Your "vibrator" is a great idea. A vibrator is used on the 1:1 pours, too.
Mike.
My You Tube
Used the cooking oil I have for the grill and it workrd perfectly. No residue and it is already painted concrete color. Used the back of an electric toothbrush to vibrate the hydocal into the form. Came out smooth as glass.
Harold
Pam cooking spray is the same and is more convenient
As Dr. Wayne suggests vegetable oil is a reasonable mold release agent. I've had good luck using it with wood forms.
Joe
Nope.
If they were plastic, you shouldn't need any form release, unless there are a lot of details on the formwork, that want to come through on the finished pier.
One note . My forms are made of wood as in in real construction. Does that change your thinking.
Does anyone not use a release compound? Frankly, 30+ years later, maybe dish soap and water rings a bell, or maybe I used nothing?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I used a little vegetable oil on a paper towel, wiped onto the interior of the moulds as the release agent for my bridge piers and abutments. It had no adverse effect on the plaster or moulds, nor was it at all detrimental to painting the castings using water-based paints. It seems to be somehow used-up, as there's no residue left on the moulds, although the castings come away very cleanly.
Wayne
WD-40. I used on real concrete work, step forms.
pam .
I kept a spray bottle with mostly water and a few drops of dish liquid for just this purpose.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I am going to pour large trestle piers ( 64' Scale ft by 7' ). I am using Hydrocal to pour. What can I use on the forms as a release agent?