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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Been meaning to try this for awhile.  Figs made me finally do it ha!  Using a piece of Air-Pot material as a hypertufa mold.  A stiff form was required for a half of the pot so a section of 6" PVC pipe was split on the table saw and the plastic forms to it with help of a little tape on the edges.  May try later on making a full round pot after playing with this some.

hypertufa_6.jpg 

Then I used a 50/50 peat/portland mix.  The peat was screened through a 1/8" bucket sifter and pre soaked with excess water squeezed out...

hypertufa_7.jpg 



If this can be de-molded without cracking the piece and another like it, we'll end up with a hinged (sort of) pot.  The Air-Pot structure seems to be such it would make a strong wall but we will see.  Some wire could be bent and laid in between the rows of bumps easily for support but I wanted to try without first.  Standard 1" chicken wire almost matches the hole pattern but not quite.

    

 

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DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Wow!  Lots of work.  I just buy those Sun Leaves grow bags with the holes in them.  Cheap and easy!  Sometimes I put more holes in.  Oh, and they encourage masses of roots with no circling.  They only last a year, but you should repot anyway........

Suzi
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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Here's the type of bucket sifter mentioned...

bucket_sifter_1.jpg 

The desired wire mesh is cut and laid on the cut bucket.  Propane torch on low is used to go along and heat the wire edge while pressing down with a piece of pipe or some other something so fingers don't get burned.  The hot wire goes right down into the plastic that hardens and the wire is forever enclosed.  Then the very edge is trimmed close and hit with a grinder to smooth the edge. You can do all sorts of needful stuff with these and they last forever.

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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertDance
Wow!  Lots of work.  I just buy those Sun Leaves grow bags with the holes in them.  Cheap and easy!  Sometimes I put more holes in.  Oh, and they encourage masses of roots with no circling.  They only last a year, but you should repot anyway........

Suzi


It's only work if you don't like doing it Suzi :)
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drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Very nice! I really like your bucket sifter, easy and reliable!
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Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.
hoosierbanana

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I vote for planting a tree in one of those (awesome) buckets. Pick it up once in a while to prune the roots, or let it get big and then dig. 
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DonCentralTexas

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Very creative, and thanks for the screen idea as well!
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greysmith

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Couple of great ideas here. Please follow up with reports on how the pot holds up and works.

I showed the bucket screen to my wife because she uses screens in her pottery work. But she looked at it and said "that's how to make a screen for a roof washer, just cut the bucket on an angle." So, there's another project on my list. The screen on our store bought roof washer has been a problem from day one.
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drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greysmith
Couple of great ideas here. Please follow up with reports on how the pot holds up and works.

I showed the bucket screen to my wife because she uses screens in her pottery work. But she looked at it and said "that's how to make a screen for a roof washer, just cut the bucket on an angle." So, there's another project on my list. The screen on our store bought roof washer has been a problem from day one.


Roof washer?  Is this a southern thing?  Seriously, I've never heard of a roof washer.  Is it for asphalt shingle roofs or other type?
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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
If I'm correct a roof washer is for catching rain water.  It removes the leaves and other sediments that would otherwise go in the rain barrel.

roofwasher.JPG

That is a pic borrowed from google images.
 
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waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
You go Charlie, very creative, nice to know you are getting some figs on your wish list, keep it updated and I should have something in the fall.
greysmith

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Charlie is right. If you're getting your water from roof catchment you set up a tank with a float valve where the water comes off the roof. It lets the first water from each rain flush the bird poop into that tank then closes it off and diverts the rest of the water into your main catchment tank. You use the roof wash water to water plants. But you want a screen, like he shows, right up top to divert leaves that would interfere with your float valve. The one I bought is a very poor design. It clogs easily, especially if it's been a long time between rains (which is when you need the water the most) and a lot of leaves have settled on the roof. Unclogging it involves either waiting till after the rain and missing out on all the water, or standing under a waterfall while you work.

roof washer.JPG 

This one has a coarse screen on a angle (and I'd want more angle than the one he shows) to shed leaves, then a finer screen down in the pocket. I like the two screens. I add another, a knee high nylon stocking over the pipe outlet into the main tank, but when that fine screen gets clogged (tulip poplar flower pedals are especially bad for clogging) you have to take the coarse screen off to get to it. And, in a heavy rain, with lighting, thunder, and high winds that can be a no fun job. Doing it at night just adds icing to the cake.

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WillsC

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Charlie,

Love all the experimenting you are doing, keep it up.  
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Charles the "Experimenter", I too, really enjoy your trial and success/error methods. We are learning what to try and what not to try.
Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Thinking some quick setting cement would be better, or use some Ultracal gypsum cement.  Nothing hyper about this mix curing time lol.   
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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Word of caution to anyone working with this Air-Pot material.  If cutting on a table saw, this plastic will splinter and/or shatter badly unless you go very slow with a good blade and stable guide.  It does cut very easily with a sharp razor box knife but the structure is such that cutting straight and square by hand is difficult.  
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drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Thanks!  I was scratching my head wondering why someone would wash their roof! 
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Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.
Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Pretty sure I got a bad bag of portland.  Have made lots of hypertufa and never had a batch stay pliable for this long.  This particular experiment will need revisiting with different material.
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