Flint Panel Edging

[Onoff]

Well I've still not started the flint infills!

As alluded to above SWMBO has chosen some very pretty but unfortunately shallow flints that have very little tail.

If I were to clean each flint (dishwasher?) then "glue" a small offcut of stainless mesh to the back would that work?

 

[angellonewolf]

Well I've still not started the flint infills!

As alluded to above SWMBO has chosen some very pretty but unfortunately shallow flints that have very little tail.

If I were to clean each flint (dishwasher?) then "glue" a small offcut of stainless mesh to the back would that work?

easy way get rid of other half

 

[Onoff]

Decision made! It'll either work or fail miserably but it will have kept me out of the house for a good bit and is deliciously complicated.

I've an off cut of stainless mesh been kicking around for years. 304 I think. Bought some similar recently for work and it was nigh on £100 a sheet! It's about 16SWG/1". (Saying that I do want to make an oil flue mesh guard so I'd get my monies worth out of a sheet doing another 3 panels for the pillars and that).

The plan is then to add another 4, M5 studs, resin anchored in. These won't need to be as long as the existing two as they're to anchor the coach lantern. The mesh is held in place with st/st M5 penny washers and full nuts.

That'll give me a rot proof, mesh "base". I'm then going to glue the individual flints on with Sticks Like **** or something similar. I'll cut the mesh as required if the flint needs to sit a bit deeper past the mesh. Some flints are not so deep though, guess I set my mesh depth near to the shallowest one. Duct tape if necessary to stop the flint slipping.

Once all positioned and the adhesive is set, I'll use a mortar gun to pump lots of the mix below in through the gaps, let it go off a bit and brush in around each flint.

The biggest problem is whether my mix will pump through my mortar gun! Really I should be out trying that rather than charging up the batteries getting ready to drill...

This is the test mix I did back in October 'ish this year after a lot of experimenting

- 3 soft
- 1 sharp (figured it'd add strength and maybe some interest with the fines in it)
- 1 opc
- 1 lime (for plasticity/self healing)

The sample has sat face up for the last 3 months through multiple frost's, freezing days and nights, torrential rain etc. I'm quite pleased how it's weathering. In it's final position it will get some added protection from the pillar capstone overhanging this flint face.

I'm hoping that the lime will aid it going through the gun along with the liquid waterproofer. Only one way to find out!

 

[123hotchef]

i never had much luck with those morta guns, might be easier to stick the flints in with morta and point traditonal as you build it up slower,

 

[Onoff]

i never had much luck with those morta guns, might be easier to stick the flints in with morta and point traditonal as you build it up slower,

I tend to dance to my own tune just to be different. More can I than should I.

 

[123hotchef]

admitidly I didnt have lime in my mix! morta gun was launched nethertheless

 

[Onoff]

admitidly I didnt have lime in my mix! morta gun was launched nethertheless

I've got two different makes. A circa 3" dia one I got years back from I think Screwfix. Heavy duty, plastic bodied. I managed to crack the body one day trying to pump a sharp sand mortar. Reading the instructions later and apparently you shouldn't use with sharp sand.

Then a Roughneck one that gets a bad press I've seen on occasion. The same metal tube section and fittings as the Lidl "Profi-fix I think they call it. About 2" dia.

I've had success with both. The original plastic one was a boon when I pointed wall joints.

 

[Onoff]

It peed down! So...instead of waiting for it to stop and do my test mix/pump, I thought I'd try and stick a flint to the mesh with clear Sticks Like ****.

It didn't go well.

I think it's too "runny" and not "grabby" enough. I wonder if I'd be better with a dedicated grab adhesive. The flint here in the picture slowly twisted and slipped out of position. I've had to use a ratchet strap with a strategically placed twig!

Happy with the mesh as a base. Surprisingly taut and stable.

Wait for this one to dry then!

 

[123hotchef]

Well I told i what I think would work.best.. 1 flint at a time with proper morta and pointing like.They use to do

 

[Onoff]

Well I told i what I think would work.best.. 1 flint at a time with proper morta and pointing like.They use to do

As did many others...here and elsewhere...

...won't stop me trying it!

 

[123hotchef]

As did many others...here and elsewhere...

...won't stop me trying it!

It might work just fine. Take your time not.like you want to earn out of the job..

 

[Onoff]

The Everbuild grab adhesive was marginally better than Sticks Like **** but it still slipped a bit. Very like Sikaflex EBT:

The lower ones were a pain.

Then I had a brainwave, use cable ties to tie the flints to the mesh then blob in some adhesive. As I say some are quite thin and have no tail.

I like to think of myself as the Hengist Pod of flintwork!

Craftsman and those easily offended, look away now!

Going to let it set as is then finish off that top bit. The coach lantern going on the two projecting studs should hold everything in place if it all fails!

 

[Blobber]

Is it going to be a long job, have I got time to boil the kettle?

 

[Onoff]

Is it going to be a long job, have I got time to boil the kettle?

You've time to make one, for you and all your friends

 

[Onoff]

Based on today's adventures, new plan, well a variation on the theme!

1) Get some more mesh

2) Lay cut mesh over the flints in their "layout" sand boxes:

3) Identify the gaps where I can get fixing studs.

4) Put mesh against pillar recesses, drill and fit studs

5) Take mesh back to sand box, (empty sand box).

6) Sit mesh raised up, set flints onto mesh with grab adhesive

7) Let set

8) Lift whole thing into place and bolt up.

9) Fire up the mortar gun!

...or something like that.

 

[Onoff]

Hmmm...

Impetuous me decided to cut the cable ties off...one flint slipped straight away the other just fell off. Where the blobs are at say 3 or 4 points around the periphery of the flint it seems to be holding. Where they're at the top, in effect suspending the flint, not so good.

Some like the 4 at the bottom seem to have held. The two at the very bottom were just Sticks Like ****.

So WTF sticks to flint? I'm now wondering if in fact Sticks Like **** is in fact better adhesion wise than the white Ever Build stuff.

Maybe I should run a line of each on the back of a flint now, let it set and see how difficult it is to peel off.

 

[Onoff]

Lines of white Ever Build Multi Stick and clear Evo Sticks Like **** on both the rough and smooth side of a flint. Left to dry atop the oil boiler.

 

[angellonewolf]

is there a reason why your not just using a cement mix and push the stones in ?

even if you get this to work and hold the stones you still have to point them and trying to fill all that gap is going to be a very long job

 

[Onoff]

is there a reason why your not just using a cement mix and push the stones in ?

even if you get this to work and hold the stones you still have to point them and trying to fill all that gap is going to be a very long job

Many of the flints though quite attractive are very thin, almost slivers in fact. They have no tails. My worry is they would just fall out if sat in a shallow recess of a vertically placed mix.

 

[angellonewolf]

Many of the flints though quite attractive are very thin, almost slivers in fact. They have no tails. My worry is they would just fall out if sat in a shallow recess of a vertically placed mix.

drilll a few holes in the thin ones and resin in a couple screws before fitting



or get more and slant them at a 45 angle up the render