Amoskeag Northern - Simonds Industrial Branch

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wait, what's that rock? That looks spot on for, well, lots of good stuff.

[central.vermont]

Some rock work is being done. Lots and lots of gray industrial tile blocks to be scored and snapped and stacked.

I feel your pain buddy!!! 

Jon

[Ian MacMillan]

Wait, what's that rock? That looks spot on for, well, lots of good stuff.

Ed, it is industrial floor tile that is scored in a jig, then snapped into strips, and then I use two other jigs to break down the strips into 4' or 8' blocks.

I use the white and blue/gray tiles. You can get them for $.79 each at Home Depot and Lowes.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Got some pics/specs for the jig?

[conrail98]

I'd take a link to the tiles you are talking about. I can't seem to find what you refer to by "industrial floor tile",

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

Sorry....its Armstrong Commercial Tile
http://www.lowes.com/pd_16368-61-51903031_4294856531__?productId=3014956&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1

HD doesn't have it listed on their site, but its the same thing Armstrong.

The strip jig is just a simple 1"x3" cut 18" long, and a 1/8" grove(A saw blade is about 1/8") is cut in it, as deep as youd like your blocks to be deep. Mine is 1/4". You put the tile in, score both sides and then use the jig to snap off the strip.

The block jig (large block jig shown) is just a piece of scrap 2x2 with a 1x8" grove cut in it as deep as you want to blocks to be long. The large one is a scale 8' deep. I then just stick in the strip and start snapping off blocks.

[Bsklarski]

Since you guys are so fast at making those stone walls do  you want to make mine???

[peteski]

Some rock work is being done. Lots and lots of gray industrial tile blocks to be scored and snapped and stacked.

That's pretty darn slick!
Simple, effective and very realistic looking solution, since it is built block-by-block like the real thing!  Learning techniques like this one is what I love about online forums.  Well, being able to whine and kvetch until almost being banned is also fun...

[Ian MacMillan]

...Well, being able to whine and kvetch until almost being banned is also fun...

Those can be scheduled

Since you guys are so fast at making those stone walls do  you want to make mine???

HAHA this crap isn't fast at all! That small section in the photo took around 3hrs'ish. Hardest part is remembering to overlay corners even though you want to butt them so its easier!

[conrailthomas519]

May take you sometime to do the work (very tidious work, I might add) but the end result is Awesome! Keep going Ian!

[Bsklarski]

I started building walls in place already. No it does not go fast lol. I have managed to fill a medium size deli container with blocks. I need a faster way to make them. What exactly did you do to make those jigs?

[Ian MacMillan]

I started building walls in place already. No it does not go fast lol. I have managed to fill a medium size deli container with blocks. I need a faster way to make them. What exactly did you do to make those jigs?

See above. If you need anything else Brian let me know

The strip jig is just a simple 1"x3" cut 18" long, and a 1/8" grove(A saw blade is about 1/8") is cut in it, as deep as youd like your blocks to be deep. Mine is 1/4". You put the tile in, score both sides and then use the jig to snap off the strip.

The block jig (large block jig shown) is just a piece of scrap 2x2 with a 1x8" grove cut in it as deep as you want to blocks to be long. The large one is a scale 8' deep. I then just stick in the strip and start snapping off blocks.

[Ian MacMillan]

I'm liking that school has started...that means kiddos are gone all day! Plenty of time for trains or motorcars or motorcycles!

Took me 5hrs, but I was able to get the majority of the retaining walls done for the road overpass.
Need to get some macros for the new camera.

[Pomperaugrr]

Ian, those walls look amazing!  The texture and color look perfect, just a few weathering washes to finish them.  That is a cool technique that really captures the stone block walls seen all over New England!

Eric

[peteski]

That is a cool technique that really captures the stone block walls seen all over New England!

Yeah, as in "New Hampshire: the Granite State"!