Wet cast paving production.

[gazauk]

hi guys

first time user, i am planning on manufacturing pavers in australia and i am looking for tips on what the best mix is for casting concrete pavers. ie ratio of sand /cement, additives,sealants etc, hope you can help a stressed out pom in oz????

not that stressed the weather is fine and the fishing is great.

cheers gazauk.

[Ted]

My mix is 5:1.

I use Ferrocrete (or another high MPA - min 42.9, ideally 52.9 - rapid setting cement) and a mix of grades of silica sands. I whack some colours in and a few other additives (which are secret unless you pay me) and polypropylene mesh. I also mix a bit of latex in the water. I also use powdered release agents in the mould like PIC installers use.

Obviously if you are a volume producer this is going to be too costly. But if you want durable good looking pavers, this should set you off.

You need to experiment and experiment though

[GB_Groundworks]

isn't that like asking coca cola for their recipe, the mix and the pattern is the key to their business, i'm sure you'll get some hints and tips from the couple of manufacturers who post on here. good luck though mate

[Tony McC]

No two manufacturers use the same 'recipe'. Sands, coarse aggs, cements, dyes and even the water vary from place to place, so whatever works in, say, Kent, may not work at all in Lancashire.

Trial and error, Gaz. That's the only way to find what works.

[lutonlagerlout]

also known as research and developement
LLL

[Tony McC]

Research and Development is when you have to pay someone in a lab coat to do it for you. Trial and Error is when you do it yerself for nowt!

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

You've got a couple of years of trial and error if you go the selftaught route, and this together with production, selling, deliveries, and guaranteeing to replace the cockups will exhaust you. Believe me - I've done it. If you are serious, paying an amount to someone like me will give you startup dates within weeks, what the best moulds are, where to get them, what release agent to use, what pigment to use mix ratios with mPa strengths, what equipment to buy, drying procedures, I could go on ad nauseum. You would get spread sheets for every aspect of running the company, advertizing detail/artwork, and be assured of making top class products immediately. Your call - good luck whichever way you go!!

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

An example - early days and unbenown to me my supplier gives me 5 cubic metres of cr#p sand. 3 weeks and 6000 cobbles later the surfaces of which are crumbling as we watch - and no real comeback on the supplier - guess what that cost!!!

[Tony McC]

If you're still lurking, Gaz, I'd give serious consideration to Mr Carter-Smith's offer. Most successful wet-cast manufacturers would never dream of passing on their knowledge: that's the core of their business, and the one thing that makes them different to their competitors.

Think on!

[rab1]

my wee brother works for a large concrete precast company, they manufacture paving for a large uk company in the province, all specs/production lines are different.