<p>This question is premised on a particular cement product that could be handled like clay but appeared to dry looking like poured concrete.  It turns out that is not the case.  So the &quot;simplest&quot; answer is that the question is based on bad assumptions.  However, depending on actual requirements, the objective of the question could have full or partial solutions.</p>
<p><strong>ShapeCrete</strong></p>
<p>Start with the product that triggered the question.  The example you saw on the ShapeCrete web site is easy to misinterpret.  After a lot of investigation, it appears it was an anomaly, and not quite what it seemed to look like.  Getting into all the details would be tangential to this answer.  But if you want to exploring that example, what it appeared to be and why, the technique used, or how to reliably get readily-visible bubbles in ShapeCrete or a similar product, that would be great fodder for a separate question.</p>
<p>The key points are these:</p>
<ul>
<li>It's a cement product.</li>
<li>It can be mixed to be pourable, in which case it will have the bubbles of poured concrete but not the surface texture.</li>
<li>It can be mixed to handle like clay, in which case the result will look like clay.</li>
</ul>
<p>It is no longer available.  But if what it does is useful to you, yes, there are alternatives.  I found an equivalent competing product: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B0877B827X" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SculptCrete</a>.  There may be others.  Note that neither ShapeCrete nor its competitors will dry to look like poured concrete when used like clay.</p>
<p><strong>DIY Mixes</strong></p>
<p>There are also DIY cement mixes that handle like clay.  They typically have a surface texture like concrete rather than like clay.  So a DIY mixture may be close enough for some applications, or could be a good starting point to replicate the look of poured concrete.  Do a search on &quot;diy concrete clay&quot;.  You'll find videos like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4j5qgNFQE0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Making a Concrete Mix that Works Like Clay</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWTihkgJQKA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">How To Make Concrete Clay At Home</a>.  Each recipe will have different characteristics, depending on the purpose.</p>
<p><strong>Concrete appearance</strong></p>
<p>The characteristic appearance of <strong>poured</strong> concrete comes from two aspects:</p>
<ul>
<li>Surface texture (smooth and grainy)</li>
<li>Surface bubbles</li>
</ul>
<p>The surface texture comes from the component sand of a certain particle size.  That can be easily replicated by using a mixture that contains sand of similar size.  Clays use a much smaller particle size and result in a smoother surface.  However, you can start with a concrete mix and modify it to handle more like clay (most of the DIY concrete clay mixes), or start with an air dry clay and add some sand to make the surface texture similar to concrete.</p>
<p>Bubbles are a characteristic of poured concrete.  Pouring it into a mold results in some of those bubbles being on what will become the surface when it is demolded.</p>
<p>By its nature, clay-like materials do not have surface bubbles, at least of a size that looks like poured concrete.  You can do things to get bubbles into the surface.  On material that is wet, soft, and barely clay-like, it's easier to do and there are more ways to do it.  On material that is firm, dense clay, there are limited ways to modify the surface to produce bubble pocks, but it can be done.  If the material only has to <strong>look</strong> like poured concrete and doesn't have to actually be concrete, there are more options.</p>
<p>Basically, the requirement for handling like clay is the opposite of the requirement for surface bubbles.  The more clay-like it is, the fewer options there are for getting bubble pocks into the surface.  It's worth examining the requirements for a specific project in detail because there are trade-offs that can make the project a lot easier if some of the requirements aren't critical.</p>
<p>How to get a specific kind or type of clay-like material to look like poured concrete would be a discussion for another question.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T15:55:16.700Z
Thanks for the thorough answer! I appreciate your expertise.  In your first paragraph about Shapecrete you mention having discovered an anomaly in how it was used. I think that would be helpful for this answer as well and not wasted/tangential. Alternatively you mention it'd be good for another question and I'm happy to ask that if you can help me understand how to phrase it to hit on that correctly. Perhaps, "how was Shapecrete used to make this example?" Although unavailable now, it seems like understanding would help us learn.  Thanks again!
rfii
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T23:04:40.743Z
@rfii, I created a [chat room](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/118339/discussion-on-question-by-rfii-about-shapecrete) so we have some flexibility to get into discussion without creating a long comment thread here.  Whenever it's convenient, drop in.  I left a few thoughts.  Just remember to add an @ "address" on what you post there so I'll be alerted.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-28T23:55:54.827Z
2020-12-30T09:34:20.517Z
2020-12-30T09:34:20.517Z
fixer1234
<p>I am looking for a product like Shapecrete which appears to no longer be made.  According to the website <code>shapecrete.com</code> the product looks like it is a type of concrete that can be worked like clay. Thus, it is easier for making rather thin walled sculptures (ex: they have a youtube example of making a hollow birdhouse).<br />
In contrast to clay, it seems to air-dry very hard and has the appearance of concrete.<br />
I never used it myself, but I particularly like how the texture seems to have those tiny air bubbles like regular concrete.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Fkl.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Fkl.jpg" alt="example" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oye5a.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oye5a.jpg" alt="bird" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T02:33:18.933Z
There are some airdry clay formulas that contain joint compound, which dry pretty dense and hard, although not as hard as concrete and with a smoother texture.  They work like clay and can produce things like that hollow house.   People use Portland cement and sand as components in some "clay" recipes, which dry very concrete-like if that texture and hardness is a requirement.  My recollection is that it may not be as good for delicate, finely-detailed, or thin-walled work.  (cont'd)
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T02:33:25.813Z
That said, it looks like there's another commercial product similar to Shapecrete.  Check out [SculptCrete](https://www.amazon.com/SculptCrete-lb-Shape-able-Concrete-Clay/dp/B0877B827X).  I've never used either product, so I'll leave this as a comment.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T02:53:20.617Z
I've checked out sculptcrete but all the examples seem to have more of a clay/resin texture instead of concrete.
rfii
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T03:30:11.673Z
Your best bet will probably be to experiment with various recipes to see what gives you the precise characteristics you want.  Start with a search on "diy concrete clay".  You'll find videos like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4j5qgNFQE0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWTihkgJQKA.  Each recipe will have different characteristics, depending on the purpose.  The "concrete look" will come mainly from Portland cement as a main ingredient, possibly with fine sand as another ingredient for texture.  Other ingredients and the ratio of water in the mix are what give it the clay-like handling.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T07:57:39.320Z
@fixer1234 Your comments seem to form a perfectly fine answer, can you post it as such?
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T14:32:01.223Z
@Joachim, it turns out there's more to the story.  The answer to this would be a bit long.  But I'll try to flesh out a real answer rather than repackage those comments.
fixer1234
<sculpting><clay><concrete>
Alternative to Shapecrete - moldable concrete that is workable like clay
rfii
# Alternative to Shapecrete - moldable concrete that is workable like clay

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-27)

I am looking for a product like Shapecrete which appears to no longer be made. According to the website `shapecrete.com` the product looks like it is a type of concrete that can be worked like clay. Thus, it is easier for making rather thin walled sculptures (ex: they have a youtube example of making a hollow birdhouse).  
In contrast to clay, it seems to air-dry very hard and has the appearance of concrete.  
I never used it myself, but I particularly like how the texture seems to have those tiny air bubbles like regular concrete.

[![example](https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Fkl.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Fkl.jpg)

[![bird](https://i.sstatic.net/oye5a.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/oye5a.jpg)

**Tags:** sculpting, clay, concrete

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are some airdry clay formulas that contain joint compound, which dry pretty dense and hard, although not as hard as concrete and with a smoother texture.  They work like clay and can produce things like that hollow house.   People use Portland cement and sand as components in some "clay" recipes, which dry very concrete-like if that texture and hardness is a requirement.  My recollection is that it may not be as good for delicate, finely-detailed, or thin-walled work.  (cont'd)  
> **username_1**: That said, it looks like there's another commercial product similar to Shapecrete.  Check out [SculptCrete](https://www.amazon.com/SculptCrete-lb-Shape-able-Concrete-Clay/dp/B0877B827X).  I've never used either product, so I'll leave this as a comment.  
> **username_0**: I've checked out sculptcrete but all the examples seem to have more of a clay/resin texture instead of concrete.  
> **username_1**: Your best bet will probably be to experiment with various recipes to see what gives you the precise characteristics you want.  Start with a search on "diy concrete clay".  You'll find videos like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4j5qgNFQE0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWTihkgJQKA.  Each recipe will have different characteristics, depending on the purpose.  The "concrete look" will come mainly from Portland cement as a main ingredient, possibly with fine sand as another ingredient for texture.  Other ingredients and the ratio of water in the mix are what give it the clay-like handling.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Your comments seem to form a perfectly fine answer, can you post it as such?  
> **username_1**: @username_2, it turns out there's more to the story.  The answer to this would be a bit long.  But I'll try to flesh out a real answer rather than repackage those comments.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

This question is premised on a particular cement product that could be handled like clay but appeared to dry looking like poured concrete. It turns out that is not the case. So the "simplest" answer is that the question is based on bad assumptions. However, depending on actual requirements, the objective of the question could have full or partial solutions.

**ShapeCrete**

Start with the product that triggered the question. The example you saw on the ShapeCrete web site is easy to misinterpret. After a lot of investigation, it appears it was an anomaly, and not quite what it seemed to look like. Getting into all the details would be tangential to this answer. But if you want to exploring that example, what it appeared to be and why, the technique used, or how to reliably get readily-visible bubbles in ShapeCrete or a similar product, that would be great fodder for a separate question.

The key points are these:

* It's a cement product.
* It can be mixed to be pourable, in which case it will have the bubbles of poured concrete but not the surface texture.
* It can be mixed to handle like clay, in which case the result will look like clay.

It is no longer available. But if what it does is useful to you, yes, there are alternatives. I found an equivalent competing product: [SculptCrete](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B0877B827X). There may be others. Note that neither ShapeCrete nor its competitors will dry to look like poured concrete when used like clay.

**DIY Mixes**

There are also DIY cement mixes that handle like clay. They typically have a surface texture like concrete rather than like clay. So a DIY mixture may be close enough for some applications, or could be a good starting point to replicate the look of poured concrete. Do a search on "diy concrete clay". You'll find videos like [Making a Concrete Mix that Works Like Clay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4j5qgNFQE0) and [How To Make Concrete Clay At Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWTihkgJQKA). Each recipe will have different characteristics, depending on the purpose.

**Concrete appearance**

The characteristic appearance of **poured** concrete comes from two aspects:

* Surface texture (smooth and grainy)
* Surface bubbles

The surface texture comes from the component sand of a certain particle size. That can be easily replicated by using a mixture that contains sand of similar size. Clays use a much smaller particle size and result in a smoother surface. However, you can start with a concrete mix and modify it to handle more like clay (most of the DIY concrete clay mixes), or start with an air dry clay and add some sand to make the surface texture similar to concrete.

Bubbles are a characteristic of poured concrete. Pouring it into a mold results in some of those bubbles being on what will become the surface when it is demolded.

By its nature, clay-like materials do not have surface bubbles, at least of a size that looks like poured concrete. You can do things to get bubbles into the surface. On material that is wet, soft, and barely clay-like, it's easier to do and there are more ways to do it. On material that is firm, dense clay, there are limited ways to modify the surface to produce bubble pocks, but it can be done. If the material only has to **look** like poured concrete and doesn't have to actually be concrete, there are more options.

Basically, the requirement for handling like clay is the opposite of the requirement for surface bubbles. The more clay-like it is, the fewer options there are for getting bubble pocks into the surface. It's worth examining the requirements for a specific project in detail because there are trade-offs that can make the project a lot easier if some of the requirements aren't critical.

How to get a specific kind or type of clay-like material to look like poured concrete would be a discussion for another question.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the thorough answer! I appreciate your expertise.  In your first paragraph about Shapecrete you mention having discovered an anomaly in how it was used. I think that would be helpful for this answer as well and not wasted/tangential. Alternatively you mention it'd be good for another question and I'm happy to ask that if you can help me understand how to phrase it to hit on that correctly. Perhaps, "how was Shapecrete used to make this example?" Although unavailable now, it seems like understanding would help us learn.  Thanks again!  
> **username_1**: @username_0, I created a [chat room](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/118339/discussion-on-question-by-username_0-about-shapecrete) so we have some flexibility to get into discussion without creating a long comment thread here.  Whenever it's convenient, drop in.  I left a few thoughts.  Just remember to add an @ "address" on what you post there so I'll be alerted.  

---

