Web Site suggesttions sent to us by
ECM from Sunnyvale, CA
and by Mimi Stadler

• USING VERMICULITE PLASTER TO MAKE CAR MODELS:

  "Beatnik Bandit by "Big Daddy" Roth"

  "Big Daddy" Roth, the famous custom car and bike builder used a mix of 30% hardwall plaster and 70% vermiculite plus water to make plaster models of his vehicles.

  The plaster allowed him to cheaply try different body styles and was much cheaper than clay. If he didn't like something, he would file it down or hacksaw it off and try again.

  To see more of these cars, go to Old Custom Car Museum Postcards

  ( Roth invented the cartoon character "Rat Fink" (and friends) that were popular in comics and t-shirts in the 60s. He was a popular counter-culture figure from Southern California in the 60s.

  There is a book about his cars, I think it is called "Hot Rods of Ed Roth", in which there are pictures of him working with the vermiculite-laden plaster molds of cars. )

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• USING PERLITE OR VERMICULITE WITH PORTLAND CEMENT TO MAKE A LIGHTWEIGHT SCULTURE MEDIUM.

  In his book, Meaning in Crafts, edward L. Mattil describes how vermiculite and/or perlite can be used with portland cement to make a scupting medium that carves easily for kids.

  To read more about this go to A page from Meaning in Crafts

  Remember: Zonolite was a trade name of the W.R. Grace Company for their brand of vermiculite. Any brand of vermiculite or perlite could be used in this mix!!