Need a handprint in Concrete. Ideas please...

[gaijin]

We have these three handprints from when we built the house. We had another kid so we need another print. Should I frame and pour concrete right on the slab? Lots of builders in the area who likely have an extra spoonful at the end of their big pours.

Or- Should I do the mold externally and then epoxy the new mold to the old base? It'll never match, so any ideas to make the mismatch look nice?

[Hugh Conway]

Ideally - large diameter concrete hole saw/core drill out the same or similar diameter to the existing prints - fill in the new concrete and new handprint.

[Stowelen]

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[gaijin]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Doubt I can rent that tool, though.

I guess I should just tell some local mudders to swing by next time I see them prepping a pour in the area.

[bfree]

or just go buy a $5 bag at the hardware store? 50 lbs will be enough for a few more kids and maybe pets too.

[skimaxpower]

Sell the second child. Buy heli trip.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Mark out a 12"x12" square next to left hand print. Using a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a diamond blade cut the square then make a series of slices in this square. Using a small rotary-hammer-drill chip out the concrete. This should yield an appox. 1 1/2" deep pocket to add another hand print. Maybe throw some sealer over the whole sidewalk after for added protection.

[nickwm21]

Write a change order to penhall.

sent from the future using my mind powers

[RootSkier]

This should yield an appox. 1 1/2" deep pocket to add another hand print. Maybe throw some sealer over the whole sidewalk after for added protection.

That will work sweet until the very first freeze-thaw cycle.

[bsavery]

Sell the second child. Buy heli trip.

Dibs.

123

[Viva]

The kids's face prints would have been more original, and entertaining. Your wife's boob prints would have been nice, too.

Tear out the existing slab and pour a new one incorporating my suggestions.

[GeezerSteve]

"Better a hand in Concrete than a foot in Sedro-Woolley."

--Traditional Upper Skagit tribe adage

[DeathVan]

You could color/stain all of the concrete after the new one is done so they would match.

edit:
New Idea!
How about you make a cast of the current molds, break out this block and repress a new slab with the old molds as well as the new addition?
re-edit: -ahh this was actually your idea in the OP

[nickwm21]

You could color/stain all of the concrete after the new one is done so they would match.

edit:
New Idea!
How about you make a cast of the current molds, break out this block and repress a new slab with the old molds as well as the new addition?
re-edit: -ahh this was actually your idea in the OP

If you were gunna do that... wouldn't it be easier to just have everyone just stick their hands back in....

sent from the future using my mind powers

[DeathVan]

If you were gunna do that... wouldn't it be easier to just have everyone just stick their hands back in....

sent from the future using my mind powers

err..Hands grow

I think the point is he wants to memorialize their little kid hands.
-I may be wrong

He could just get a bunch of random kids hands though, no one would know the difference (except the family...and maybe the cops)

[JayPowHound]

There's gotta be a cheap / rental tool that will dig you a hole in the existing slab..

Not sure what that is, but I'd research it, buy/rent it, and dig yourself a hole... then you can just pour some new concrete in there and print accordingly.

EDIT -- is there a home depot near you? Looks like they rent jackhammers. If i were you I'd go that route, at the very least you'll get to play with a big tool and destroy some shit and, I mean really.. who doesn't enjoy playing with a big tool every now and again!

http://www.homedepotrents.com/diyTools/breaker.asp

[gaijin]

There are DIY shops in town. But this is rural Japan. Rentable tools are beat, rusty, dull, ungrounded and generally more dangerous than anything. I'd rather just hire a pro who can get it done right or epoxy in a nice tile/plaque. I don't have to pretend my boy was living when we built the house. It doesn't have to match, but it does have to last and look clean.

I like Viva's idea.

[jfost]

...I like Viva's idea.

yes, and with boob-prints you could always fill one with seed and the other with water and make a little bird sanctuary.

[Vt-Freeheel]

If done right I doubt freeze/thaw would affect it.

Here's another IDEA, have a square cut out. I had a company cut a doorway through a foundation wall into an addition I was building for a client. Found the company in the yellow pages. If you can't find them in the book a call to your local redimix plant should provide a lead.
Add the bird feeder at this time, post pictures of molding process.

[hutash]

I don't know about availability in Japan, but there are people who core and cut concrete. We had a guy out to bore two holes in our curb for drains. It was surprisingly cheap.

[AlpiNord]

To not make it look like an afterthought and blend the new with the old, you'll need to tweak the origin hand print surroundings to match the new approach....or make it look clearly unique, otherwise if it's just 'off' it'll look and be 'off'.

[Caucasian Asian]

The only issue with drilling/coring/cutting concrete is running into rebar. The concrete is easy to deal with, the rebar isn't so much.

[3boyzz]

Buy a couple bags of mortar mix and a bag of Portland cement. Mix the mortar with an extra shovel full or two of Portland mixed in. The extra Portland cement will make the mortar stronger, a higher psi strength rating. The mortar is aggregate/stone free so it is creamier and easier to use and smooth.

Mix well but not too soupy. You should be able to form a round shape with it and have it stay. Place plastic on a solid surface. Place the mortar on the plastic in any shape desired. You can make circles, hearts, whatever you want and make it about two inches thick. Smooth out the surface and make the hand/boob imprints. If desired you can add concrete color powder to the mix as well. You can sprinkle to color on top or mix it throughout. Let them dry completely before removing them from the plastic. Green concrete breaks very easily.

I would suggest a small test batch to get the consistency right.

I have made these several times. Some have survived over ten years outside as stepping stones in winters that reach below zero with no damage. They are also portable and can move when you do. You can let the kids decorate them, embed items in them and make some really neat presents for grandparents and Mother's Day.

Let us know how they turn out!

[Vt-Freeheel]

The only issue with drilling/coring/cutting concrete is running into rebar. The concrete is easy to deal with, the rebar isn't so much.

The guys that cut for me sliced through several #4 rebar like butter. If there is any metal in that slab, I would guess mesh at best.

[userA]

yes, and with boob-prints you could always fill one with seed and the other with water and make a little bird sanctuary.

kinda assuming she got some DD's with this idea.
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