[ckenyon1964]

Does anybody know of anyone who has created cemetery entrance pillars out of those long thick cardboard tubes that construction companies use for cement footings? I was thinking of going this route instead of the popular squared pillars, but I am unsure of how to make the cardboard tubes waterproof after painting.

I thought that perhaps by using these columns it would prevent the common problem of styrofoam sheeting getting chipped and broken from kids, animals, etc.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[TK421]

Mr.PumpkinGrin said he built some a while back. You should send him a PM, or ask him to start a thread with some of his pics and lessons learned.

 

[Ugly Joe]

If you use an exterior house paint as your base coat on the tubes, it should be sufficient for weather-proofing.

If you're really worried about it, paint the inside as well - most house paints are pretty water resistant once they dry.

(I've painted my paper-mache in regular house paint (as a base coat), and it holds up pretty well - sun, rain, fog and wind)

 

[Frankie's Girl]

Latex or acrylic paint is waterproof once dry.

They are both polymer-based paints, which means that you can do clean-up with water (no solvents needed) when they are still wet - BUT once they are dry they are a plastic polymer. It forms a flexible skin over any painted surface.

The better the coverage, the more certain it's going to be waterproof. Get EVERY SINGLE BIT OF SURFACE COVERED. Inside, outside, edges, recesses, whatever...

For the best waterproof application, use the paint without watering it down, allow to dry and finish with a sealant coating, but sealant is really only necessary if the prop is going to see heavy weather exposure.

I've had cardboard fence columns for going on 3 years, and they've even been rained on, and still look pretty good.

 

[TK421]

Something else I would recommend is putting your pillars on some sort of platform. This will help protect the bottom of the pillar from wicking.

 

[ckenyon1964]

Thanks guys. This has been really helpful.

Yes, TK421, I was planning on building layers of squared wood platforms on both the tops and bottoms of the pillars, then adding urns or lamps of some kind on top. I figure if I drill a few holes into the squared bases I can stake them into the ground with metal rods for support.

I am also considering attaching a skewed PVC "iron"gate to each pillar in a permanent open position as an added means of support.

 

[TK421]

Something else you can try is getting some of the 1/4" blue foam from Lowes and wrap it around the pillar. This will give you something you can carve and detail.

 

[Terra]

Great idea on that TK421!

Liuoliveira also did a circular column project here: http://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/75357-roman-columns-i-love-2009-a.html

 

[TK421]

Great idea on that TK421!

Liuoliveira also did a circular column project here: http://www.halloweenforum.com/general-halloween/75357-roman-columns-i-love-2009-a.html

What a great link!!! Thanks for posting that, Terra. I know there are a lot of tutorials I haven't even seen yet, just sitting on pages from days gone by.

 

[[email protected]]

There called sonet tubes and you can use Dry-loc for the paintworks great for that and gives a stone look to it.also if you use any latex type paint and deside to seal it after make sure the sealant is ok for latex otherwise it will peel the latex off.

 

[ckenyon1964]

WOW Terra! Thanks so much for that link!! Just having the pictures is a HUGE help in planning this project!

I am SO glad I joined this site! LOL

 

[scream1973]

Sono Tubes generally have a waxy covering on the inisde of them so they can stand up pretty well to weather.
I used these for the columns on the exterior of my crypt . I painted the outside with latex exterior paint and sand mixture and they stood up to around 2 weeks in the weather outside with no visible damage.
Of course they were covered from the top and the bottom was not directly on the ground ( on steps )