studio2concrete
Member of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild
As a collaboration between Tim Jones and Andy Hilton, Studio2Concrete focuses on precast concrete as a medium for countertops, furnishings, and art pieces. As designers, we are drawn to the challenge of mold making and casting, and as craftsmen we are drawn to the versatility and enduring beauty of concrete.
In contrast to the monolithic slabs that most are familiar, our designs embrace sleek forms and smooth curves. Our experience with in-house precasting allows us to have a high degree of control, and to keep the concrete true to the original design. We think of concrete as “liquid stone”, and our molds shape it in all three dimensions. The materials selected for our molds are as important as the concrete itself. Non-porous, flexible materials such as acrylic and plastic are most frequently employed.
Our techniques for reinforcement with steel or plastic fibers allow for designs that are remarkably thin, or cantilevered in unlikely ways. Our own custom mix of cement, sand, and aggregate produces a concrete of superior strength. The use of vibration insures that pockets of air that could later weaken the concrete and diminish the finish are drawn out.
While many associate concrete with the rough, gray sidewalks of city streets, we challenge this notion with limitless combinations of dyes, stains, and finishes. Exposed and polished aggregates such as recycled glass or oyster shells provide unique and diverse finishes. This is achieved using a wet grinder and a succession of progressively finer diamond sanding pads. Depending on the application of the piece, a sealer and wax are applied to insure that it has the desired feel and a long, stain-free life.
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