Source for calcium stearate?

[Mark & Shauna]

We are in the process of completing our drystack block foundation and
getting reading for the surface bonding. I was aiming to mix the surface
bonding plaster ourselves. I have just found that calcium stearate is an
obsolete product in the additive industry now. Additionally they said
that calcium stearate is only a temporary water proofing agent lasting
only a couple years.
Anyone have any ideas for alternatives or have a more current recipie
for surface bonding cement? I have just found a company called
anit-hydro on the net who sells a product which they say will take the
place of the calcium choride (accelerator/hardener) and the calcium
stearate however they are saying the glass fiber is not neccesary which
I dont really feel comfortable with.
Anyone who has surface bonded a wall/foundation I would appreciate any
info...

Thanks... Mark

 

[Michael Baugh]

I wonder how the acrylic additive that's put in thinset
for water-resistant ceramic tile grout would do.

 

[Moebius Velcro]

This one's real* ... I worked for a plasterer once for about three days
(his son who was my roommate was supposed to be helping him but didn't
feel like it (did he ever?) and I need to work off the rent somehow) and
that guy put a dash of cream of tartar in his plaster to make it set up
faster. Regular McCormick-Schilling red & white can out of the kitchen
cupboard. Matter of fact he bummed it from his customer.

There are probably other interesting additives lurking in the kitchen
and closet.

;B

*I mean like my other off-the-wall remark was also real but this one
might actually be useful.

 

[Steve Thomas]

There is a commercial product called "Staydri" ( I am not certain about
the spelling, it might be Staydry. ) which you may find suitable. It
contains sodium silicate and lime as I recall. It is a powder that you mix
with water and then just paint it on. My father used it on the concrete
block foundation of our home about 40 years ago and it worked well.
My own house is nearing 100 years old and the concrete foundation is
quite porous and soft. About 12 years ago I mixed Staydri paint with
Portland cement, a liquid acrylic bonding agent, and a bit of sand mix with
enough water so that it could not be called a paste. A thick slurry might be
the best description. Anyway, I worked it into the surface with a coarse
fibre brush forming a coating that was mabe a millimeter thick and filled
small holes and rough spots. The result was a low lustre white surface that
has maintained it't condition to the present. The lustre was from the
(expensive) acrylic bonding agent, which I mixed about 1 part to 2 or 3
parts water. Staydry has a flat finish by itself, and makes a good surface
for the adhesion of other surface coatings.
That has been my experience, for what it is worth.

Steve