Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:26 am
I've been finding it difficult using a mechanical mixer to obtain a nice 6:1 bedding mix. I'm using a ginger sharp sand and snowcrete as I'm trying to match mortar elsewhere so bulk-purchased the materials accordingly.
Is the lack of aggregate in a mortar mix such that there's nothing to break down any cement that's slightly lumped? The cement is mostly powder but there are a few lumps here and there although they break up as soon as you touch them... but not when the mixer does!
I'm ending up with flecks of white cement that stand out from the yellow mortar. Funnily enough, when I look at the mortar I'm matching (used by the builder of my Purbeck Stone house) I see similar flecks in some places. Hand mixing is not desirable as I've got a large patio to lay.
Is the lack of aggregate in a mortar mix such that there's nothing to break down any cement that's slightly lumped? The cement is mostly powder but there are a few lumps here and there although they break up as soon as you touch them... but not when the mixer does!
I'm ending up with flecks of white cement that stand out from the yellow mortar. Funnily enough, when I look at the mortar I'm matching (used by the builder of my Purbeck Stone house) I see similar flecks in some places. Hand mixing is not desirable as I've got a large patio to lay.