what to coat wood with so cement won't stick

[bdeditch]

I need to buils some small forms ( 2X 6 size). What is good to coat the wood so the cement won't stick to it when I take it a part.

[Deputy Dumbya Dawg]

If you are trying to protect the concrete you poured probably nothing is needed. If you want to protect the wood maybe Pam or some other sprayable oil.

peace dawg.

[Michael Bulatovich]

the pros use a 'releasing agent' which is usual an oil based product IINM.

would seem to indicate that fuel oil (diesel) might be a cheap and nasty "solution" depending on the application.

[Big_Jake]

I use waste motor oil, but I would think corn oil or anything cheap and oily should work.

JK

[Michael Bulatovich]

Do you get any staining at all with the dark stuff? I was going to play around with some castingthis summer....

[Big_Jake]

Don't know what you mean be "casting". I was referring to forms for driveways, sidewalks, etc. The edges almost always end up at or below grade, but they don't look particularly bad when I strip the forms.

JK

[Dan Deckert]

It's just called form oil in the trades....Google search returns a bunch........all kinds of different things but mostly petroleum based. Diesel fuel works but stinks to high heaven as always. Kiss the wood goodbye!

Dan

[Michael Bulatovich]

I've been storing a few bags of redimix next to the furnace for way to long...thought I'd try making a bird bath.

[Michael Bulatovich]

Not as formwork.

[yugami]

Vegetable oil works great for me.

[Big_Jake]

Then I wouldn't recommend waste oil unless it is from your deep fryer!

JK

[Michael Bulatovich]

Point taken, unless I'm trying to poison the little bastards... to get them to stop pooping on my deck....

[richard]

A sheet of thin plastic like painters use to drape around projects. This would keep the cement from coming in contact with the wood and totally reusable.

[crhras]

Saran Wrap and a little KY Jelly.

[marson]

anything like painters plastic or saran rap would be prone to shredding, unless you can be very gentle. also the wrinkles will show in the end product.

[Michael Bulatovich]

and if you did get wrinkles, you may never get the plastic entirely off the concrete.