Loading the mixer

[Phil H]

Just wondering what sort of load i could put in the tip up mixer they state will mix 85 litres in six minutes. Does anyone now how much mix it could take. I was wanting to 1.5 concrete mix and was hoping to tip the 5 bags of ballast and 1 cement all in at once all the bags i am using are 25 KGS, but i now think this might be to much for it.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Am needing to mix 3.5 cubic metres.
Also wouild i be ok doing this over 3 days pour in horizontal layers. the slab has got a pre existing slab sitting in its middle so i was hoping to go round once in each pour the total depth is 450 mm.
I know i will not be able to complete the entire pour in one day's work.
thanks for you help

[IanMelb]

was hoping to tip the 5 bags of ballast and 1 cement all in at once

I've been reading through this whole site for a few days now and remembered seeing the following thoughts about mixing...

The quote:

"Then say if you are doing a 5:1 mix, shovel 1 cement then 5 sand. Do not do 15 sand then 3 cement. It will not mix as good as each part a bit at a time."

comes from this thread, and

"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"

Comes from this topic.

[Stuarty]

for 3.5 cube id get it brought in by a wagon. Also, if you are going to be mixing by hand, it would be far cheaper getting it brought in bulk bags. My mixer can take 16 shovels, that gives me a level barrow.

[lutonlagerlout]

Also wouild i be ok doing this over 3 days pour in horizontal layers

no ,it must be poured in 1 continuous slab
and dont overload your mixer,they are much slower when overloaded
cheers LLL

[Phil H]

Thanks guys for the replies.
I have a very restricted access hence bagged items only and no chance for bringing ready mixed though the house. I wish i could.
Would the mixer you refer to taking your 16 shovelfulls be the same size tip up, do you think.
At my original thought on this project last year i was lead to believe from Tony that i would hopefully get away with 2 seperate pours on following days.
LLL do you not think this would be ok ?

Thanks for your time.

[Phil H]

Alos keep thinking about the dpm is it 100% necesary. they were never used years ago. the garage at home base done 1970 is still looking as good as new today and no DPm used ??

[nelly05]

@ Phil H, is there no chance of a concrete pump your way.

We have a few places local that will pour with a wagon and pump, uou pay a little extra but might save you a lot of hassle.

Regards

[Phil H]

Yea was thinking about that their is a company local that does that service but as it needs to go through house i didnt even find how much cost. But now all the material is ordered and delivery on saturday so i think it is no turning back. I cant even find an extra [pair of hands hence the break overnight in the pour.
Any other ideas on my other questions ?

[IanMelb]

hence the break overnight in the pour.

When I was thinking about how to pour my 2.5m3 slab (still in the planning stages) I thought about doing it by hand and setting it out in sections *across* the base (rather than pour on top of each section) and then creating a construction joint.

Tony has a page detailing Construction Joints

[Phil H]

Yea that is where i saw the idea of the horizontal join. My slab already contains a slab in the middle so i am going round that just under 2 foot all the way round the width and lengty are about 10 feet each and finally the complete overall slab will pour 4 inch over the smaller slab in the middle.
That is why i thought the vertical joins could be very tricky.

[Stuarty]

Ive seen a pour being done over a cottage heh. My barrow holds 85 litres, well, im sure thats what it says.