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Left Coast Benzart Carving Seminar. |
Davez_tikiz
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 17, 2005
Posts: 333
From: Riverside, CA
|  Posted: 2006-09-20 9:29 pm Permalink
Grog,
I used a cheap set of flat chisels I got at Harbor Freight.. they do dull up quick. Also used a hand saw to do rough cuts, and some wood files and rasps. The stuff is really soft to get through, although pretty dusty.
Lee... I think I still have enough. Just counted, and I've got like 13 blocks to part with.
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kirby
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: May 04, 2005
Posts: 1599
From: SoCal
| Posted: 2006-09-20 9:29 pm Permalink
A butter knife, and a cheese grater is all you need...
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Cammo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1808
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2006-09-20 9:49 pm Permalink
Just went to the AAC (also known as ACC, natch) International Marketing Products Association website.
http://www.aacpa.org
I still don't like the name AAC. I suggested the trade name "Ace Rock" to the president of the AACPA, veddy snazzy. He's getting back to me on it.
Curiously, it was invented in Europe in 1923, but of couse everybody knows that.
Hey, is this the same stuff they are carving with in Bali? Seems like. Cause they can get huge chunks of it, at least 4' by 2'.
And, does this stuff like emery cloth as a finisher?
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GROG
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6195
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2006-09-20 10:45 pm Permalink
How big are the blocks, and why are getting rid 'em Davez?
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Davez_tikiz
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 17, 2005
Posts: 333
From: Riverside, CA
| Posted: 2006-09-21 05:44 am Permalink
Emery cloth would probably work... I used an 80 and a150 grit sandpaper to finish the ones I've done.
They are 12" x 24" x 81/2". Aaron gave me one last year, and I enjoyed carving a Moai with it. Then I was in Phoenix, 75 miles from a manufacturer, so I picked up a pallet of 16.
Since then my carving time has been cut back (Little League, work, toddlers, teenagers, family, etc)... and so they sit in my garage. I still have like 15 palm logs staring at me from the side of the house. I feel like by the time I catch up on the wood carving, they will have sat in my garage for 3 years... and its already crowded in there.
So then I thought...."maybe someone at the carving seminar will want one..??>>"
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Heath
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 31, 2005
Posts: 581
From: Suburban San Diego (The Drawer)
| Posted: 2006-09-21 07:05 am Permalink
Hey Davez, If you still have any blocks available, I'll take one. It can't be any harder to carve than queen palm, can it?
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GROG
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6195
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2006-09-21 09:25 am Permalink
How weather resistent is this stuff? Once you carve it can it be left outside in the yard, or does it need to be inside out of the weather.
GROG would love to give a block to Crazy Al and see what the "insane one" would do with it.
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Cammo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1808
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2006-09-22 06:33 am Permalink
Gee, GROG, everybody knows this but I guess I'll have to slog through the mundane details to keep you level with the group.
Listen up, cause I ain't chewin this cabbage twice -
AAC, or "Ace Rock" was designed in northern Europe as the world's most perfect building material almost 80 years ago. Here in the good old US of A it's relatively unknown, though, despite a long list of safety and environmental features that sound like a contractor's dream come true.
It doesn't burn. It doesn't emit toxing either in production or when exposed to burning substances near it. It's weight is a fraction of regular concrete's, an experienced four-man team and a single crane operator can install Ace Rock panels at a rate of four to six minutes per panel.
Your question about exposure to the elements is an interesting one. Let me tackle it this way; first, Florida is home to AERCON Industries;
They specialice in Ace Rock for the exact reason you are asking about; Ace doesn't decay when exposed to moist atmospheric conditions. That a big plus in our orange growing sister state to the south!
Florida is also home to a new subdivision entirely composed of Ace Rock, called the Village (hopefully no relation to the 60's cult spy show "The Prisoner") It's billed as one of the quietest condo developments on Earth, because of Ace rock's famed audio blocking quality. A great place to have your next Luau!
Again, I'll post the Ace Rock Marketing site Q&A page;
http://www.aacpa.org/faq/index.htm
Hope this answers your question! And don't ever be scared to ask more!
"I must be a fool because I keep asking questions"
- Socrates
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GROG
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6195
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2006-09-22 09:55 am Permalink
<<AAC, or "Ace Rock" was designed in northern Europe as the world's most perfect building material almost 80 years ago. Here in the good old US of A it's relatively unknown,though, despite a long list of safety and environmental features that sound like a contractor's dream come true.
It doesn't burn. It doesn't emit toxing either in production or when exposed to burning substances near it. It's weight is a fraction of regular concrete's, an experienced four-man team and a single crane operator can install Ace Rock panels at a rate of four to six minutes per panel.>>
Damn! Sounds like some great material.How come come it's "relatively unknown" in the U.S.? These people have GOT to learn to ADVERTISE.
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Cammo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1808
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2006-09-22 10:08 am Permalink
Exactly. I'm talking to the president of the AACPA right now about their lack of snappy graphics and that dreadful product name. He's a bit stodgy but open to ideas; a lot of clams are on the line and he knows it.
How about this jingle - it can be sung by a woman dressed in nothing but a carved AAC bikini, to the tune of 'Chicken of the Sea' -
"What's the best concrete of today?
Try Ace Rock, it's here to stay!"
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Aaron's Akua
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 1594
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
| Posted: 2006-09-22 12:40 pm Permalink
AAC block is a unique building material mainly because of its insulating qualities. It is filled with small air bubbles (Aerated) much like insulation. It is extruded in the factory, cut into blocks and baked in an oven (Autoclave). Hence the name, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC). As a building material it is stacked and mortared together like a thick wall (just like CMU blocks) then they use some type of plaster or stucco to seal it up. As far as I know it is not sold anywhere West of the E-Crete Arizona factory because it does not meet our building codes (anything built from it would probably not hold up well during an earthquake).
It is typically sealed up during construction and does not hold up well to weather in its "natural" state. It will suck up water like a sponge and become brittle after awhile if left in the sun and rain untreated. I've always applied concrete sealer after the carving was done.
The AAC an is interesting material and fun to carve. The little bubbles throughout give it a neat "corally" look after it's carved & sanded. I would snap up whatever blocks Dave brings because you will likely never see it again unless you decide to go to E-Crete in Casa Grande, AZ which is the closest place you will find it. Dave can tell you all about it.
That being said, I'd sideline the whole AAC thing for now because you will soon be in the presence of Master WOOD Carvers, some teaching, others like Monkeyman, attending (speaking to the newer guys here). You will likely never get to carve with these guys again so make sure and soak up every bit of carving knowledge you can while you have the chance! Listen hard, carve hard, party afterwards!
Unfortunately I won't be there. When I finally got serious about it I found out that the whole gig was sold out already. But I dig hanging with the local carvers so I'm sure we will all get to hook up and carve sometime down the road.
Cheers and have fun,
A-A
_________________
"Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness."
-Pablo Picasso
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Matt Reese
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 1114
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2006-09-22 1:32 pm Permalink
I agree with Aaron's Akua. I believe there is a whole thread elsewhere on the ACC stuff. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
I'd also like to remind everyone attending to make sure we've got your t-shirt sizes. The artwork is done and will be getting graphics attached this week.
Cheers.
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Monkeyman
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 04, 2003
Posts: 2301
From: Vista, CA
| Posted: 2006-09-22 2:09 pm Permalink
im a XXXL
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Matt Reese
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 1114
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2006-09-22 4:27 pm Permalink
You wish.
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Monkeyman
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 04, 2003
Posts: 2301
From: Vista, CA
| Posted: 2006-09-25 10:49 am Permalink
my new carvers mallet, draw shave, hook knife, and assortment WIDE gouges arrived on Friday. Had a chance to try it all out.
Draw shaves are RAD!
I can never have too many tools.
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