The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:59 pm**

Was hoping some of you guy's could advise on Rapid setting cement and frostproofer's.

My project laying cobbles/cubes is still ongoing and going to plan (thanks to Tony and associates) and "she who must be obeyed" wants it done before Xmas.

I've started putting cobbles in and it's not too difficult so i'm fairly confident I could go at it "against the clock", I wouldn't mix up large batches.

The only time I can get to it is weekends and if weathers not favourable it will hinder progress.

I've been reading website and picked up on rapid setting cement/frostproofer's keeping job's going when weathers not ideal for works involving cement.

My dilemma is that I have got a loan of a cement mixer and want to return it in condition I was given it in.

Will using rapid setting cement/frostproofer cause contents of drum to set inside drum, and then i've got to try and chisel it off or if drum is always spinning will that stop it setting?

To be cautious I would probably washout mixer every five loads????????

Have any of the Pro's got Horror Story's with it setting too fast??????

As always - thanks in advance for your help!!!!

There will be photo's when project is done!!!!!!

Posted: **Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:34 pm**

We have had the rapid set cement go off in the mixer, but I think it was an old bag. But I would want my mixer washed round after every mix to keep it clean and less chance off it sticking to the drum.

Posted: **Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:39 pm**

i wouldnt use rapid set for 2 reasons

A it goes off very fast,too fast for you for sure

B its very expensive

use a strong mix with frostproofer and cover at night with 3 layers of hessian like i did my blockwork today
LLL

Posted: **Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:51 am**

I'm with LLL. Rapid set has its uses, but your paving is not one of them. If you were re-seting a MH cover on the East Lancs Rd and blocking the traffic until the road could be re-opened, then fair enough, but for a driveway it's severe and possibly detrimental over-engineering.

You are working against frost, not time, so a basic frostproofer is what's needed, and I would only use that if there was to be an overnight frost of -2Â°C. Sacking or fleeces will protect the mortar/concrete from short-lived frosts of 0 to -2Â°C and they would also be massively beneficial for protection against harder or longer frosts.

If at all possible, avoid working with cements when you know there's to be a frost, and it's probably best not to use cements at all if you know there will be a -5Â°C frost or one that will last more than 24 hours within the the first 36 hours of use.

Posted: **Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:55 pm**

I used it last night had to do the brickwork and frame on a gulley before the tarmacers did there bit . As you know you don't get long . Awful stuff to lay bricks on.

Posted: **Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:46 pm**

bizarrely with rapid set the wetter it is the quicker it goes off
LLL

Posted: **Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:49 pm**

Felt like liverpool had beaten man united 5 nil after I had finished . Awful stuff

Posted: **Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:15 pm**

used it once, and it mucked up my mixer. Never again

The Brew Cabin

Rapid setting cement/frostproofer's