Ian here is modeling the completed counter top which consists of 8 two by fours held togeather by a threaded rod for strength and compression. The vertical walls are two by sixes which are screwed into the base every two inches. This thing is a tank.

The base pictured here is the orginal base which was built first. made from four by four posts, two by four supports, and a two by six frame for the table top. We used the leftover scrap threaded rod to key the table top to the base.

The plaster pour was much more exciting then we would have liked it to be. Short on proper mixing equipment, we figured the easiest way to get this done was with four 5 gallon buckets mixing 25 pounds of plaster at a time. The troughs volume measured 4.1 cubic feet. After doing the math we figured we needed just less than 250 pounds of k-60 pottery plaster from paoli clay.

We dont have any pictures of the mixing, as it got alittle hectic. About 125 pounds into the pour we realized that the table top wasnt quite as sealed as it should have been, but at that point there was really no turning back. The first bucket poured was to set in under 25 minutes from the pour so we had to move. If there were chickens running around the condo with their heads cut off they would have fit right in. The two of us moved as fast as we could, battling the various small leaks, measuring, mixing, and pouring in the race against time.

After drippage it turned out that we had exactly enough plaster. Where we should have had at least 20 extra pounds of plaster we ended up with no excess plaster. Sometimes it just takes alittle luck. Here I am leveling the finished product as it begins to set. Once the plaster dries out completely we are going to sand the rough parts and will be able to use the table. The drying process should take around two to three weeks.