Help mixing mortor - How

[bentleydale]

In the next few days i plan to build a gardern wall, but i could do with some help on the following points.

1. I shall be using a mixer but how and when should the sand cement and water be added?

2. And the same for the concrete for the footings sand,gravel,cement and water?

I have found what mix i need but just unsure of when to add them together if you know what i meen.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark B]

put all the dry materials in first, let them mix through evenly then add the water to get the right consistancy. eg with the mortar, sand then cement let mix thn add the water only when its mixed through dry.

Mark

[lutonlagerlout]

have you been on the drink mark?
i did it the way you describe on my first day on site and was tormented for weeks after by the hoddies
on a normal size mixer it is as follows
1 make sure mixer is stable
2 turn it on
3 add 1 gallon of clean water (half a builders bucket)
4 add 1 measure of febmix (when making mortar )or a squirt of fairy if you have no feb
5 add 1 level bucket of sand
6 add 1 level bucket of cement
7 add 3 more buckets of sand adding water where needed to gain the right consistency
8 for bricklaying you need the mortar to kind of rise then drop through the agitators,if it slops through its too wet,and if it rolls right over it is too dry
9 when you tip a gauge in to the wheel barrow always put 1/2 a bucket of water into the mixer and let it turn for a couple of minutes,this keeps it cleaner
hope this helps
LLL

[Tony McC]

As LLL pointed out, ALWAYS put "some" water into the mixer before adding the sand and cement otherwise you'll never get a properly consitent mix.