Concrete 'Tissue Holder'

by npeeters in Workshop > Molds & Casting

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Concrete 'Tissue Holder'

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Hello to all of you instructable-people!

A toilet-visit can be a dull thing to do if you don't have your smartphone to pass the time, this why I made a interesting and eye-catching tissue holder. Why concrete? I always wanted to experiment with this rough but beautiful material.

Round shapes in concrete look futuristic and it always made me wonder how you have to create them. If you want to know it too, follow my steps and don't forget to vote (if you like it)!

Research and Design

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I was sure about giving it a round shape. After some sketching I was happy with the shape, because I thought it was the most interesting. 

A little scheme:

Creating the Mold

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The mold I created is made of multiple layers of strong mdf. The layers all have the same shape that I designed. This mold is reusable and easy to open/close. (This is a very important aspect you should think of when designing something that needs a mold to be created)
Go to your nearby carpenter for assistance or make it yourself!

For the inner hole I used a pvc-tube. (as you will see in the next step)

Advice: put some plastic foil on the inside of the mold, it will give the concrete a flatter surface.

Molding the Product

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I used Weber - fast drying - mortar from a local construction shop.

1 : close the mold firmly
2: Attach the pvc-tube (I used a triangle on the bottom, it won't move) I holded the little one by hand, you may want to have someone to help you..
3: Put some wire mesh in the curve (stronger product)
4: Pour the mortar in and press on it to make sure the space is filled completely

Unmolding

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Carefully unmold the product after about 14 hours of drying in a dry place (about 22 degrees celsius).

Advise: cut the pvc-tube in the length once, it is easier to take it away!

Finishing

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After taking away the pvc-tube (not the little one) I made the tissue holder out of rebar to give it a industrial look. (Can be found in every construction shop) A metal-bender does the work.

To keep it in the hole, attach a little cap with bigger diameter than the hole.

Use It!

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Thanks for following the steps to create this handy, eye-catching product!

I attached it to the wall with Bison-glue.... ;)

I'm from Belgium and my native language is Dutch so there might be some spelling mistakes...