom, it will be better than none at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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