BobbyJack
Well-Known Member
So it's been a bit of a process and a learning curve but I've finally finished the centre piece of the house ready for the log burner. It's a compass in micro cement and a little Venetian plaster. I created my slab from concrete and stone then made the top smooth and neat with a bit of self level. Once dry I created my micro cement top in a grey. Storm grey to be accurate. I used politura micro cement made by actris. It's by far the hardest I've come across being made from quartz. On a MOH scale (MINERALS OF HARDNESS) it scores a rating of 7 out of 10. Diamond is 10. Most micro cement are made from gypsum which scores a rating of 2. So it's tough as old boots.
Once dried I made a start on a stencil while @Danny created a stencil on his laser. When everything was marked out I engraved out the parts I wanted to fill in with colour. After plenty of sanding back using diamond pads here it the end result. A couple of learning curves though. Where the blue has faded in the middle it s due to being created from Venetian plaster as I had no blue micro cement and I didn't go deep enough on the engrave. But as it happens it looks a little distressed so has turned out ok. Another point is I need to find a stronger dremel bit as I went through a few on the grind out. The surface has come out the way I wanted on the base grey as the back coat has come through nicely. Downside is I should have sanded some areas more to make it all look this way. It's finished off with a diasol sealer and carbon finish. This is a very nice sealing system from actris and is stronger against stains like wine although I'm hoping not to be spilling wine as it is so precious.
In the end I'm happy and it looks a little different. Will update a few more images in a few weeks when the fire is in place
And yes North points to actual north and the box markers aroind the perimeter at 18° markers
Once dried I made a start on a stencil while @Danny created a stencil on his laser. When everything was marked out I engraved out the parts I wanted to fill in with colour. After plenty of sanding back using diamond pads here it the end result. A couple of learning curves though. Where the blue has faded in the middle it s due to being created from Venetian plaster as I had no blue micro cement and I didn't go deep enough on the engrave. But as it happens it looks a little distressed so has turned out ok. Another point is I need to find a stronger dremel bit as I went through a few on the grind out. The surface has come out the way I wanted on the base grey as the back coat has come through nicely. Downside is I should have sanded some areas more to make it all look this way. It's finished off with a diasol sealer and carbon finish. This is a very nice sealing system from actris and is stronger against stains like wine although I'm hoping not to be spilling wine as it is so precious.
In the end I'm happy and it looks a little different. Will update a few more images in a few weeks when the fire is in place
And yes North points to actual north and the box markers aroind the perimeter at 18° markers
