ferro to cement

 First the basic skeleton is prepared with iron rods.

The mason then wraps hexagonal chicken mesh on the basic skeleton. He binds the mesh to the frame with by tying it unto the frame with thin wires. There is no welding required. The mesh can be overlapped if required.

The helper mixes sand ,cement and water. The mason puts it unto the steel mesh frame. He keeps a piece of cardboard at the back to avoid mortar from falling from other side.

So, a layer of mortar is evenly put on the frame. But now it needs finishing.

He marks the centre of the bowl visually. Being a skilled mason its very precise.

Now for finishing he starts from the top edge. Taking the centre as a refrence he levels the edge with the help of a metal rectangular section.

After basic levelling, he checks the edges with a levellin ruler and levels again.

Without the sophisticated machines and tools, one has to devise creative methods to solve problems. Here mason uses the measuring tape as his compass and marks a perfect circle on the edge.

After the markings, the mason cuts the edges with his tool to get a perfect circle.

To get perfect thicknesses and edges, he uses a simple template.

Finishing on the inner side of the bowl is almost done.

Then, very interestingly, he uses a small round pebble to rub on the slightly dry mortar, to give a better finish.

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Very carefully the bowl is overturned and mortar is applied onto it

The levelling is very important as he has to keep in mind the shape and symmetry.

for the final finish he pours a thin paste of sand and cement over the mortar and gives the final touch.

After this process, the object has to be cured for about 21 days to be strong and have a long life.
In this case curing is done by filling water in it.
Curing can be done in many ways. Either the article can be covered with a plastic or coconut husk after splashing water on it, so that it remains moist for a longer duration. Then there are curing chambers as well, which have water filled to a ceratin level and the obeject is kept inside. With heat the water keeps circulating the closed chamber with evaporation and condensation and keeps the object moist. The water to be used for curing can not be dirty water.

With similiar process the top cover of the bowl is also made. After the curing period, holes are drilled in it and metal pegs are fixed with araldite.

The flow of the water is being tested.