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Formwork
To cast concrete one needs a
mould.This is the reason a mason
needs to know basic carpentry
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Make yourself a Work bench
No heavy timber, only planks!
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12 cm x 20mm precut planks
are just right for the Leg Frame
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12 cm x 24mm precut planks
are right for the Top
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This is how you assemble it:
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Making a Basic Panel
Planks need to be cut straight in order
to join them to panels
Use a circular saw to cut straight edges
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On the work bench
Position the
planks on the
bench
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Insert two wedges and press
the planks tight
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Add the braces in a right angle and
nail them diagonally
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Remove the wedges and bend the
nails on the other side
Max 60 cm
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Cut the panel to size on the circular
saw
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Formwork with Precut Planks
The fast Lane
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Use Precut Timber
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Use a Radial Arm Saw to cut
the Planks
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Cut the planks to equal length
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Adjust the Width on the
Circular Saw
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Assemble and Brace the Panel
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Tools
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Minimum Plank Thickness for
Formwork
18 mm is the minimum for
small formworks and
requires closer cross planks
20 24 mm is the
standard
Thin planks can give way to the pressure of
the concrete
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Nail Size
1 1/2 = 40mm nails are too week and
cannot stand the pressure of the
concrete
The standard length for nails is 2
= 65mm

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Column Formwork
Column +2X
thickness
Column
Sizing of
Panels
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Nail all edges
with 2 1/2
nails
Join the
braces as well
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Erecting and Securing
Erect the formwork
Position it along the
guidelines
Secure it

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Verticality
Use a plum bob
Mark the centre
Check verticality and
straightness
Do this in both
directions and secure
the position

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Formwork for Beams
Formwork for beams are made like for
columns
However the beam has to be inserted
into the column to correctly position the
beam
The beam requires props

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Cutout in Column
Cut out in outer
dimension of
formwork
Support for beam
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Erect and align the column
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Set up support Beams and
Props for the Beam
Prop
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Place the Bottom Panel
Prop
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Insert Panels one by one if
they are large.. and fix them
Double
support
Prop
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Prop
Up
Column
Beam
10X10
cm
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Column added to Brickwork
If the walls are
built first the
columns can be
added with a better
bond
However, this is
not possible for fair
face brickwork
Good
Bonding
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Column added to brickwork
Build first
the walls
Add the
column for
maximum
bond
Formwork
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The Lintel
Tie the planks to the
wall
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Lintel on brick wall
Wire
Tie the planks
on both sides
against the wall
Fix the width with
a strip across every
60 cm
Prop
It is sensible to keep doors and
windows in one level and extent the
lintel to a tie beam to provide more
strength to the building
Lintel und Tie beam
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Fair Face Concrete
Good workmanship does not need
to be hidden behind plaster
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Skeleton Construction
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Columns and Brickwork
Columns and slabs can be built to form
a skeleton construction
Afterwards the brickwork is added
But there is a problem: there is no bond
between column and brickwork
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Fair face Columns and
Brickwork
No
Bond!
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Groove for
Mortar
Column
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Fair Face Formwork
Rough planks do not provide a smooth
surface
Plywood or steel sheets make a smooth
surface for concrete
Fair face formwork is designed for easy
removal and reuse
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Plywood Formwork
60/40 mm
planed
14..16 mm
marine plywood
Screw the plywood on the frame with
gum. Screws are on the plywood side!
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Apply Formwork Oil
Mix Oil and Grease 1:2
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Tricks
Formwork oil prevents the formwork
from sticking to the concrete. It eases
dismantling
Formwork oil gives the concrete a fine
finish
Never use burnt engine oil. It will
blacken the concrete and spoil the
formwork

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Bolts and nuts keep the panels
together
Front removed
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Set clamps equally to all sides
Concrete creates big
pressure
Make sure to
provide clamps
every 60 cm for
both directions
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Soft Corners
Sharp edges are a
danger, for they
hurt people.
Insert profiles into
the formwork for
tapered edges.

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Column Footing
Columns need
foundations too.
These are called
footings
The footing requires
a formwork
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Column Footing
After excavation a
screed of 5..10cm
concrete is laid to
provide a clean
ground
Next comes the
footing, a large
block of concrete
that provides a base
for the column